Results 8,661-8,680 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Seirbhísí Eitilte (12 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: Mar is eol don Teachta, rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú a choimisiúnú anuraidh ar an tseirbhís aeir i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE. Léirigh an t-athbhreithniú a rinne EY go raibh cás socheacnamaíoch ann don tseirbhís aeir. Léiríodh fosta go raibh sé riachtanach sábháiltí a bhaint amach i gcomhthéacs an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Resources (12 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects is administered by the EPA and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. As is usual in major and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Prospecting Licences (12 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: In July 2011, a Departmental submission to the Minister recommended that Petroleum Prospecting Licences be granted to three companies who were the holders of Licensing Options for onshore areas. The then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D., did not agree to that recommendation and questioned the strategy of issuing Petroleum Prospecting Licences to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Data (12 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The 2.5 tonnes of sample material referred to by the Deputy was removed by Waterways Ireland. As the Deputy will appreciate the Asian Clam is an invasive species and indications, thus far, are that it is resilient and durable in the environment. I am advised that the expected life span out of water, as it is currently understood and estimated, has since been exceeded and therefore the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Air Services Provision (12 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: My Department has not received any proposal from Mayo County Council in relation to the development of a helipad on Inishturk. If a proposal were to be received, my Department would consider it in the context of its existing commitments and the budget available to it for capital expenditure on the islands.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Ireland Investigations (11 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: In the context of the Erne as a trans-boundary waterway, a comprehensive package to mitigate the loss of elvers was agreed between my Department, the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and the ESB. This mitigation package involves the purchase, by ESB, and release of eels into the sea and the extension of ESB’s highly successful “trap and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: There are legitimate concerns, which are shared by the Minister, Deputy White, and me. The former Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, also shared those concerns in 2011 when he made the decision to begin the process. The EPA is independent and I have tremendous confidence in it to do a job like this. There was a procurement process and CDM Smith won the tender. We can use all sorts of terms such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: There is cross-party concern. The Deputy's constituency colleagues, Deputy Tony McLoughlin and Senator Michael Comiskey, have reflected local concerns. We have to give responsibility to the EPA. No organisation is better equipped to examine the environmental impact of the process. I have confidence in the stakeholders I have listed - I will not list them again - to ensure this is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: I will answer the question. I assume the focus of the Deputy's question is recent public comment relating to the role of the lead consultant in the multi-agency transboundary programme of research and the potential impacts on the environment and human health from unconventional gas exploration and extraction projects. This research programme is administered by the EPA and co-funded by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: Following on the July 2013 Dáil Éireann debate on the 2012 Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, sectoral experts Wood Mackenzie were engaged to advise on the appropriateness of Ireland's oil and gas fiscal terms. In undertaking their review Wood Mackenzie sought to take account of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Exploration Licences (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Terms of Reference for this research programme were agreed by a broadly based Steering Group. The draft Terms of Reference had earlier been published for consultation and more than 1,300 submissions were received. The EPA and the Steering Committee reviewed the submissions and the draft Terms of Reference were amended and strengthened after this public consultation. As is usual...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trade Agreements (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the established international regime governing the trade in rough diamonds and Ireland, through its membership of the EU, participates in this regime. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free' and prevent conflict...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The multi-agency trans-boundary programme of research on the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects is administered by the EPA and co-funded by the EPA, my Department and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with oversight from a broad based Steering Committee that includes my Department. As is usual in major...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: As is usual in major and broad ranging projects such as this, the project team involves a wide range of expert institutions and companies. CDM Smith is the lead consultant in the consortium engaged to carry out the programme of research and that consortium includes the British Geological Survey, University College Dublin, Ulster University, AMEC Foster Wheeler and Philip Lee Solicitors, each...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trade Issues (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the established international regime governing the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free' and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Ireland participates in the KPCS...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: Following completion of the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline, Shell E&P Ireland Limited, on behalf of the Corrib Gas partners, submitted an application on 18 August, 2015, under Section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, for consent to operate the pipeline. This consent is required by the developer before production of gas can commence. A public consultation process in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences Data (10 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The following table outlines the exploration licences issued by my Department over the past six years. Details of all authorisations granted by my Department are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis and can also be found in the six monthly reports to the Oireachtas, which I am obliged to lay before the Houses under the Minerals Development Acts, 1940 to 1999 and the...

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Acting Chairman for the introduction to the new Kildare-Wicklow two minutes. I will not have time to cover all the points but I will try my best.

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The longer we continue with this the less time I will have.

Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan has already said that the changes announced by Bank of Ireland around in-branch lodgements and withdrawals represents a commercial decision for the bank but he considers these changes surprising and unnecessary. The Minister notes that the bank has given a commitment to assist more vulnerable customers in their branches and he does expect the bank to...