Results 581-600 of 15,555 for speaker:Eoghan Murphy

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Okay. I thank the Senator. I am not familiar with all of them.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: We are treating wear-off products differently to rinse-off products with this legislation. We are targeting rinse-off products because we know we can do it immediately. The debate around wear-off products needs to continue at a European Union level. The position for these two amendments is the same as that for the previous two amendments. It is something we believe must be considered and...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I absolutely appreciate the motivation behind the amendment. I am not trying to be difficult in saying that I cannot accept it. We debated the matter on Second Stage. I gave a commitment that we would look and consult international bodies on the matter. I said we would look again at the scientific research and evidence available to ensure that we were solid in terms of what we were...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I take the point the Senator is making. Some of the products that create a shimmer effect can do so through natural particles, rather than plastics.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Given the public outcry against this product or this type of material in products, producers will move to make replacements if they have not done so already. However, until we can be certain, we have to put the potential negative health impact first and foremost. The Senator referred to the single use plastics directive. That legislation will not fall under my remit. In a way, it is...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I will absolutely raise the matter with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, in that event.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I consider the legislation is strong enough in terms of the powers afforded to the Minister of the day concerning the directions he or she has to give. Therefore, the amendments are unnecessary.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: It is a good proposal and good wording. I am assured, however, that section 3(5) of the Bill will give me sufficient power to achieve the aim. If I were to make regulations around exemptions then I would be able to make sure that the language spoke to reuse or recycling. Again, at the moment I do not foresee making exemptions in the legislation so it may not be an issue at all as it comes...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Senator is correct to fear the wording and I appreciate her recognition of that. We have come back to this matter a couple of times in the debate. If one were an outsider looking in, one might think this is the one thing we are going to do on plastics and then we are going away somewhere for a while but we are only beginning this journey. There will be ample opportunities to use either...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Section 3 details exemptions.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Many of the exemptions at the beginning of the section are the types of things that we have been talking about such as medicinal products and sunscreen. Where the concerns of the Senators might be realised would be under section 3(3) where one exempts products.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: Exactly. At the moment I do not foresee making any exemptions under that part of the Bill. I hope that this law will come into effect before the end of this year, so it will be the new law from 1 January. If I were to then go about making an exemption a process has to be followed by way of putting in place regulations, which takes a number of months. If one had the sunset clause in place,...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: We are going to be so far past that by 2022. With the EU regulations on the single plastic use directive, events will have overcome even the power for the Minister to make exemptions under this section of the Bill. I do not think it is going to be a fear that might be realised. Hence, the power to revoke remains the stronger element in the Bill.

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The use of the word "loopholes" is important in terms of language. We do not wish to give people outside the House the impression that what we have introduced is not the most professional legislation in the EU dealing with microbeads because it is. What we and the Senator recognise is the need to go further once this is done, not to sit back on our laurels and say we are brilliant and are...

Seanad: Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I thank the Senators for their co-operation and interest. I fully accept that it has been a long process. However, we have been able to proceed quickly through both Houses after receiving the derogation from the EU. I appreciate the Seanad agreeing to take all Stages today so we could have the legislation in effect from 1 January next. That is an important statement and an excellent...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Finance Agency Funding (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Housing Finance Agency (HFA) plc is a non-commercial semi-State company under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government, limited by shares under the terms of the Housing Finance Agency Act 1981. The principal objectives of the HFA are to advance funds to local authorities and approved housing bodies (AHBs) to be used by them for any purpose authorised under...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 757 together. The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) is a flagship element of Project Ireland 2040.  The URDF was established to support more compact and sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland’s five cities and other large towns, in line with the objectives of the National Planning...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 732 and 756 together. My Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines in line with the “preferred draft approach” which was announced in June 2017 by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, in conjunction with the then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Data (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals.  At the end of Q3 2019, nearly 67,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 50,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 29,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payment Data (17 Dec 2019)

Eoghan Murphy: The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals.  At the end of Q3 2019, nearly 67,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 50,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 29,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by...