Results 6,101-6,120 of 34,779 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Perfect. Maybe an explanation could be provided the first time a term is used. This happens in other reports submitted to the committee. For example I note the line, "introduction to the role of Radiation Protection Officer (RPO)" in the report but if I was to see the term "RPO" for the first time 20 pages after that reference, I would not know what an RPO was.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I am complimenting the quality of the report, which is very readable. From the committee's perspective, we often put a glossary into our reports. Members might understand the reports but not everybody does. Ms Burke might now explain what "aircrew" means. It is referred to on page 11 of the annual report. Will Ms Burke tell the committee in layman's English what "Control of aircrew...

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: This is a reference to airline crew.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Does it refer to air stewards as well?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: The percentage of flights appears to have increased significantly.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: How many staff are covered by this research? How many air crew are we talking about?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps the witnesses will revert to me with a figure.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Are these 20,000 people in Ireland or with Irish-based airlines? Does it include staff such as Ryanair's staff abroad or is it the staff on every flight that comes into Ireland? Does the 20,000 figure apply only to staff operating in our airspace?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: We understand.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: It is a calculated figure rather than an accounted figure.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Does that 20,000 figure include Ryanair staff throughout Europe who may never come to Ireland? Are figures available for the staff exposure that occurs in Irish airspace? Can that be calculated?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I know it is a small point but I ask Dr. Ryan to send us a note on that.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: When I do not understand a chart I ask a question.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Page 12 features a table on legal enforcement activity. The EPA had fines and costs awarded in the District Courts and the Circuit Courts totalling €390,074 in 2017. Are those fines payable to the EPA or to the courts?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: That is collected by the Courts Service?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Is the EPA not involved in collection thereafter?

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I ask that because I submitted a parliamentary question this week asking about the number of fines or prosecutions taken to court by the EPA. The Minister replied that this was not the responsibility of the Dáil. I have asked this question across all public bodies. The Courts Service will come before the committee in a few weeks and we want to see where fines imposed on behalf of...

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: The EPA has a role in river basin management plans in respect of water quality. I am aware that there are seven or eight river basin management plans in place. In my area the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir go into one area. I am sure the River Shannon and the River Liffey have similar plans. From the EPA's perspective, which area's management plan poses the most difficulty with regard to...

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: I do not need it off the top of Ms Burke's head. There was a good plan in place a few years ago which involved flooding more than anything. There were regional plans for the three rivers I mentioned and there were not that many because every river ends up in the sea through some source.

Public Accounts Committee: Environmental Protection Agency: Financial Statements 2017 (18 Apr 2019)

Seán Fleming: Those plans were set aside during the Irish Water issue so there was one plan for one national water agency. The regional river basin management plans were a good idea because they cover a large area and I would hate it if we no longer got information on the river basin catchment area. Ms Burke might come back and update the committee on that. I do not have any specific issue.