Results 5,421-5,440 of 9,163 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Collection by Digital Assistants: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Dec 2019)

Jack Chambers: I thank the witnesses for their engagement.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: The block allocation mentioned by the Minister is necessary and welcome but we need to know what that will mean for workers in Bord na Móna and the ESB. There is uncertainty and the fear of worker representatives is that jobs will be lost and not regained. Does the Minister accept the point made by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, that a forum for immediate and direct...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: 7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he will ensure the participation of ESB and Bord na Móna workers and affected communities in the development of a coherent just transition response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49382/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the Acting Chairman and the House facilitating me. Although a just transition commissioner has recently been appointed and carbon tax revenues have been allocated toward the challenge there is still considerable uncertainty around how existing Bord na Móna and ESB jobs will be protected, contracts honoured and workers provided with alternative employment. Will the Minister...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: The Minister has given little clarity on the steps the Government is taking immediately to address, redeploy and reskill workers in the communities affected. There is a 2020 deadline for the ESB. As the ICTU told the Committee on Climate Action this week, when the jobs are gone, they are gone and the people are unemployed. That transition and certainty is still absent. It is vital that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: That was a nonsense of a response. People are dying as a result of smoky coal but the Minister stated that because of the vulnerability to a legal challenge, there will be more inaction from his Department on such a serious matter. There have been no suggestions about how the Government may improve or address the current, partial law and no proposal on how to shift subsidies and incentives...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: The matter is a case of political leadership. As we saw on "RTÉ Investigates" last night, there are illegal quarries throughout the country, and there are threats and legal challenges. It seems business reigns above politics in this case. Who runs the country? In October, the Minister stated he was working with the Attorney General to address an issue. The Government has repeatedly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure safe air quality levels and to introduce a nationwide ban on smoky coal in response to stated legal advice from the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49580/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: This question is on the ongoing failure by Government to introduce a nationwide ban on smoky coal and ensure rural towns and villages are protected from air pollution. New analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has found air pollution is reaching dangerous levels, beyond World Health Organization, WHO, air quality guidelines and we have serious issues with premature deaths,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: 1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the circumstances by which a company (details supplied) came to be an investor in the national broadband plan; the level of the investment; the level of investment by another company in the final contract; if another company will be contractually liable in the event that a company requires additional funding which a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: This question relates to the sudden official appearance of a new investor in the national broadband plan on the day the contract was signed. While media reports mentioned Oak Hill on a few occasions regarding other matters, it has not been part of the general debate on the national broadband plan. The first time it will appear in the Official Report will be in this debate. What is Oak...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: With respect, the Minister has not answered any of the questions I asked. The Granahan McCourt consortium has changed so many times it has been difficult to keep up. First, it was widely known as the Enet-SSE consortium and contained a number of other companies. John Laing, SSE and Enet then dropped out, leaving only Granahan McCourt. We then heard that Granahan McCourt is being backed by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: What is Oak Hill's involvement? When did it get involved?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: Will the Minister answer those questions?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: We need more than a review online. Is Oak Hill the same Oak Hill that was previously involved with Enet and Mr. McCourt in the past? The Minister might clarify that. The issue is extremely serious because it deals who will be responsible if National Broadband Ireland requires additional funding. For example, concerns about take-up in the intervention area have arisen. We hope that never...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: -----that the Minister has signed this contract? To whom will Oak Hill sell its equity investment? To whom will Granahan McCourt sell its equity investment? Will the taxpayer be on the hook for more liability because the Minister has facilitated this being flipped between vulture capitalists on a continuous basis? What are the protections for the Irish State? When did-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: -----Oak Hill become involved? What is its investment? We have no clarity-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: -----on the questions asked.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Protocols (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: 30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether telecommunications infrastructure here has adequate protections in place to limit the damage of cyber attacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49384/19]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Jack Chambers: 34. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps being taken to ensure safe air quality levels and to introduce a nationwide ban on smoky coal in response to stated legal advice from the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49381/19]