Results 1-20 of 45 for land speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan

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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Fish Migration and Barriers to Migration: Discussion (13 Feb 2024)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ..., because our witnesses mentioned the arterial drainage scheme, is around farmers, in particular, looking for sections of a river to be dredged. It makes sense in one way because they have made land and have put a great deal of investment into making land alongside a river bank, with a great deal of effort and hard labour going into making that land. They see it then flooding and perhaps...

Planning and Development Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Dec 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...has to be an aspect of that as the report included all costs and not just the build. The cost people are going through to get redesigns done, to do new designs and drawings, and the efforts as regards landscaping, etc. is prohibitive. The Bill has to be an opportunity to sort that out once and for all. There is an issue with interpretation of the county development plans, where...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Future Licences and Contracts to Connect Data Centres to the Gas Network: Discussion (15 Nov 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: That is very good. In relation to the current energy security situation and lay of the land at the moment, yesterday there was the publication of the energy security strategy. There are some very interesting options in there. In relation to the current scenario and the emergency procurement of 500 MW, can we get an update on that, as well as on the two sites that were proposed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...the nature reserves are the opportunity to address that deficit. I urge the NPWS to take this opportunity given that there is finance and seems to be financial backing to buy up suitable areas of land. Deputy Paul Murphy mentioned the Conor Pass. I know it is sensitive in terms of discussions and that the NPWS cannot be held to ransom because it is State-backed, but there is a huge...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens' Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Nov 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: I am sorry to harp on about the acquisitions and the potential of buying new plots of land for nature reserves. I mentioned the education aspect of that, especially where they are located near urban areas. Whatever that may entail, whether it is hides, walkways, etc., there is massive education potential there as well to bring young people, in particular, closer to nature, which is...

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

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...because of the reduction in numbers, their operation becomes unviable. It leads to a situation in which that farmer is bought out by bigger, more intensive farms. There is such pressure now on land because of the stocking rate and stocking limit, and there is no tillage in west Cork. Areas that have biodiversity richness and may have bits of scrub or are good for breeding birds, etc.,...

Anaerobic Digestion (National Strategy) Bill 2023: First Stage (25 Oct 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...Bill does is very simple. It creates a mechanism whereby the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications can develop and publish a strategy for anaerobic digestion right across Ireland. This Bill will also introduce a timebound element whereby a six-month limit will be introduced after the passing of the Bill within which the Minister must introduce an anaerobic digestion...

Progress on the National Parks and Wildlife Service: Statements (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...going. There is great interest in wildlife but, unfortunately, massive degradation and loss of habitat is still happening. Unfortunately, wildlife and biodiversity are not in a good place in Ireland and we cannot deny it. It is very easy to pat ourselves on the back and say we are doing a great job. Unfortunately, years of neglect have meant that we are in a bad place and we have a lot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Planning Issues (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...aspect of this on which we had a debate recently in the Dáil. We even had a vote on it. I genuinely believe there is a place for Dutch cabins, log cabins and that type of dwelling in rural Ireland. I can understand in some sense the pushback against log cabins, in that we do not want them proliferating all over the countryside, but there have to be cases where their use is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Parks (6 Jul 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...from Clonakilty, it takes me about an hour to get there. I was lucky enough to see the penduline tits there. What is a penduline tit says you? The first penduline tit ever recorded in Ireland landed in the Gearagh last year. An incredibly rare Eurasian bittern was also found there. The Deputy is right; the Gearagh is a Mecca for rare migrating birds and a perfect habitat for them....

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Network (13 Jun 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...that. It is important infrastructure for those who commute from the towns I mentioned, perhaps to Cork city for work. It is important from a tourism point of view. It is the main route for those landing in Cork Airport, who will eventually connect with the N71 or for those coming by boat. Whichever way tourists choose to arrive, the N71 is key for access to west Cork and for...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Development of Local Community Arts: Discussion (10 May 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...to no avail. Bantry is home of the Chamber Music Festival, which is an extraordinary success. The Chamber Music Festival committee has been trying again to create a performing arts space. It has identified land and premises. The problem is always getting the backup from the relevant authorities, be it the local authority or the Department. I am trying to paint a picture of the...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (18 Apr 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...for, and what is within the remit of the BALAMI fund, an EU fund, was repair works. These are exactly the kinds of works that the BALAMI funding has been used for elsewhere. In places like Hare Island and Laheratanvally Pier, this funding is for repair works and not for the erection of a barrier. Despite the wishes of the local people and the fact that they protested in very significant...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Christopher O'Sullivan: Deputy Bruton is correct in that this represents 1% of the overall ambition. When one hears terms like this is a sell-out and a land-grab, perhaps some of that commentary is overplayed. He is also correct in his assertion that, at the moment, land use in general is an emitter as opposed to a sequester of carbon. For years we have been getting it wrong. I know the Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ..., I would like to ask question about the new agri-climate rural environment scheme, ACRES. For too long, we have penalised and docked payments for farmers for having bits of habitat on their land. For the first time ever, we have a proper agri-environmental scheme in ACRES that will actually reward farmers for working with biodiversity, with payments of over €10,000 in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (29 Nov 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...crisis are intrinsically linked. The Taoiseach is well aware that we have a biodiversity crisis. Some 60% of our birds are on an endangered list. The condition of many of our marine and land habitats is worsening. Our record of upholding EU biodiversity and climate law has not been good and certainly needs to improve. The Citizens’ Assembly voted overwhelmingly, with 87% in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Irish Experience of Community-led Climate Action: Public Participation Networks (8 Nov 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...supports to deliver their projects. The witnesses might respond on what they think needs to be done to improve the situation. Clonakilty recently won the award for the tidiest small town in Ireland in the Tidy Towns awards. It was indicated to the Tidy Towns group afterwards by the adjudicators that one of the reasons Clonakilty had won the top prize in that category was the new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Discussion (28 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...in ensuring that what is in that roadmap achieves the reductions we need but at least it is there and that has to be acknowledged. Through all these discussions about reductions in emissions, land use was the elephant in the room, in terms of what could be achieved by proper land use and reducing emissions. Even on the current trajectory, land use could still be an emitter, which is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Biodiversity: Engagement with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (14 Jun 2022)

Christopher O'Sullivan: ...see what plans are afoot to deal with that outbreak. Moving on to the upcoming conference and convention, Dr. Lynn mentioned, and Deputy Whitmore touched on, the question of the 30% targets for land and sea. Does Dr. Lynn feel that it would be a good idea that, instead of that being a European average, it is done on a country-by-country basis? The reason I say that is that some EU...