Results 961-980 of 4,773 for speaker:Paudie Coffey

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: It is important to note that even the make-up of the Seanad panels brings a valuable insight and expertise to the climate change debate. We have the agricultural panel, the industrial and commercial panel, the labour panel, the culture and educational panel and the universities. It is a unique Chamber that can bring valuable oversight and insight to all of these plans when they are laid...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The proposed amendment seeks to shorten the timeframe for the production of the first statutory national adaptation framework from 24 months after enactment of the Bill to just 12 months following the enactment. As with the national mitigation plan, I appreciate the motivation behind the amendment. However, as I have already outlined in regard to the national plan, the national adaptation...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: This proposed amendment seeks to insert the word "written", as Senators have outlined, before the phrase "scientific or technical advice". Advice is one item that must be considered when the Government and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government perform their functions in respect of the national adaptation frameworks and sectorial adaptation plans. I appreciate that...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The Senators have outlined their concerns well but it is important that there is a realistic approach to this legislation. There will be deep engagement at many levels in society for the development of the various plans and adaptation frameworks. These engagements will happen at different levels of the sectors, people, industry and agriculture. The advice can be presented or discussed at...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I understand, from the debate on Committee Stage, that the intent behind the amendment is for the complete removal of the ex officiomembers from the climate change advisory council, an issue to which Members referred to earlier. Such a course of action would not be in our best interests because it would remove the hugely valuable insights that the advisory council would have into the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: It is important to have robust and constructive debate and that is what always occurs in this House. However, let me make it categorically clear to Senator Norris that the Government is the sponsor of this Bill. The members of the Government parties are very proud-----

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: -----to bring forward this historic legislation.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: History and time will tell that this Government is taking a very proactive step.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Senator Norris should do the honourable thing and acknowledge that at the very least. I acknowledge the role of the various bodies such as Friends of the Earth and so many other NGOs that have made a valuable contribution in terms of contributing to this legislation. I want to make it clear to the House that the Government is the sponsor of the Bill. The proposed amendment seeks to place...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The proposed amendment would remove from the EPA the function of providing what are essentially back-office, administrative support services to the climate change advisory council. If the proposal were to be accepted, there still would be a requirement to provide such services and supports which, presumably, would mean establishing the advisory council as a body corporate with its own...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The amendments propose that the climate change advisory council should advise, make recommendations and submit its annual report to the Oireachtas rather than the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As the latter is responsible under the Bill for putting together both the national mitigation plan and the national adaptation framework, it is appropriate that the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Senator Norris will be glad to know I agree with his position and I thank him for his support. We debated this amendment at length on Committee Stage during which I outlined the Government position. I am happy to clarify it again for the House. The 30 day timeframe is to provide an opportunity for the annual report to be seen by the Government before it is published. I hasten to add that...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: Amendments Nos. 18 and 25 call for the complete removal of the reference to the EPA on decisions on the means of publication of the annual and periodic review reports. As outlined in respect of amendment No. 14, the current texts reflect the fact that the EPA will just provide back office support to the climate change advisory council. It is, therefore, best placed to offer advice on the...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The proposed amendment calls for the climate change advisory council to conduct a periodic review every 12 months after its initial review. I cannot see any reason such a provision should be included in the Bill when section 12 already provides for the advisory council to conduct an annual review and report thereon every 12 months. Accordingly, having a parallel periodic review process...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: We agree with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I am happy to clarify the Government position’s on these amendments. Both amendments relate to the timeframe within which the periodic review reports are to be submitted to the Government by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the timeframe within which they are to be published by the climate change advisory council. Both timeframes are related, as it...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: I thank the Leader and the House for extending the time to facilitate further debate on this important and historic legislation. In respect of adaptation, this section is carefully worded so as to make it optional as to which Ministers with specific sectorial adaptation responsibilities will be required to present annual sectorial adaptation transition statements to the Oireachtas. In any...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: We have all acknowledged and identified that climate change and reducing carbon emissions are among the most significant challenges facing not only Irish society but also global society. I have no doubt that Ministers will be held accountable and responsible, as they should be, before both Houses of the Oireachtas. However, the amendment is unnecessary as it would only tie the hands of a...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The proposed amendment would make it obligatory on the Government to lay a statement before the Oireachtas outlining the reasons for not accepting an assessment of the Climate Change Advisory Council. As stated in section 11, the principal function of the Climate Change Advisory Council is to advise and make recommendations to the Government on the approval of a national mitigation plan, a...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (25 Nov 2015)

Paudie Coffey: The advisory council is just that-----