Results 3,021-3,040 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I thank the representatives for the two presentations. I will get straight into it since we have only two minutes. I wonder could Dr. Moore give us some simple numbers. For example, if a hectare switches to non-organic farming to organic, what sort of a gain in methane and nitrous oxides, that is, in greenhouse gases can we expect? That would give us some sort of indicator of the scale of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Reduction of Carbon Emissions of 51% by 2030: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Chairman. To take up the last point and to plug my own view of this world, we need to move from looking at farming and climate to looking at the entire food sector and what is called the circular economy. In other words, we need to examine all of the impacts, including biodiversity and the entire supply chain from start to finish. I was very taken with the point Mr. Keane...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: The establishment of a State developer to use State lands to develop and deliver affordable housing is a breakthrough policy. Will the Tánaiste urge a quick decision on the Minister's request to increase the budget by 50%, which I think is a minimum? Will he arrange for the Land Development Agency, LDA, to publish urgently the supply chain of sites designated for housing and not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I am a little bit disheartened by the Minister's reply but he did leave a chink there that he is reviewing this. I will move to what used to be called the golden rule, namely, that one only borrows for capital. This is a stringent test on the probity of public spending. Does the Minister agree that we are facing significant capital needs, particularly in climate and housing? Just to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I fully accept taxes must cover current spending. The issue is whether we should take the opportunity to have higher capital spending. For example, our approach to public investment is in new communities. We see investment in transport, health and education arriving five years after people have occupied their homes, however. That is not a sustainable way to approach public investment....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: 110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has studied the ESRI study which suggests that Exchequer investment could be increased by 50% provided borrowing is confined strictly to capital purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31586/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Expenditure Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: The Minister may have already answered questions on the ESRI report. Based on an assessment of growth rates and interest rates, the study found that capital investment by the Exchequer could increase by 50% or €47 billion. I would like to hear the Minister's reaction to the report and whether it means the NDP can be a great deal more ambitious than the €120 billion currently...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: May I raise a point on the last question?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: This question relates to the Civil Service renewal plan for 2030, which seeks to provide evidence-informed policymaking, harness innovation and build an organisation for the future. What are the concrete targets the Minister is setting for delivery under this strategy?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the plan. However, does the Minister share my concern that, at this stage, there is only one concrete target set out in the plan, which is that there be 90% availability online of services? Does he agree that some higher ambitions need to be set out, particularly in the context of innovation? Should there be a concrete figure for the amount of money that will go to innovative...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Civil Service (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: Very briefly, will the Minister consider lifting the 10% carry-over restriction in respect of capital spending? When a body like Irish Water is already nearly 40% behind in its capital spending, there is a possibility that very important infrastructural projects could be held up in our regions. In respect of Civil Service renewal, is the Minister aware that Enterprise Ireland invests...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Data Centres (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: It is good to hear that the centre will be built to the highest standards but has there been a review of cyber-vulnerability in the context of consolidating in one centre? It seems to involve exposure to greater risk. What is the view of the Minister in respect of centres other than the top four he mentioned? For example, the State has been exposed in terms of a lack of e-health...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: 34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has set targets for modal shift from private vehicles in cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31583/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (17 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: 93. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that the potential to develop shared use of motor vehicles and bikes is being adequately facilitated in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31582/21]

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: I have no problem in acknowledging that some Members turned up but many of the Members who are loud in their protests did not turn up.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: That is the reality. When we could have gone through the amendments line by line and discussed them in a calm environment, which the committee provided for, the Deputies were not moved to discuss them in that way and so we were not able to tease out the arguments that lay behind them.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: That is the problem we have had. We did not have that during pre-legislative scrutiny or in the committee rooms and it is extremely difficult to hear all the concerns in that environment.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: It is very important to state what this Bill is about. It is about creating a framework through which this country can confront a climate crisis that is threatening livelihoods not only in Ireland but right across the globe. This legislation is, for the first time, providing for a clear, transparent, accountable method through which we can identify what needs to be done and make Ministers...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: This is not an attack on rural Ireland.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Richard Bruton: The only way rural Ireland will have a prosperous future is by adapting to these changes-----