Results 1,281-1,300 of 4,012 for speaker:Jennifer Whitmore

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide the details of the 58 schools whose funding was put on hold; when a decision regarding the future of these schools will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14266/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in relation to a project (details supplied); if the school can continue to progress the delivery of this accommodation, as per previous agreement with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14264/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a project for a school (details supplied); when funding will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14265/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the provision of project for a school (details supplied); if a site has been identified; the timeline for tender, construction and completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14271/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine which Department is responsible for the implementation of the national hedgerow survey, as per Programme for Government commitments; and to outline the progress made on that commitment. [14205/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hedge Cutting (22 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: 281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific basis for the 500m threshold in relation to hedgerow removal under EIA (Agriculture) Regulations (S.I. 456 of 2011 as amended); whether his Department has ever conducted any analysis of the integrity of, or provided a rationale for, that 500m threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14204/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank all of our guests for their presentations. From listening to the witnesses and reading through their documents, there is a focus on what individuals can do. We have quite a focus on this aspect in Ireland because everyone wants to do their bit. I wonder if there is too much of a focus on this approach. In reality, when we talk about retrofitting, we are not meeting these targets....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I am reading through their opening statement, and when they talk about the different SDGs, targets and key developments the Department has worked on, the key developments seem to be very much plan based. It is all about the draft clean air Act, the waste plan for a circular economy and the national smart metering programme. It is very much the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: Just on that, if are just using that example, with the smart metering programme, essentially Ms Gilmartin is saying those policy teams do not need to wait for those different governance structures. Is that currently being reviewed, because I believe it is one that is not working?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: Yes. It is about the number of different mechanisms. If the witnesses are saying the key developments in relation to the SDGs from the departmental perspective are programmes like this, it should not be the programmes that are key developments. It should be the tangible measures and actions on the ground. This is where I am coming from.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sustainable Development Goals: Discussion (21 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: Perhaps we can stick with that one, because it is a good example. There is no need for the CSO to report on that one because the indicators are clear that it is not working. Is there a mechanism for that to be updated and that policy reviewed without waiting for the CSO to report back? How does that work? I would at one stage have been very much in the witnesses' role. I would have been...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: The Minister is saying we cannot include the sunset clause because it is needed until 2027. This Bill relates to the EPA assessment. The EPA will do that assessment once. We were told very clearly that the assessment would have to be conducted within a couple of months. The EPA will have done its job. It will have used the provisions of the Act and done the assessment in an expedited...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: If this process goes through and the 450 MW is in place for this winter but another deficit arises next year and the Minister realises we need additional capacity, will this legislation enable the EPA to undertake a further assessment on additional capacity for winter 2024-25?

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: Where is that specified? I have done a quick search of Eirgrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022 and 450 MW is not specified in that legislation.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I do not have that legislation to hand but I will take the Minster at his word. It still does not negate the fact that once the EPA has conducted its functions, this Bill is no longer necessary. Therefore, there should be a sunset clause included to ensure the emergency provisions, once dealt with, are negated and no longer possible to be used in any other process.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I move amendment No. 6: In page 8, after line 8, to insert the following: “(3) This Act shall continue in operation until 8 March 2025, unless a resolution approving the continuation of this Act has been passed by Dáil Éireann before that date and, in that event, this Act shall continue in operation until such date as is specified in the resolution.”.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I move amendment No. 7: In page 3, line 19, after “flora” to insert the following: “, in line with the provisions as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021”.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I am glad to hear the Minister believes the sunset clause is already in place and that the Eirgrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022 will cease operation in 2027 and that is-----

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: The project will cease. Its cessation being cast iron does not negate the need to have a sunset clause in this Bill, because the operation of this Bill only applies to the application. It is safe to say that once the EPA has granted that application, there is absolutely no reason it would need to retain these functions and powers for another two, three, four or however many years. I was a...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Jennifer Whitmore: I move amendment No. 3: In page 8, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “Report on Implementation 9.The Minister shall, within 6 months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the application of the provisions of this Act. This report shall include, but not be limited to— (a) the current and future status of energy...