Results 9,281-9,300 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (27 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Onshore Licensing Option 11/3 was granted to Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd., for a two year period from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013 over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin. Tamboran Resources Pty Ltd., submitted an application for a follow-on Exploration Licence prior to the expiry of Onshore Licensing Option 11/3. My Department has written to Tamboran Resources...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (27 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Since the initial confirmation of the presence of Asian Clam in the “hot water” stretch of the River Shannon at Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Inland Fisheries Ireland’s (IFI) has co-ordinated actions of a range of State bodies, including the design and build of a disinfection station prototype and four units, funded by ESB, and the fishery has since reopened with strict...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I am conscious of the tendering process which is up and running again. The Chairman may have information which he regards as important but with respect to the details of the tender, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. I do not have any input into the tendering process when it is under way. The tendering process goes through its appropriate process. In reply to the Chairman's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Absolutely. The officials in my Department are very good and they are dealing with the ferry services to both the non-Gaeltacht and the Gaeltacht islands. We can organise a meeting with the Chairman to brief him on the process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Chairman for tabling this question. I had a chance to discuss it with the officials prior to the meeting. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has a contract with Mr. Maurice Coughlan for the period from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2014 for the provision of a passenger ferry service between Long Island in Cork and the mainland. As the contract was coming to an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Le freagra a thabhairt ar na ceisteanna maidir leis an gCartlann Náisiúnta, mar atá a fhios ag an gcoiste, cé gur chaill muid an spriocdáta anuraidh, tá sé i gceist go mbeidh na comhaid a bhaineann leis an Roinn ar fáil roimh dheireadh na bliana. Maidir leis an maoiniú do Theach an Phiarsaigh, thug mé cuairt ar an dtogra sin i gContae na...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Future Plans: Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (25 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Tá mé thar a bheith sásta bheith anseo. Tá fios agam go bhfuil ceisteanna ag daoine orm agus táim sásta iad a bhfhreagairt.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (20 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I refer the Deputy to the replies to Parliamentary Questions 559 of 11 November 2014 and 246 of 6 November 2014 which set out the legislative position in relation to this matter. If the Deputy has a particular case or circumstance in mind, I would be hapy to arrange a detailed briefing with the appropriate senior personnel in Inland Fisheries Ireland to discuss his concerns.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: General Practitioner Services (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I acknowledge the drive of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and his officials in working with the IMO on a new contract. I hope that progress can be made on that front. If there are areas of research and sums of money are required, it is important to be as inclusive of the stakeholders as possible. I am aware that there will shortly be a meeting between the Irish Haemochromatosis Association,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Nothing will happen for the next two years, at least.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: General Practitioner Services (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank Senator Burke for raising this issue. It is close to my heart, if Members will pardon the pun, because I have haemochromatosis. It is important for me to declare that conflict of interest before we move on. I am delighted that the Senator has raised it. I have worked closely with Margaret Mullett, who is the chairperson of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association. Her husband...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for the welcome back to my alma mater; we had many a good debate over a five-year period. It brings back nice memories indeed. I also thank the Senator for raising this matter. While I have outlined the Government's position on the issue of hydraulic fracturing on a number of occasions in Dáil Éireann, this is my first opportunity to discuss the matter in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Yes.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Prior to the start of the EPA research project, I had a number of meetings even during the summer. I met representatives of groups from Sligo. The Minister, Deputy White, and I had a meeting in Dublin with a group from Cavan County Council and Leitrim County Council. There are obvious concerns and I take them very seriously. While they exercised their right to make an application, the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Cards (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and I am also conscious of the fact that she said she has heard it all before-----

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Medical Cards (19 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: -----but I am also conscious that the Minister for Finance gave me a job to do. It is important to read the reply into the record from a formality point of view. To give a brief description of the scheme as it currently stands, it provides relief from vehicle registration tax and VAT on the purchase of a specially adapted vehicle, repayment of excise duty on fuel and an exemption from motor...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (18 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: As I have outlined on a number of occasions no decision will be made on any proposal for the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling as part of an unconventional gas exploration programme, until there has been time to consider the outcome of a major research programme, directed at examining the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, which was recently...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Irish Language (18 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: As already advised to the House, a decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in the EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. In that context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, continues to be actively engaged with the EU institutions in order to formulate specific proposals on the...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: Níl an ceart ag an Teachta.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Waterways Maintenance (11 Nov 2014)

Joe McHugh: I am advised that matters relating to cleaning or maintenance of a river or stream is an issue for the relevant Local Authority. In that context, it would be the norm that the Local Authority would engage in consultation with, among others, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) which is the statutory body charged with ensuring the protection and conservation of our fisheries resource and habitats....