Results 4,701-4,720 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 227. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason hedgerows are not included in the calculation of CO2 emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13922/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 234. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to publish his response to the BAI five-year review of public broadcasters received in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14434/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: There are a number of different aspects to this. The words of the proposed amendment appear innocuous enough when looked at in black and white and one could say the amendment is acceptable. However, we also have to consider how little the Government has done in recent years. There has been no clarity on what it will do about the carbon price, which stands at €20 per tonne. My...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I also have a problem with this amendment. We would be linking costs to the whole process and making it about costs rather than about climate change. I would be very opposed to it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Would the least-cost option in one of these cases be to pay the fine to Europe rather than dealing with some of the issues?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: The Government works on behalf of the citizens and it pays money on behalf of the citizens. Is the least-cost option to pay a fine rather than do what is recommended?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I understand where Deputy Sherlock is coming from in that this report is not where the matter can be dealt with. However, Deputy Smith has the issue of former workers who might participate in training as part of this just transition being put under pressure by the Department to take up JobBridge posts, which have nothing to do with it. In fact, it would deflect from them doing training and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: JobPath, which would be of no value to them at all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: It is interesting that people are saying we should not hit companies because it would lead to jobs being lost. If that was the case, why would we tax these companies at all? Why would we not let them have a free-for-all, let them create jobs and then tax the workers and live off that? The arguments against the amendment are nonsensical. They suggest we should not tax business at all so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: It is the same as the previous amendment of Deputy Corcoran Kennedy and the same argument applies. If a carbon tax of X amount was cheaper than retrofitting a house, we could argue that we should pay the EU penalty instead.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I understand fully from where Deputy Bríd Smith is coming on this issue. Deputy Eamon Ryan said it should be levied on landlords. In an ideal world it should be levied on them, but the problem is nobody would pursue them to make sure they would do it. The reality is that if the State had to give a tax free allowance to the tenant, it would then have an interest in making sure the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: That is the reality. We could put the onus on landlords, but the State would not pursue landlords to make it happen. It does not pursue landlords to do anything and would not pursue them to make this happen either.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: For the benefit of the committee, I note that private landlords are supposed to register with the Residential Tenancies Board. They do not. Nobody makes it happen. That is the reality of the situation. We can include all the recommendations that we want, but unless we insert a provision for the State to go after those landlords to ensure that they do it-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I have no problem with the ratio of 2:1 as it makes sense. The reality is we have had no focus on public transport anywhere in society. That is the problem. We need investment in roads. We are not saying there should not be any as we will need roads to carry the buses that will provide transport because there will not be trains services all around the country. We should have it as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: I want to speak on both of the recommendations. The first recommendation suggests reducing top speed limits. It makes perfect sense. We are talking about reducing the speed limits by 10 km/h. A major advertising campaign is under way to reduce the speed limit on the M50. It is counter-intuitive but it makes everyone get through quicker because all the traffic goes at the same speed and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: Deputy Smith made a point on the second recommendation. We are not talking about the world of communism when we are referring to places like Luxembourg. Free public transport makes perfect sense. We need to think outside the box. We need to look at alternatives to make this work and it makes sense.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Activities (26 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 77. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is undertaking to ensure that Coillte is researching and engaging in continuous cover forestry practices in view of the benefits for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, employment and amenities across the national estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Regulation (26 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedure for certifying Lough Foyle oysters after production as they enter the market; the body responsible for carrying out health and safety certification of Lough Foyle oysters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13920/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta (26 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 97. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is time to commission an independent review of the Forestry Act 1988, which established Coillte (details supplied); if a review of the legislation will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (26 Mar 2019)

Thomas Pringle: 104. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to prevent beef factories absorbing benefits targeted at farmers in the production of beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13921/19]