Results 7,521-7,540 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 108: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 22.—(1) For the purposes of— (a) a mine rehabilitation plan, or (b) a mine rehabilitation plan which forms part of a project under section 46 (which relates to advances by the Minister for the purpose of marine or natural resource based tourism or heritage projects) of the Merchant Shipping...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 109: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 23.—(1) A local authority may be appointed by the Minister as agent of the Minister to do one or more of the following: (a) prepare a mine rehabilitation plan; (b) revise a mine rehabilitation plan; or (c) carry out a mine rehabilitation plan, on such terms and conditions as the Minister may decide. (2)...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 110: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 24.—(1) For the purpose of deciding whether or not to prepare, revise or implement a mine rehabilitation plan in respect of the site of a former mine or in preparing, revising or implementing such a plan, the Minister, a local authority acting as agent of the Minister or a local authority acting on its...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 111: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 25.—(1) In connection with the implementation of any mine rehabilitation plan, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, do either or both of the following: (a) purchase by agreement such lands, or rights in, under or over such lands or any substratum of such lands, as the Minister...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 112: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: "26.—Any expenditure incurred under this Part by the Minister or a local authority in the rehabilitation of the site of a former mine may, where considered appropriate in the circumstances, be recovered by the Minister or the local authority (as the case may be) against any person with a contractual or...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 113: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 27.—(1) This Part is in addition to, and not in substitution or restrictive of, any other requirement or obligation imposed by law. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) or in any other act or in any instrument made under an act shall be read so as to restrict the exercise of functions under this Part.".

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will appreciate that the gas safety provision which is under consideration in this Bill relates to downstream facilities only. On the issue raised by the Deputy, as regards the specific types of infrastructure he describes, we are examining the matter in detail with the co-operation of CER, with a view to providing the appropriate legislative framework to ensure that such...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Not all of them.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: If I have not managed to say what I want within two minutes, I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will indulge me a little, as he did the previous speakers. Members have digressed considerably from the amendments. As for Deputy Cowley's comments, I have never denied that some local people are concerned about this project. I have accepted this and have done everything possible to try to meet...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Yes. He told me about this conversation last Wednesday evening in the House. The local people protesting on what I would call the "non-media" days have, by and large, engaged in peaceful protest. They have had no problems with the gardaí on the days on which they have been protesting. However, one can see calls for days of action every day on such websites as Indymedia and the website...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: If Deputy Cowley wishes to make threats, that is fine, but he, as a public representative, should be trying to lead people, rather than engaging in some of the activities in which he is currently engaged. It is not helpful for him to engage in such activities. There is independent verification of the safety of this project and this is as far as we can go. It is not a case of us not...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A number of points have been raised that are similar to those raised in the first round of contributions on this aspect of the Bill and I will try to deal with them again. EirGrid is vested, established and will own the east-west interconnector due to be completed not later than 2012. It is important that we made this start in the area. Everyone in the House accepts EirGrid will act...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Labour Party has done several things at different times that it might not repeat. We have the benefit of being able to learn from things that have happened.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I agree with Deputy Ryan that it is a bit much to complain about energy prices and fuel poverty in one breath while in the next breath saying "not an inch", "no change" and arguing that the ESB must be kept as a vertically integrated unit, with no competition in the market.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I suggest the Deputy does not know——

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have them here.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The other side of the business is a natural monopoly and national asset.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The transmission side is a national asset and should be under the control and ownership of the company established for this purpose, namely, EirGrid.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: That is where the company should be but I did not say I would move it there. The Deputy is basically saying he will cry for consumers and those being hit by high electricity prices but we should not ask him to upset members of the trade unions in the ESB by asking them to shift a little ground and allow the competitive market we need to come about. As Deputy Eamon Ryan noted, a competitive...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not accepting the amendments because providing that the Minister sanction a decision of the CER and granting the authorisations being spoken about would undermine the statutory independence of the CER. The existing provisions for CER to grant an authorisation to construct a power station, consent to construct a natural gas pipeline or license an energy undertaking do not require any...