Results 581-600 of 1,000 for speaker:John McGahon

Seanad: Carbon Budgets: Motion (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: I agree with a lot of what Senator Dooley said. He referenced the concept of the average punter. I talk about that a lot in this House. What does the average man or woman on the streets of provincial towns like my town, Dundalk, want to be able to do? We all realise there is a climate crisis and everyone wants to be able to play his or her part, but it is about making it financially...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: The presentation was excellent, and the programme we are embarking on is exciting. How many contractors are in the retrofitting market now? As the scheme kicks off, what do we expect the situation to be by the end of the year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: We have seen the risk of inflation when these grants are established. What key provision could we introduce to ensure that contractors will not greatly inflate their prices when the time comes? Is competition in the market enough to sustain a manageable level of prices?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: Brilliant. That information will be very useful, if we can get it. A debate is raging in my party now concerning carbon tax. Other people are saying we should scrap the tax altogether. My view is that it is an important measure and we must use it to work towards retrofitting homes. If people understood what it is being used for, then we could go a long way in doing that. This brings me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: That leads me on to my other question. How much on average can an individual expect to save on energy costs for their home in a year, after an average retrofit, where he or she, perhaps, has cavity walls and attic insulation done? I am aware that there are many different ways of doing this and it depends on what one gets which I understand, but can Dr. Byrne give an average example where I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: What is so important about the retrofitting programme is people are being allowed to live in much warmer homes that improve their health, save them money at the same time, and in a much wider sense, are also so much more beneficial for our environment. That is the key point that is sometimes forgotten behind this. I have time one final question. Perhaps I will come back in later on, if...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: To follow-up on Deputy Bruton's point, we were mentioning how it makes more sense for communities to come together to try to get a retrofit done, whether that is a street, an estate or a cul-de-sac. Where that is not happening, and Mr. Walsh touched on this, not because there is not community buy-in but because there are strangers living on the street, there is no residents' association and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: We were talking about how we do not expect the market to be flooded but that we do want many new contractors. We see the ambitious plans we have with apprenticeships and getting people into the market who can do these retrofits. What has the SEAI in place in terms of quality of standard and quality of care for contractors who are registered with it? Will the witnesses outline what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: Something that would be useful in that respect, and I do not know whether we have considered it, is if the homeowner could rate the contractor that has done the work. If I am a homeowner new to this and I must work alongside the SEAI to pick a contractor, it would be useful and would provide a level of guidance if there was a standard table or feedback in the same way as is seen with a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Implementation of the New National Retrofit Plan: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (5 Apr 2022)

John McGahon: Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan mentioned the importance of the carbon tax. Some 55% of the money from that tax is ring-fenced to go to meeting the costs of the retrofitting scheme. Mr. Walsh mentioned this aspect earlier. Will he give a breakdown of the amount of carbon tax that is ring-fenced for the SEAI for this year and what that money is going to be used for? Mention was made as well...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: This is one of the sadder contributions I have had to make in the House. It is to pay tribute to the late David Hill, who was playing with the Scottish Parliament against the Dáil and Seanad team on Saturday and tragically passed away during the match. We had come to know David immensely well over the past three or four years, both from going to Edinburgh to play and from them coming...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendments Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive, and No. 17 are related. Amendments Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, are physical alternatives to amendment No. 7. Amendments Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive, and No. 17 may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendments Nos. 15 and 15a are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendments Nos. 16 and 27 are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendment No. 18 is out of order as it is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendment No. 19 is out of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendments Nos. 20 to 24, inclusive, are related. Amendments Nos. 21 to 23, inclusive, are physical alternatives to amendment No. 20 and amendment No. 22 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 21. Is it agreed that amendments Nos. 20 to 24, inclusive, be discussed together? Agreed.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendment No. 28 is in the name of Senator Higgins has been ruled of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill.

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: Amendment No. 29ais in the name of Senator Higgins has been ruled of order as it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Mar 2022)

John McGahon: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach-----