Results 141-160 of 4,709 for speaker:Jennifer Whitmore

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank Dr. Downes. Mr Ryan stated that, last year, North Cork Creameries was on the national priority sites list but that it improved so it was taken off the list. That is quite a kind picture really, is it not? North Cork Creameries was on the national priority sites list in quarter 3 of 2021, quarters 2, 3 and 4 of 2022, and for all of 2023 and 2024. It went back on for two quarters...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: For two quarters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: North Cork Creameries has been on the list for four years. That begs the question, which has been asked already, as to the point at which a licence suspended. Ms McDonald said that the EPA has never suspended any dairy licence. To clarify, has it ever suspended a licence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Not generally. Has the EPA ever suspended a licence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: The EPA has never once revoked a licence from an entity. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: But the EPA has never suspended a licence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: At what stage, after such significant non-compliance year in and year out, does the EPA decide that an entity is not in compliance with the terms of its licence and that its chances are gone?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: The EPA did not secure compliance in 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024, and again now 2025. Am I correct in saying this licence was issued in 2019?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I looked on the LEAP Online portal. North Cork Creameries had the licence for four or five months before the first non-compliance came in early 2020. The company has never been in compliance with the terms of its EPA licence for longer than two quarters over the entire period. How many chances does it deserve? The EPA's role is to protect our water systems. We are continually breaching...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: How much was the company fined?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Fish Kill in the River Blackwater: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: The fine was €11,000 and the company's revenue is over €200 million a year, is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: It was for the inshore fishers, that is perfect. As part of that policy development, was the ICES advice considered in relation to the precautionary quota that it has down, of 2,240 tonnes? Was that considered as part of the discussions? Did that form any basis? Why is it not part of the policy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Yet it is essentially being managed now. By excluding the larger boats the Department is managing it and ensuring there is actually a quota for the larger boats in year 1. Is that correct? There is no quota, however. The Department is not putting any quota, cap or restrictions on the species in total in line with the precautionary ICES advice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Okay. It was not about the sustainability of the sprat; it was about the inshore fishers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: I thank Ms McSherry. I have a question for the Marine Institute. This is obviously a very important forage fish. What are the risks if this species is not sustainably managed? Do the witnesses see the measures that are being proposed as a means to sustainably manage this species?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Obviously, we are currently looking at this as a national stock. Last week, we heard from Mr. Foley regarding the Dunmore box and how there was a lot of sprat there. A recent letter from the Minister referred to how the Marine Institute survey had showed there was no evidence of collapse in the abundance of the species in the Celtic Sea. Is it important to assess for this species on a very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: Okay. What is the best way to do management plans?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: In the absence of that information, is there a risk we are not going to manage this stock sustainably? It is a very short-lived fish and if there is one heavy year of fishing, I imagine it could impact the populations significantly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs: Sprat Fishing: Discussion (30 Sep 2025)

Jennifer Whitmore: "Collapse" is quite a significant phrase.