Results 6,381-6,400 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: One of the last witnesses suggested a full-time catchment management person so that might answer that question. I will move on to the next member but I am sure the witnesses will address the overall management of our waters, which is a key part of this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will go back to Deputy Flaherty for Fianna Fáil, followed by Deputy Higgins for Fine Gael, who have about seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: There is a portion of the carbon tax as well ring-fenced towards agricultural environmental measures. To your knowledge, is any of it going back in that direction as well?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Aside from the retrofitting and social protection measures for which carbon tax is ring-fenced, it is also to go towards farming environmental practice measures. Dr. Crowe wishes to comment.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Mr. Meehan wants to come in on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Absolutely. A key component of any environmental management system is continuous monitoring and continuously trying to improve.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The next slot is for the Green Party and I will take it. I have a keen interest in water and, with the expertise we have in the room, I know the witnesses have much experience and a lifetime of dedication to this. My email inbox is not full every week with emails from people concerned about water quality. I have been knocking on doors for 20 years as a politician and it is rare that water...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Where is it working well and where can we take a model of a catchment or river area that we can emulate across the 46 catchments?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I absolutely agree about bringing in young people, as they are a real driving force.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I will go to Dr. McGoff and then to Ms O'Brien to respond.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I ask Ms O'Brien to be brief. We are well over time and I have to go to Deputy O'Callaghan next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Apologies for that slot running over. I call on Deputy O'Callaghan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: The question was also directed to the representatives of SWAN. I call Ms O'Brien and then we can come back to Dr. O'Mara.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Through the Chair, I will relay that question to Teagasc and give its representatives the opportunity to respond to those two questions. Just for clarity, these are Deputy Cian O'Callaghan's questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I note Dr. O'Mara's comments about speaking rotation. It is hard to watch the screen and the Teams messages in this room. I apologise; I should have brought him in sooner.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Did the Deputy also wish to put his questions to Teagasc and the Water Forum?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: That was a very helpful round of questions from Deputy Ó Broin because it has focused us. I know how it is when you are only given one wish. There are four sets of witnesses and I have eight wishes written down so the Deputy did well out of that round of questions. Just to clarify, on the Deputy's opening comment, I was not suggesting there is not engagement in my constituency with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: -----citizens' groups, coastal care groups, Tidy Towns groups and people with a concern. I just said the phone does not ring off the desk. I am sure the Deputy's inbox is the same.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: I want it to be that issue because that is what actually makes politicians react much of the time. We can lead and we can set out what our objectives are and where we should be going and much of it is directed by European directives. If it was not for European directives we would be way behind where we are at the moment but it is about how we get it so when I knock on a door, someone asks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Draft River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2022-2027: Discussion (7 Apr 2022)

Steven Matthews: Fortunately, I have a long list of questions. In the draft it plan it says 54% of water bodies are at risk. The river basin management plan set out that by 2027 we achieve "good" status. Is it reasonable, or do our guests have confidence, that we can attain good status for all those water bodies within five years? I think I remember the first river basin management plan and it certainly...