Results 1-20 of 31 for epa speaker:Paul Murphy

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: 135. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he will take to reduce carbon emissions from agriculture in light of the recent EPA report projecting a 1% increase in agricultural emissions by 2030 with existing measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36625/25]

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (2 Jul 2025)

Paul Murphy: ...fuels must be completely phased out as fast as possible. This is what the science demands. We know transport is our second biggest emitting sector, contributing 21.5% of total emissions in 2023. The EPA predicts this will increase to 21.6% by 2030 with the existing measures. It is doubtful, however, that the target for those existing measures will even be reached. It is based on...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Quality (29 May 2025)

Paul Murphy: ...shows there is no ambition for these rivers and that we are writing them off. The Minister of State, as I heard the Taoiseach do earlier in the week, effectively tried to pass the buck to the EPA. He effectively misquoted what the EPA has done. The EPA carried out work in 2022 to identify candidates for this designation - it engaged with stakeholders - but it was not the final...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 May 2025)

Paul Murphy: ...of what the science demands. However, we are miles off that and there is no indication whatsoever that the Government will speed up ambition. Things are going in the opposite direction. The EPA report states that emissions will fall by only 23% - that is the best-case scenario - with additional measures that have not even been agreed yet. The outlook with existing measures, which also...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (19 Sep 2024)

Paul Murphy: Does the Minister agree with the EPA projection that we are on track to miss our first two carbon budget targets, even with additional measures, by between 17% and 27%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (19 Sep 2024)

Paul Murphy: In the context of these historical emissions, the EPA report states that these revisions together have reduced the agricultural sector emissions by, on average, 1.4 Mt of carbon dioxide per annum for the years from 2018 to 2023 or, in total, by approximately 8.5 Mt over the six-year period.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (19 Sep 2024)

Paul Murphy: Maybe I am missing something here. The EPA is saying it recalculated how it looked at historical emissions. As I understand it, that is included in the reduction in carbon emissions. The Minister is saying that is true, presumably.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Review of the Climate Action Plan: Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (19 Sep 2024)

Paul Murphy: In this EPA report. It includes the point about the revisions in agriculture and says it amounts to a certain number.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (9 Jul 2024)

Paul Murphy: What action has the Taoiseach taken to implement the all-island rail review? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, transport emissions increased again last year. To reach the legally binding target for transport, they must fall 12% this year and by 12% next year. It is very likely that this simply will not happen and then the cut from 2026 to 2030 will have to be even...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (12 Jun 2024)

Paul Murphy: ...degree in many other lakes right across this island, North and South. We know it is not a North-only issue. We know it is not an issue that respects any border. We know also from this morning's EPA report that water quality is not getting any better in the South. On some measures, it is getting worse. The quality of water has improved in 187 water bodies but has declined in 232...

Nature Restoration Law: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jun 2024)

Paul Murphy: ...action plan which now has a statutory basis, but it still seems the Government will not take action on the biggest threats to biodiversity. This morning I heard on the radio that the EPA published its latest report on water quality. It shows there has been no improvement. By some measures it is getting worse. Water quality is improving in 187 water bodies and declining in 232...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Paul Murphy: ...foetal abnormalities, cancer, upper respiratory tract issues, eye inflammation and so on. Later, there was an investigation into this involving the Environmental Protection Agency, Teagasc, the Department of agriculture and others. Later on, there was an investigation into this involving the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Teagasc, the Department of agriculture and others. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Finalisation of Draft National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Long-Term Strategy: Discussion (28 May 2024)

Paul Murphy: I thank the Minister. I will start with the EPA report and the EU targets, which are relative to 2005 rather than our 2018 targets. The EPA is saying that with the existing measures we would achieve a reduction of 9% by 2030 and with additional measures it would be 25%, down from 30% that was estimated last year. Will the Minister outline the range of fines we are looking at if, for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Finalisation of Draft National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Long-Term Strategy: Discussion (28 May 2024)

Paul Murphy: The EPA report tells us that even with everything the Government is planning to do and with all the additional measures, we will still be miles away from where we need to be legally in the context of our national and EU targets and even further away from where we should be in terms of the science. That is the bottom line. It is a damning indictment not just of the Government in general but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Finalisation of Draft National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Long-Term Strategy: Discussion (28 May 2024)

Paul Murphy: ...try to lull people to sleep and pretend that everything is going to be okay, but it is not. We are heading towards an absolute catastrophe and the Minister is not telling the truth to people. The EPA report tells the truth to people. Let me get to my question. The private jets issue reveals the whole thing. Private jets are enormously polluting. The Minister understands it. They are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Finalisation of Draft National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Long-Term Strategy: Discussion (28 May 2024)

Paul Murphy: The agriculture share of emissions are due to increase from 39% in 2022 to 44% in 2030, according to the EPA. How can we justify one sector of the economy using almost half of our emissions? Why do big farmers, big agri-business, which is responsible for the guts of this and not small farmers, get to take up half of our carbon emissions or close to that?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (16 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: ...be changed and it needs to be changed to provide for public ownership and the re-municipalisation of waste collection throughout the country. The statistics speak for themselves. According to the EPA, the municipal waste generation trend in quantity terms is going in the wrong direction and increasing steadily. Recycling levels have plateaued since 2010, at 41%, well below the EU...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Nov 2023)

Paul Murphy: I will start with questions for the EPA. The citizens' assembly report made three recommendations relating to increasing sanctions for polluters of water. Recommendations Nos. 97, 45 and 46 all basically proposed that penalties should be increased and should be linked to the total size of the corporation so that they have a meaningful impact. What is the EPA doing? To what extent is it in...