Results 3,941-3,960 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 807. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the action he will take following the publication of the EPA report in April 2013 on our greenhouse gas emissions which said that Ireland was at significant risk of not meeting our EU 2020 targets even under the best-case scenario; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35167/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Administration (16 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 809. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been any analysis of how much the Dormant Accounts Fund would benefit in the event of the legislation being extended to credit unions, and the reason this sector remains outside the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35170/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 836. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there has been an analysis of the greenhouse gas emissions from Ireland's three peat burning power stations and how this contributes to our carbon emissions; what those emissions are on an annual basis from 2007 to date per station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35389/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Generic Drugs Substitution (16 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 1136. To ask the Minister for Health the amount that has been saved by using generic drugs in 2013; his plans to ensure further savings are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35398/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Graduate Nursing Scheme Application Numbers (16 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: 1137. To ask the Minister for Health the number of positions that have been filled under the nursing and midwifery graduate initiative to date in 2013; the way this level of recruitment affects the projected savings from the scheme; his plans to offer nurses on the scheme permanent places after the end of the two year placement to encourage recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not think Dr. O’Gorman answered the question. If we were to set a 2030 target, should the State include in it forestry, grasslands, bog revitalisation and the deposit of carbon in the Kinsale gas field? If the parameters are not in place in terms of what one is counting, what does the target mean?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: We have a goal to work towards for 2020, which will be quite difficult. The Government must ensure it hits this target with all of the parameters included. Many have pointed out that the 2030 targets are so vague because we have not got the 2015 negotiations sorted. Forestry should have been included in our 2020 target and it was not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Dr. O'Gorman referred to gender quotas and said there was a target and consequence approach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: There are targets within the heads of Bills, but, to a great extent, it is a question of getting the foundations right. The 2030 target will be negotiated in 2015 and there will be a consequence as a result of those negotiations. Having listened to earlier evidence to the committee, we are still not clear on what will be counted. Will bogs be counted as a single entity? Will forestry or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I apologise for not being present for Dr. Doran's presentation. I had to attend another meeting. I imagine that most of us who have been involved in these hearings, especially those on the political side, are not too far away from each other in our thinking, especially having heard the evidence. I met a large group at lunchtime and began to generate a discussion on the impact of climate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It is too far in the distance for them. We have moved on from focusing on the 2020 targets. I sense there was a better buy-in a year ago, even though our economic circumstances were worse then than they are now. As a member of a minor party, I am aware that we have always paid a penalty for being ahead of public opinion on various issues. My party is the bit party of the two and a bit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: The Acting Chairman has made an important point and I wish to clarify the position. Dr. Doran used the words "most likely" and "consensus" in relation to whether the matter could go before the court. We have a Constitution and when the words "most likely" and "consensus" are used about a matter such as this, it usually ends up in the courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes, but that is an important point that should be made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Has Mr. O'Flynn's company conducted any hard research in this area?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Mr. O'Flynn indicates in his submission that there is potential to create between 26,000 and 80,000 jobs if the right policies are pursued. We receive a large number of submissions, across all committees, many of which contain various figures which sometimes seem to have been pulled out of nowhere. How has Mr. O'Flynn arrived at this estimate of 26,000 to 80,000 jobs and how many of that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Ernst & Young's website indicates that the Irish Wind Energy Association, IWEA, is one of its clients. Is there a balance in terms of clients, with some, for instance, having interests other than renewables?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome Mr. O'Flynn. I have four questions. Mr. O'Flynn has referred in his submission to Denmark and South Korea using emissions reductions as an economic development opportunity. Could Ireland use any of these strategies? I ask Mr. O'Flynn to list two or three key points on how we could benefit from their experience.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Mr. O'Flynn has indicated that agricultural emissions can be offset by strategies such as for afforestation. Can he provide statistics in that regard? Has any detailed research been carried out or is that just a comment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It is obviously not widely known. It was touched upon in two or three submissions to the committee. I am not the only one who missed it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Minister for his attendance and apologise for not being present for his opening submissions, as I was at another meeting. Please feel free to stop me if I am being repetitive but the process has been quite informative. The concept of having hearings on the heads of the Bill has been highly informative in respect of this joint committee's thinking and, it is to be hoped, when the...