Results 19,461-19,480 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 33:In page 12, line 11, to delete "have regard to" and substitute "ensure that".This relates to the Minister's safeguarding of the environment, the requirement that the Minister should take into account the social, economic and environmental functions of forestry and follow the best forest practice. Many points have already been made in previous discussions on other...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I would like to hear other opinions on this subject. Does the Minister of State mean that if a member of a committee who advises him on forest management hears something that does not concern personal information, is in line with the law and is a cause for serious concern in the context of the public interest and the sustainable management of our forests, he or she will have the legal right...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will press the amendment, although I will not seek a vote on it. I am not terribly happy with the Minister of State's reply because it is somewhat evasive. The Minister of State cannot speak again but perhaps his officials could just nod. If a disclosure is allowed by law and the whistleblower legislation allows for the disclosure, the Minister would not be able to override permission?...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 28:In page 11, line 11, after “law” to insert the following:“, save where such disclosures may be deemed to be in the public interest, particularly where such disclosures are made in the interests of sustainable forest management”.This amendment concerns disclosures and confidentiality. One could call it a whistle-blower's amendment. Section...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: While I appreciate the Minister of State has tabled an amendment to respond to the concerns raised, it is too qualified. I wish to press this matter because it relates concretely to how the Government and the Minister will be influenced by the right balance of stakeholders in forestry. The amendment tabled by the Minister of State states "the Minister shall give due consideration to the...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: As I can only come back once more, I will say my final piece in this regard. I accept the Minister of State's bona fides and that he would seek to so do. That was why he responded to the Committee Stage debate by tabling his amendment. I genuinely accept he would wish to engage in a proper way.

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: However, I believe there will be huge pressures on all Ministers, present and future, in this area. Sadly, the media are not terribly interested in this debate as it no longer is controversial because Coillte will not be sold. However, I believe that as a big milestone is the potential merger of Coillte with Bord na Móna and what this may mean. It involves substantial resources, the...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 26:In page 10, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following:“8. (1) The Minister should establish a working group based on the Forestry Liaison Group, with balanced representation for the social, environmental and economic stakeholders. (2) The working group may create sub-groups to issue advice on specific areas when required in consultation with the...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Minister of State. I should take up the offer to meet Coillte. I have had some engagement in recent times with some Coillte staff. I do not want to underestimate the value of much of the work done by many of the people who work for Coillte. What I say is not in any sense across-the-board criticism of Coillte. What is important is the mandate of Coillte, and the extent to...

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It cannot be moved?

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It was not agreed.

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: My amendment is lost even though it was different?

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: No.

Forestry Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Amendment No. 23 seeks to ensure any licence granted accords with the principles of sustainable forest management. We discussed at length the need to define clearly sustainable forest management and I contend that the Rio principles on this should guide and inform how we come to that definition, but the Government has rejected my contention. This is unfortunate but sustainable forest...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will have to agree to disagree on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I just know it will be privatised once it starts charging for water.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Sorry; I did not realise the agency would be here. However, I ask the witnesses to make some quick comments on housing. The next topic is rural links. Do the witnesses think planning issues, particularly planning permission for multiple discount stores, have an impact on small towns and villages? Dún Laoghaire is on the edge of Dublin but it has too many large supermarkets and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is that the case even if it takes away from smaller businesses and displaces one job for another?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I hope the witnesses will give a couple of quick responses on the other issues. Can the Chairman tell me how much time I have left?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When other witnesses are responding, can they also comment on the housing assistance payment scheme? Some people have talked about it in positive terms while others are concerned about whether it will work, given that landlords seem to be moving away from rent support systems.