Results 41-60 of 23,060 for speaker:Paddy Burke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: This is a very helpful debate and has been so for the past two and a half hours. Heretofore, years ago, if there was a need for an extension to a wastewater treatment plant or water services, the local authority put forward a plan and the Department funded it, if it saw fit to do so. The Minister probably signed off on that. How is it possible to now get an extension to the wastewater...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I am still mystified, I think. Does the local authority have any say in this? Does the local authority put a plan or proposal to Uisce Éireann? If a developer wants to develop an area and the water and wastewater services needed are not available, does he go to Uisce Éireann or does he go through the local authority? How does the whole process work?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: If the capacity is not there, is there Government aid to do it or does the developer have to cough up the cost of upgrading the system to facilitate extra development?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: If there is a village that has no sewerage or wastewater provision, who would put forward a proposal in that regard? Would it be the local authorities? How does Uisce Éireann receive the inquiry? Who then decides if the work should go ahead and who should bear the cost of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: To Mr. Joyce, I pose a question concerning the likes of the situation in Murrisk and Louisburgh. When the extension to Murrisk is done, Louisburgh comes in after that. Is that what is being said? It is in the pipeline now. Is it the Government that funds that, is it the local authority, or how is it funded?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is there a timeframe for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: I thank Mr. Joyce. Are any grants available for district heating systems? Who evaluates whether a scheme is eligible to be joined up through ESB Networks? Is the heat exported or must there be batteries? How do the district heating systems work? Is ESB Networks in favour of them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: The other part of that issue is domestic wind turbines. There are very few in Ireland. It should be an area of growth, but it does not seem to be. I wonder why no one has taken the bull by the horns and said we have an abundance of wind and we do not have any small domestic wind turbines.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is it because there is a grant for solar panels but there does not seem to be any grant for domestic wind turbines? I do not think there is anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Water and Energy Connections in Rural Areas: Discussion (6 Dec 2023)

Paddy Burke: Is it that somebody has to say they will fund it?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Paddy Burke: I support Senator McDowell's call to provide time to do justice to Senator Norris. He is a great character. When in full flight in this House, there are none better than the Senator. He is so entertaining. I do not think this Chamber will see the likes of him again. He is unbelievable. I compliment the Government on bringing forward an increased cost of business grant. I hope it will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Oct 2023)

Paddy Burke: I support what Senators Lombard and Kyne said about sending of animals to slaughter that are in calf. I strongly support the strong sentiments expressed by both Senators. I would like to raise an issue that concerns fishing. We have received a communication from the public on the fishing industry over the past number of days and, in particular, the overfishing by huge trawlers from Belgium...

Seanad: Visit of Slovak Delegation (4 Oct 2023)

Paddy Burke: I support Senator McGahon's proposal. It is a great idea and I have no doubt the Leader will take it up with Government. I want to raise the issue of charging batteries. A number of years ago, EU legislation was passed on making phone chargers compatible, enabling consumers to use one charger for all types of phones. This is not the case with tools, such as gardening tools, tools for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Grants and Bridging Finance for Community Groups: Discussion (4 Oct 2023)

Paddy Burke: I commend the work done by the Western Development Commission of which I am a great admirer. Over the past ten years a lot of small builders or developers have found it difficult to get funding. Has the Western Development Commission funded any small developers or builders? Has it funded housing contracts or projects of that nature? I think it was the case that the level of matching...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (28 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: I welcome the Taoiseach. I want to congratulate the people involved in the narcotics find off the south-west coast. According to today's newspapers, the value of the seizure is up to €500 million. The European market for cocaine is somewhere in the region of €12 billion, which is massive, and people say there is little we can do. There is something we can do, which has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation and Effect of National and Local Policy on Island Communities: Discussion (22 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: Like my other colleagues, I am delighted to be here on this historic occasion at the first broadcast from the islands. Ms Ní Shearcaigh is the manager of the Aran Islands Energy Co-operative. That is obviously a new company because this form of energy is relatively new in recent years. Does the co-operative carry out the retrofitting and insulation of heat pumps or whatever to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation and Effect of National and Local Policy on Island Communities: Discussion (22 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: Ms Ní Shearcaigh has said there is no willingness to experiment with new technologies and there is a blockage in some place. Where is the blockage? Is it with the CRU, the ESB, the Government or the Department? Where could the committee help to put some pressure on where the blockages might be?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation and Effect of National and Local Policy on Island Communities: Discussion (22 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: I congratulate the witnesses on the great research and surveys they have done on the offshore islands. Deputy Ó Cuív raised a very good point regarding four different counties having four different planning authorities. What is needed is to have an umbrella body to develop some form of policy and it could then be given to the four different local authorities, which would adopt it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation and Effect of National and Local Policy on Island Communities: Discussion (22 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: The presentation made to the Mayo Oireachtas Members in Clare Island was very impressive. The best place to get sick in Ireland is Clare Island because it has the availability of drones, robots and helicopters. I have two questions for Dr. Lineen-Curtis. She said that on the development of a clear rural general practice career pathway or pipeline, there is a target regarding the proportion...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Operation and Effect of National and Local Policy on Island Communities: Discussion (22 Sep 2023)

Paddy Burke: Yes, my second question is on chairs of rural general practice. I thought that nearly all general practices are sole traders. When Dr. Lineen-Curtis mentioned the chairs of general practices, what does she mean by that, and should they be funded within the higher education institutions?