Results 1,881-1,900 of 2,343 for speaker:Michael Colreavy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I thank Dr. McLoughlin for her contribution. I have attended a number of meetings with her in attendance and I know that the organisation has had extensive communication with the local community in north Leitrim and beyond. Will she describe for the committee the concerns which exist and identify if even talk about hydraulic fracturing has had an impact on house values, investment decisions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I will again ask whether the exploration licence allows hydraulic fracking? Do we have to frack in order to get the information to see whether fracking is safe?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Can hydraulic fracking be permitted under an exploration licence, notwithstanding the role of the EPA in approving or not approving the licence? Is it within the gift of the Minister or Department or whoever grants an exploration licence to say to companies they can carry out hydraulic fracking in order to test the safety of the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I did ask the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I will table a Parliamentary Question on the matter and wait for an answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Was the Chairman's reminder aimed at me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I thank Ms Burke for the presentation. I am still unclear. Does an exploratory licence permit hydraulic fracturing in north Leitrim? I received an answer to that question, but I did not understand it. It is not clear to me. This document points out that people have the right to make a submission. We are talking about the potential for environmental impacts such as the poisoning of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I am more concerned now than I was. We are speaking about the process the Department would use in granting an exploratory licence. Is it within the gift of the Minister and the Department or are there legal implications for the Minister to follow the advice of the Commissioner and say we do not wish to seek tenders for applications for exploratory licences? Can the Minister say we are not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Does an exploration licence permit hydraulic fracturing in north Leitrim?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Would an exploration licence permit hydraulic fracturing in north Leitrim?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I think it would be an efficient use of time to have a committee meeting in north Leitrim and I could arrange a suitable venue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I appreciate that. How can the Department independently evaluate the figures proposed by a company in support of its case for the receipt of an exploration licence, given the paucity of information available on geological data? Given the possibility that a company may sell on the permission or engage in a joint venture with another company, how will the Department enforce commitments made...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: My family and I live five or six miles from what would be the centre of operations in this case. One hears people talk about conflicts of interest; I certainly have one in this instance. It is a pity this meeting is not being held in north Leitrim instead of on Kildare Street. At some stage members of the committee will need to meet in north Leitrim to see the countryside and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I have a number of valid questions and must be given the time to ask them. The first question has been answered in the introduction. I take it that there is a typographical error in the phrase: "Holders must decide by end February 2012". I presume it should read 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Hydraulic Fracturing: Discussion (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Who makes the decision to grant or refuse an exploration or production licence? What input, if any, will the committee have in reaching that decision? Is the committee a talking shop or will it have a real input in reaching that decision? Is there any provision in legislation for a Dáil vote on a decision of such crucial importance for the nation? My view is that little is known...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Someone who will be present in the Visitors' Gallery is slightly hard of hearing. When he attended a previous meeting and members did not speak into their microphones, he missed 50% of what was stated.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: For future meetings perhaps we might also consider using audio assistive technology for those who are hard of hearing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Business of Joint Committee (10 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: No. I am referring to persons who are aurally challenged.

Agriculture: Motion [Private Members] (9 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Agriculture cannot be divorced from a discussion about rural Ireland which has suffered many attacks since this recession was visited upon us. The cuts affect schools, hospitals, local post offices, Garda stations, transport services. Off-farm income has dropped and young people are leaving in droves. The farming community has not escaped lightly. While there have been improvements in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Michael Colreavy: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills has he received the Van Vught report on higher education; his views on the report’s recommendations, particularly in relation to merging Trinity College and University College Dublin; and if he will provide a date on which the report will be published. [43096/12]