Results 1-20 of 48 for epa speaker:Michael Colreavy

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Statements (21 Jan 2016)

Michael Colreavy: ...with the will of multinational business and thereby thwart the democratic process. This is the reason I ask why. If any proof were needed that we should stop the fundamentally flawed and compromised EPA study into fracking and ban fracking for ever, Canada is it. Think of the 250 million Canadian dollars, stop and study and then stop fracking forever in this country. The beef...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...I am not seeking re-election, I have the luxury of taking on this issue without political considerations. People are doing tremendous work in identifying weaknesses in the Government's approach. The EPA study is fundamentally and fatally flawed. It is one thing to say the EPA will recruit a firm with knowledge of the oil and gas industry but it is another when the company engaged to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...wise. Will the interim report be placed before the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for its consideration before any decision is made? Will representatives of the EPA be brought before the joint committee again in advance of any decision being made on the second tender? I have tabled a motion to be taken at tomorrow's meeting of the Joint Committee on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...its independence? What is the role of Queen's University Belfast because I believe this committee was misled? What about the public health impact? What about the groundwater study done by the EPA three years ago? What about Lough Melvin? I want to share with our witnesses the political feel that I have gotten from talking to many Deputies and Senators. Who is driving the train...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: Let us start with Queen's University Belfast, QUB. This committee was given a clear impression that Queen's University Belfast was an integral part of this research project when the EPA last appeared before the committee. We were never officially informed that there had been any change in the dynamic or relationship between QUB and the study project. On the contrary, a number of statements...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: I would have expected a significant change such as this to be notified. I ask the EPA to notify the committee if there are further significant changes to the composition or work arrangements which have not been notified to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...was going to be a health impact assessment as part of this study. I understand Mr. Lynott has clarified that, which is on the record. Can I move to the groundwater study that was conducted by the EPA, perhaps three years ago?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: A study was done which showed the level of susceptibility to groundwater contamination in various parts of the country about two years ago. I think it was conducted by the EPA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: Would it be within the remit of the EPA to come up with a recommendation or does the EPA publish a report but no recommendation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: Would the EPA include mitigation factors?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: The EPA would not have any legal responsibility for decisions made on foot of the report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...have a good idea of what I am going to talk about. The overwhelming response of Deputies and Senators is that it was wrong ever to look at this. Who is in charge? Who is driving that train? The EPA is a passenger on that train.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: I thank the witnesses for their answers I certainly know two things now that I did not know before. First, the EPA is driving this project; I did not know who was driving the train. Second, the EPA study does not incorporate a health impact assessment. I was unclear about that as well. I have two questions. The field trials or tests are to be carried out next year. Could the results...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction: Environmental Protection Agency (2 Dec 2015)

Michael Colreavy: Lough Melvin is one of the three cleanest and purest lakes in Europe and it is in the study area. I will not be sitting in this seat the next time the EPA representatives appear before the committee. However, they will be glad to hear that I will have more time to see what is happening with fracking.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...that the initial mistake was to issue an invitation to submit expressions of interest. It is now time to say we will not allow fracking in this country. It is time we stopped funding the EPA to gather information that energy companies will be able to use in a future legal action against this country, in particular when the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...Protection Agency into hydraulic fracturing due to the concerns regarding the independence and integrity of the project? The Minister of State's response may include a rehash of how the EPA research started and the fact that no licences will issue until the report comes in. If so, will the Minister skip that part and get to the substance of the answer?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (10 Nov 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...role in deciding who will do the various phases of the work, like any reasonable person, I am entitled to question the independence and integrity of the report. I have no doubt it will cause irreparable damage to the reputation of the EPA. I also understand that at least one of the universities named as being associated with this report was associated with only part of it and-or...

Petroleum (Exploration and Extraction) Safety Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Second Stage (15 Jul 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...of cleaner forms of energy. We are all aware of studies which are currently under way in this country. The Minister of State is on record as saying no licences will be granted until the EPA report has been received and studied. The Government is telling people not to worry about it but my view, and I will say it at every possible opportunity, is hydraulic fracturing should be banned...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Jun 2015)

Michael Colreavy: The EPA report on fracking does not include consideration of an issue that will have to be taken into consideration by the political system, namely, the negotiations on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership, TTIP, and the investor-state dispute settlement, ISDS, system. Particularly under the ISDS system, energy companies will undoubtedly threaten governments. If they are not...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing (16 Jun 2015)

Michael Colreavy: ...to me because I live in the area most immediately threatened by fracking. Last week the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications discussed its progress report with representatives of the EPA. I have described CDM Smith as a cheerleader for the fracking industry. My major concern is that it is the lead company for the study. How can any reasonable person expect a report to be...