Results 14,941-14,960 of 16,478 for speaker:Tommy Broughan

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: Deputy Ryan makes a valid point. We seem to have covered specified works under subsection (13). Deputy Ryan's amendment is complementary and covers all the requirements. In that context, it is a reasonable amendment.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The Minister of State could send an SOS for the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. He was wrapped up in knots trying to explain it on Committee Stage.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: This matter was discussed in detail on Committee Stage. Does this mean, that because CER may appoint an authorised officer, including the person from RECI or the other body, it has to take responsibility for all the examinations, completion certificates etc. carried out?

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: CER is, therefore, responsible.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The issue of the approval by Dáil Éireann of important developments in ministerial orders has been raised several times today and in the previous debate. I appreciate the Minister of State's portfolio is the Department of Education and Science. Ministerial orders and regulations are laid before the Houses. We receive them or they are left in the Dáil Library for 21 days, but it is...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: They raised matters they did not even understand.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: This amendment illustrates that the Bill has been changed drastically.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: We came in with one Bill but major additional issues have since been introduced. At the start of this debate we wanted energy safety legislation to operate under the aegis of CER. Many of the key issues we have raised, including micro-generators and fuel poverty, should have been included in another major Bill. This demonstrates a lack of joined-up thinking.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: A key problem that regularly arises in times of crisis or major developments in the area of energy is the failure by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to set out his objectives in directives. In that context, I welcome what the Minister of State has said in terms of outlining the key objectives which should be set out in any directive from the Minister to the CER....

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The word "Minister" is gender-neutral.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I strongly support the amendment tabled by Deputy Ryan and commend him on introducing it. One of the big disappointments of the recent Green Paper on Energy was that it did not contain any reference to micro-generation and the application of smart metering systems. Many critical areas in energy were not dealt with in the Green Paper but I hope that will be remedied subsequently. I will...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The public are becoming increasingly interested in this issue, as we have seen from inquiries about greener homes and the possibilities of micro-generation. In advising constituents on the Minister's leaflets, we often find that major problems arise in trying to transport woodchips for boilers, particularly in urban areas. I have received calls from constituents which suggest the system is...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I believed the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, had changed appearance — I am stunned.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: We are dealing with the role of CER in developing an all-island market. Colleagues mentioned that we are not really sure what will happen. Representatives of the Northern Ireland regulatory body were before the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources approximately six months ago and it was clear that the body regulates its side of the Border. On 1 November next year...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: He had been in possession of the report for almost a year but had refused to publish it despite our constant and repeated demands. He suddenly slipped it out on 1 October last.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I have to say it was Fianna Fáil politics operating at its most remarkable.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The Minister tried to cover all the bad news with his shining Green Paper. The Deloitte & Touche report contains a great deal of analysis of the ESB. It examines various issues relating to the market, which we are discussing in this amendment and this section, in a professional and thorough manner. The most interesting thing in the report, which was produced by a hard-headed consultancy...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed). (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: If we had the resources, in the form of storage capacity, we could have had free gas for half of next year. We have an opportunity to provide for measures which will require the Commission for Energy Regulation to consider this issue as the all-island market develops. People sometimes say that poverty measures should only be discussed in terms of the budget — they should be examined in...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: I do not wish to delay the discussion because a number of important amendments have yet to be moved but the public generally takes the view that a Bill passes into law once it has been signed by the President. Recently, for example, I was asked whether the fireworks provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 had entered into force. There are often misconceptions among the public about when...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Tommy Broughan: The House understands that very detailed and intense preparatory work is involved in producing the legislation, including in respect of the all-island energy market. When we first discussed the Bill, we were trying to address all the safety issues. The Minister is, at long last, establishing a very fundamental safety regime for electricity and gas. The public would like to know that it...