Results 1-20 of 2,324 for and speaker:Brian Leddin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I have received apologies from Deputy Paul Murphy. The purpose of the meeting today is to discuss the finalisation of the draft national energy and climate action plan, NECP, and national long-term strategy, NLTS. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following stakeholders to the meeting: Mr. Oisín Coghlan of the Environmental Pillar, Ms Sadhbh O'Neill of Friends of the Earth and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I see several hands have gone up. I will bring everyone in. I am interested in hearing whether the witnesses have considered how something like a future generations commission would get off the ground and we could make it happen like the Welsh have done. I think Finland and New Zealand are looking at this as well. I do not see any reason why Ireland cannot and should not be doing it too....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: When did that feedback come in, and do we expect that it will be addressed? I presume it has to be addressed in the final submission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: The witnesses probably know we hope to have the Minister before the committee in a few weeks to give us a sense of where the submission is going and, I hope, to respond to the points they are making this morning. I will go to colleagues. Deputy O'Rourke is next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I am mindful of the witnesses’ time as much as the committee’s. I think some people need to be gone by 12.30 p.m., and colleagues wish to ask questions. Therefore, I ask witnesses to be reasonably succinct and to the point in their answers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I will go to Dr. Hough. She indicated for the last question but I did not notice until I had moved on to Deputy Whitmore. She should feel free to come in now and address the last question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I will cut across Dr. Hough. I am mindful of time. I will call Ms O'Neill and then Dr. Kelleher and Ms Devitt.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I will bring the others in. If the Deputy wants to make another brief comment, I will go back to her. I am mindful of time. I will call Dr. Kelleher, then Ms Devitt and then back to Deputy Whitmore.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: ...right direction. We should push targets as best we can but week in, week out we deal with the politics of implementation. It is really difficult. We all agree. Every member, from all parties and none, in this committee agrees what needs to be done but when we walk outside that door we do not get the same alignment. A critical conversation to be having is the politics of implementation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: That is a fair point. I now invite Ms Devitt and I ask that she be brief as I am aware some of our guests need to leave at 12.30 p.m. Senator O'Reilly wants to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: Okay. That message is loud and clear. The clerk has confirmed that the Minister will be coming in on 28 May, which is in two weeks. These are points that my colleagues and I will be very keen to make to him when he is here. I see that Senator Higgins wishes to come back in. I am mindful of time, however. We intended to finish the meeting at 12.30, but she can come in briefly if she...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: Absolutely. I thank Mr. Coghlan for that and I thank Senator Higgins for her questions. We were due to finish at 12.30 p.m. but since it is now beyond that I will bring the meeting to a close. I thank those who have come to Leinster House. We know them well after some years of having them in quite regularly. We really appreciate their time. Equally, the presence of those who joined us...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Dr. Hough. Like many politicians, I am campaigning and canvassing at the moment. It is an incredible privilege to knock on doors of hundreds of people - thousands at this stage - and talk to people about these kinds of issues. I am not getting a strong sense of disagreement about what we need to do. I am actually getting a very strong sense of agreement that we need to do...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Draft National Energy and Climate Plan: Discussion (14 May 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Dr. Brennan for her opening statement. I will shortly invite colleagues to ask questions. The committee is very happy to hear the witnesses' opening statements and, if necessary, to put the points raised to the Department and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to ensure that we are doing as much as we can as a state within Europe. I want to raise the issue of a prospective future...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Parental Leave (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: 114. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a plan to expand to all employees the entitlements to flexible working and remote working contained in the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19218/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: 85. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the funding streams available under his Department to assist with migrant integration; how much has been allocated under these funding streams this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19219/24]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: Most people in this House know that a very historic election is taking place in Limerick on 7 June. I must declare I am a candidate in that election, but I assure you, a Ceann Comhairle, that it is not the reason I am raising this particular issue. I refer to the election for a directly elected mayor, the first in Ireland's history, which will happen in Limerick. The Taoiseach and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: ...from Senator Higgins. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the current state of play in regard to the circular economy following on from the signing into law of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, and his officials to the meeting. Before we begin I will read out the note on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister of State. I congratulate him and the Department on the efforts they have made in recent years, not only in getting the circular economy Act across the line nearly two years ago but also in the subsequent plans and strategies that have emerged, which are very significant and are a credit to their dedication to this issue. People of my age and older will agree the level...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Circular Economy: Discussion (30 Apr 2024)

Brian Leddin: To follow on from Deputy O'Rourke's contribution on food waste, is there potential for a co-operative model in communities to handle food waste from enterprises such as restaurants, hotels, schools and hospitals, which generate a lot of food waste? Is there allowance in our legislative framework in respect of the circular economy provisions, plus the potential for energy production through...