Results 16,401-16,420 of 20,884 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I have already asked for that to be done.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I do not want to delay proceedings but would simply restate the issues referred to earlier with regard to clarity, making sure that what one proposes to insert into the legislation is clear and addresses definition problems and the potential legal consequences. I have made the case on all of those points and do not propose to go over them again now. However, I will do what I said.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The amendment calls for the inclusion of references to the management of soil carbon and the protection and rewetting of wetlands when I, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, perform functions under section 4. The Deputy may be aware that BirdWatch Ireland is keen to have this amendment included. In the first instance, I fully accept that both the management of...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The amendment calls for the inclusion of further considerations in national mitigation plans. As the Deputy said, there are many things that could be included in section 4(7) and good arguments could be made for the inclusion of worthy sentiments which would make the subsection very lengthy and unwieldy. However, the proposals included in the amendment are relevant and, for the most part,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I see little merit in this proposal as the Government has to approve the plan in any event. There also could be unintended consequences. For instance, what happens if someone wants to play politics in circumstances where there is a temporary minority in either House? I do not think that is in anyone's interests. It adds another layer of bureaucracy. I oppose this amendment.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: This is a useful section as it specifies the matters that I, as Minister, and the Government of the day need to take into account in performing our functions in respect of the adaptation frameworks and sectoral adaptation plans. One of the more unusual features of the Bill is the prominence and priority it gives to adaptation matters, which is only right, given the potential impacts of...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: It took us so long to get to this point. I do not agree with some of the amendments, but I understand them. I am looking at other amendments because I can see the validity of the arguments. The name is obviously very important to some people, so I will take the views of the Deputies into account if they write to me. I will certainly take this idea on board and look at it before Report...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: We were getting on so well.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I will look at changing the name.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Yes, definitely.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: In one way or another, the three amendments call for an explicit statement that the expert Advisory Council on Climate Change will be independent in the performance of its functions. I appreciate that there have been some concerns raised that the presence of ex officiomembers on the council would in some way render it less than independent in its advice-giving functions. I do not agree with...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The amendment calls for the shortening of the time frame for publication by the expert advisory council from 30 days to ten days, as stated. By way of explanation for what is already provided in the Bill 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 there is no intention or provision for the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The amendment asks for the timeframe for the first periodic review to be changed from 18 months to six. This will be the most important review because it will be the first. The council is specifically charged with analysing progress made in meeting our mitigation targets up to 2020 under the EU effort sharing decision of 2009. It is unique. I understand the reason Deputies Richard Boyd...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Both amendments Nos. 36 and 37 call for the expert advisory council to report and provide advice in respect of proposed annual targets. I do not accept the validity of the inclusion of such domestic targets in the Bill. I will not rehash the whole argument. For reasons of similar thoughts expressed by Deputy O'Dowd I will not accept the amendments.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I accept the positions of both Deputies. The expert council will embark on periodic reviews. That will not necessarily be the norm. I should say that any reviews will not be amended by Government. I give a commitment to look at the timeframe of between 60 and 90 days. A timeframe of ten days is unreasonable. I will certainly look at it to see if we can reduce it but certainly it will...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: Of all the amendments, this one was the most confusing. I respect the spirit of what the Deputy has just said. This has been looked for by the Deputy and Deputy Catherine Murphy. The first part of the amendment states:15. (1) The Advisory Council shall have regard to any guidance given by the Minister to it in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act. I accept 15(2) and...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: That is twice today that I have done that.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: The committee is well aware of my views on this. I do not wish to repeat them except to say I will oppose the amendment.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I said the Deputy has put forward a similar argument before. There is disagreement on this and I do not want to repeat the argument except to say that I will oppose these amendments.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Alan Kelly: I will look at it before Report Stage.