Results 17,301-17,320 of 27,275 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes.
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Sorry, a Cheann Comhairle, but I will just to explain it. The Bill is rather complex in that two options are set out in it, one of which is it would transfer as a corporate subsidiary and the other one is the existing harbour company would be dissolved and would be transferred to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. If the Ceann Comhairle looks at-----
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I am.
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: This is a group of amendments and if the Ceann Comhairle reads amendment No. 29-----
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: We welcome the broad thrust of this Bill. It reflects a long-standing desire of all sorts of groups, stakeholders, users of the harbour to have more involvement in its development, protection and improvement. I stated that on Committee Stage and the Minister acknowledged it. I do not want it to be just a nominal move in that direction but to be a tangible change. This centres on whether...
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: We have debated this issue extensively. The decision to give precedence to the elected representatives in key areas of decision making around harbours, in this case, Dún Laoghaire Harbour, can only be made in this House. It is fair to say that kind of decision might have to be taken in conjunction with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government but we have well...
- Harbours Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 1:In page 6, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:“ “Stakeholder and Community Group” means a group comprising elected representatives of all harbour user groups as well as resident and community groups across the local authority area;”. We discussed this at length on Committee Stage but I wish to take another opportunity in a more...
- Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I will be brief as we have had this discussion at length on earlier Stages. As I said before, I fundamentally reject the basis on which this entire Bill is constructed and the emphasis of this Government's policy on the private health insurance industry playing a useful role in developing a universal health system. The reason the Government used the term “universal health...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: If we have half an hour, can we not have a little longer?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I will try to ask very direct questions and receive direct answers, if possible. Mr. Lynott described those involved in the study as independent. How can he possibly claim organisations such as Amec and CDM Smith are independent? Is it not misleading to say these organisations are independent?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Does Mr. Lynott not think Amec and CDM Smith have a hopeless conflict of interest? Is this not obvious as they are involved with oil and gas companies?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: What does Mr. Lynott mean by that?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Will Mr. Lynott summarise it? Do they not have a hopeless conflict of interest, given their association with the oil and gas industry?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I put it to Mr. Lynott that they do not. Amec is part of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a pro-fracking coalition. I will read from its website: "Our customers, in both the private and public sector, are among the world’s biggest and best in their fields - BP, Shell, BR Petrobras, KNPC ... Suez ... ExxonMobil". The list goes on. Mr. Lynott does not say it is independent, but how can...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: My time is running out. I just do not accept this. Under all the headings, including ground surface and water, water requirements for fracking, faults and fractures, air monitoring, water impacts, mitigation measures and life cycle assessment, CDM Smith is listed. It goes on and on. In some cases Amec Wheeler Foster and CDM Smith are not only carrying out the studies but also reviewing...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I have made my point. I put it to Mr. Lynott that this whole exercise has been completely compromised from the word go by the involvement of CDM Smith. It has been predominant at every level and clearly has a very strong interest in fracking going ahead. In one sentence, what is the purpose of this study?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: If the health department in New York has said it does not believe on public health grounds it is safe to allow fracking, how could it be safe in Ireland?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I will quote what was said in New York to Mr. Lynott: “DOH's report concludes that it will be years until science and research provide sufficient information to determine the level of risk HVHF poses to public health and whether those risks can be adequately mitigated.” The New York health department is operating according to the precautionary principle. In other words, it is...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: That is a very long answer. How could it be safe in terms of public health in Ireland if it is not safe in New York?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Is what is being said in New York not science?