Results 6,961-6,980 of 8,245 for speaker:Bríd Smith

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (10 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: 57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the way the €100 million of VAT on tolls collected by the National Roads Authority and then Transport Infrastructure Ireland will be spent; the plans the agency has for these funds; and the implication this may have for his Department and the funding of transport projects over the coming period. [22129/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (10 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: 70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on media reports that the management of Bus Éireann has contingency plans to declare insolvency depending on the outcome of the pending ballot of its workers; his plans to deal with this; and if he or officials from his Department met with Bus Éireann management recently to discuss this issue. [22130/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Does the Minister accept the figure I gave?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Is it far off the mark?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I read about the Minister's comments.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: 49. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether the recent announcement of a joint ESB and Bord na Móna solar energy enterprise represents a large enough investment in solar energy in view of the scale of the climate crisis and the poor history the State has in embracing solar power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21826/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Following on from what we have been talking about, renewables, the Minister recently announced that ESB and Bord na Móna are to engage in a joint solar energy project. Could he clarify exactly what is the investment from both companies and what the scale of the project will be? I have heard different figures and am not sure whether I am correct in saying they are investing €5...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I will ask the Minister about the figures for subsidies for renewables in general because the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in 2014 stated that 10% of the public service obligation, PSO, levy we all pay on our electricity bills goes to renewables and that the vast bulk actually goes to fossil fuel sources, not renewables. I would argue that this is a real tragedy and I am...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I would like an explanation as to why the amendment is being made to the Bill. There are genuine concerns in communities that it will scupper the Bill rather than ensure its intentions will be copperfastened.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I am not sure about the protocol. Can we ask Deputy McLoughlin what he thinks of the amendment?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Is that my amendment?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I congratulate Deputy McLoughlin on his Bill and agree with him that passing Committee Stage is an important step forward. I have one niggling concern. I wish to raise a political matter even though I know is not the responsibility of this committee. I would like everybody to discuss, in a joined-up manner, whether my concerns are justified or unfounded. The Comprehensive Economic and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I, too, will table amendments on the matter.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prohibition of the Exploration and Extraction of Onshore Petroleum Bill 2016: Committee Stage (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I will table an amendment on offshore activities and another amendment on the definition of fracking.

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: There are some in this world who will deny that climate change is actually a problem. Some of them control the most important and powerful countries in the world.

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Indeed. In case people did not hear Deputy Stanley, he referred to County Kerry. I am astonished at the lack of urgency from the Minister and the Government. There is no sense that we are in trouble. In fact, the estimates for the scale of possible fines for not reaching our targets by 2030 are in the region of between €3.5 billion and €5.5 billion. If the estimate of...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Do I not get to come back?

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: I believe more energy is spent on looking for greater flexibility in how we can measure our targets rather than actually reducing them. I will offer two examples. One has already been mentioned and it relates to transport. We have a budget of some €10 billion for transport and we intend spending two thirds of it on roads. That does not deal with what needs to be dealt with, which...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: 47. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he plans to take to achieve targets on greenhouse gas emissions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21824/17]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016: Discussion (Resumed) (9 May 2017)

Bríd Smith: Thank you, Chairman.