Results 5,281-5,300 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I hear a lot of Deputies questioning the efficiency of the herd. Some have asked why in 1995 we were able to have 7 million cattle and now all of a sudden it is a problem. Let us consider the reports, especially the most recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency. We can see that the emissions from the herd are actually growing. If I have it right, the EPA projects that by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: That is not what I argued. I suggested that the money the Government would pay out for carbon offsets would be used to pay farmers to grow trees.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I thank everyone for their contributions. I wish to start by fully agreeing with the IFA that this is not just an Irish issue. Greenhouse gases do not go up over a country and keep within its border; they go into the atmosphere. It is a global issue, and I fully acknowledge that the IFA acknowledges this. It was therefore really unhelpful for the Minister to say the other day that there...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Even though I am not a rural person, I am not being emotive about this. The facts state that our carbon emissions have been driven up in the agricultural sector. The biggest part of that is the growth of the national herd. It may be more efficient than Switzerland or France, but it is still increasing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: We are still pushing up emissions because we are raising so many.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: If this is a global issue, why is Mr. Healy arguing that? Why are we not, as part of that global-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: The efficiency of Mr. Healy's sector has not stopped trees from being cut down in the Amazon. They are still at it. Irish farmers being more efficient does not mean they will stop knocking down trees. My point is that we have to work from where we are at.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Just one comment-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I would not like anybody to mistake my permanent residency in the city for a lack of understanding that we need agriculture. Of course we need agriculture.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I mentioned that I am not au fait with the families and big ranchers who make lots of money out of cattle.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: That is the context in which I mentioned it. I agree with Mr. McDonald. We need a balanced approach but we do not have one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Third Report of the Citizens' Assembly: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: We are overgrowing the national herd at the cost of increasing our overall CO2 emissions. That is my point. Saying that this is not the problem, that this activity could be carried out in the Amazon forest or New Zealand, is a bit like the Minister opposing my bill which would prevent the issuance of any more exploration licences for fossil fuels by saying that if we do not do it they will...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Fares (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the NTA to sanction a fare increase in public transport; his views in relation to same; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that cash fares have risen in some cases by 87% since 2011; and the way in which this decision is in line with measures to tackle climate change....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (12 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: 31. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has been notified of ongoing difficulties and the failure to deliver the promised levels of service on the bus routes recently handed over to a company (details supplied) in Dublin; if the service failures are a result of revised and shortened travelling time allocated by the company on these routes; if the ability to operate...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: The Taoiseach did not answer my question on the height restrictions and NAMA.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Can we take that minute to answer the question on the height restrictions and NAMA?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I wish to discuss the announcement of new guidelines for maximum building heights in towns and cities. Restrictions have been lifted by order of the Minister. My question relates to planning and economics, because one cannot have one without the other. Did the Department of the Taoiseach have discussions with NAMA at any stage? Did it inform NAMA of the likely impact the lifting of height...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Does that apply to governance?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: Will it be clarified by Friday?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 Dec 2018)

Bríd Smith: I would appreciate it if we could do that.