Results 7,881-7,900 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Just because I do not row in behind the Deputy does not mean I am sitting on my hands. I have statutory functions which I have discharged. I have gone beyond them to try to meet the concerns that people had locally.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is entitled to disagree but I am also entitled to put on record that he is wrong. I went out of my way to listen to the concerns people had and to meet those concerns.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The fact that Members on the Opposition benches do not acknowledge it is something I cannot do anything about. Deputy Cowley can make all sorts of allegations inside and outside the House but I have a statutory function over the consents and statutory duties to discharge as a Minister, which I have done. I have gone beyond that to try to meet people's concerns. There was no need for me to...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Nevertheless, we paid CPI the courtesy of allowing Advantica to analyse its report in detail. The response is at the back of the Advantica report, which Deputy Cowley appears not to have seen. He might read it and see why I did not, and still do not, think much of the CPI report.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Mr. Moore's report was on the initial planning application to An Bord Pleanála, which considered it very carefully and decided not to accept its recommendation. It was fully considered. The only people who seem to think the CPI view should be considered are those who constantly say "No" to everybody else. Deputy Durkan and Deputy Broughan raised a question, which Deputy Broughan tried to...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I understand Millward Brown IMS carried out that poll. It showed that 70% of the people are in favour of Shell recommencing work on the project immediately.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It was a scientifically conducted poll.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There is a minority of people who do not want it.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I acknowledge there is a minority of people who do not want it.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A minority is a minority.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: No matter what I or anybody else does we will not change those people. It makes sense for Shell to proceed with the project. If Shell decides it wants to change the project or terminate it it will have to be dealt with under a new consent process.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, line 9, before "AND" to insert the following: ", TO PROVIDE FOR THE TREATMENT OF LANDS AFFECTED BY MINES AND FORMER MINES BY THE REHABILITATION OF SUCH LANDS AND FOR THE COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LANDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH REHABILITATION". The proposed amendments are required to give effect to a Government decision of 28 June 2005. It was decided the...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It has been a persistent problem for a long time. Deputies Hoctor and Michael Smith have consistently requested me to resolve the matter.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for their contributions and their support of this amendment. Give or take a few years, peat contracts with the ESB are due to expire in approximately 15 years, by 2020. The peat supply business is still Bord na Móna's main business with the ESB. If Deputies look at the strategic plan, the company can remain in its current position until 2020 or 2025 and then go out of...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Questions were asked about the difference between Bord na Móna, the plcs and the semi-State companies that are not plcs. The major difference is one of reporting and due diligence that must be pursued. There is not much difference in regard to governance but there is some. Whether a company is a plc or not, in the context of what Deputy Broughan asked, if it wants to expend a significant...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It depends on the valuation of the company. Too high a gearing would not be allowed because the shareholders would have to have final approval and if the gearing was too high, it would be refused. That is the safeguard that is in place and, in addition, the directorate would have responsibility. The norm in these matters is roughly a 50% to 60% gearing.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, line 9, before "AND" to insert the following: ", TO MAKE PROVISION AS RESPECTS THE EFFECT OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 MADE BY THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT (STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE) ACT 2006". This amendment is being made to remove any doubt about the status of existing consents granted for certain large scale...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Some people have a funny idea of what constitutes local democracy. I heard a former Fine Gael councillor in the area refer to 100 people in the area opposing this project from a total population of 10,000.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I do not want to get into a confrontation with the Deputy. If that is a definition of democracy, unfortunately, we will get nothing done in this country. We cannot get 100% approval from everybody, everywhere to everything.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Order for Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."