Results 4,561-4,580 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Gaming and Lotteries (Amendment) Bill 2019 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: As other Members have spoken very well about the online gambling issue, I will not speak about it in the context of this Bill, although it is a big issue that is becoming an increasing problem that must be tackled. Unfortunately, I do not see any moves to deal with it. Gambling and not dealing with it has been an issue in this country for donkey's years. When I was growing up as a teenager...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (Resumed) (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: We cannot make statements without discussing Brexit and the implications it could have for us. I am not going to add much on that because it has already been referred to by others. However, it is vital to ensure that the European Union sticks by the backstop, regardless of whoever is Prime Minister of the UK after the current process. Unlike Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, I am not surprised...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I have seven questions. May I ask each question and get an answer or would the Chair rather that I ask them all together?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The plan published by the Government states that a climate action (amendment) Bill will be published early in 2020. Will the Minister commit to having the heads of the Bill published before the end of 2019 in order that we can start the review process on it? The plan does not incorporate many of the recommendations of the joint committee, particularly on rural transport, in regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Unfortunately, all the recommendations from Teagasc have been made a long time and farmers have not bought into them because they have not been paid to buy into them. Is the Minister saying he is waiting for the new Common Agricultural Policy to pay farmers to buy into these measures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: On the climate legislation, the Minister said it will be dealt with in the first quarter of 2020 but when will the heads of that Bill be published?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The agricultural chapter does not treat forestry with any sense of realism. Forestry targets are not being met and the afforestation plans are based on monocultures of Sitka spruce and large bull pine. Shifting the planting policy to native species in line with the committee's report would represent more carbon storage and a boost for biodiversity and wildlife. Yet there is no mention in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I have three more questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The Minister has spoken supportively about the 70% renewable energy target in the joint committee report, which I proposed. It transpires that 15% of that will be met from corporate power purchase agreements, which means they will not be funded through the regional enterprise strategy, RES, and they will not be obliged to provide any community engagement or benefit gain measures. Will the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I have two remaining.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Regarding the European Commission's response to the report, it has said we are weak in terms of the community response to the-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: -----closure of power stations in the midlands and other such matters. What is the Minister's view on that? The joint committee report recommendation was that we would have a specific strategy for those regions whereas the Minister is proposing to pass the topic over to the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, which can only give advice, rather than establishing a multi-stakeholder...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Yes, that is it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: What is the Minister's view on the Commission's negativity towards the strategy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The European Commission. It said that the fair and just transition could be done better.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The fair and just transition.

Proposed Service by Defence Forces with United Nations in Mali: Motion (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: After last Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, the Government very quietly announced plans to send about a dozen members of the Army Ranger Wing to Mali to join a counterterrorism operation that is widely regarded as the most dangerous UN mission in the world. It is no accident that five of the deadliest UN missions since 2010 have been in Africa, with MINUSMA being the deadliest. Some 177...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: That is very welcome. I want to ensure that the EU is not carrying out any unilateral talks with the government and that it is going through the African Union. It is vitally important that a united front is upheld to show that this situation is unacceptable and that what has to happen is a transition to civilian power to resolve this situation. I also want to ensure that the European Union...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 40. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he is taking to address the latest death toll as a result of attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Sudan calling for the transfer of authority from the military to civilians after Omar al-Bashir was overthrown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24944/19]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Thomas Pringle: This question is about the situation in Sudan, what is happening there and how the Government there is attacking the peaceful demonstrators. After an incredibly peaceful removal of the 30 year dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, the military junta now known as a transitional military council is refusing to hand over power to civilians. What will the Irish Government do in relation to that situation?