Results 101-120 of 4,199 for speaker:Brian Leddin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I have received apologies from Senator Pauline O'Reilly. The purpose of this afternoon's meeting is to have a discussion as part of our ongoing review of the Climate Action Plan 2023. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to the committee. Before we begin, I will read a note on privilege which is to remind the witnesses of the long-standing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister for his opening statement. I ask members to indicate their desire to ask questions. I will lead off. There was a lot in the Minister's statement that was very positive. I heard him use the term Limerick–Shannon. I have never heard that axis expressed by a Minister before. It is good because Limerick and Shannon are the two poles of a really important...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: It is the Technological University of the Shannon, which is linked with Athlone by the Shannon.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: Yes. Other colleagues are waiting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: We will go to the second round now because we have time. I might just ask about the strategic rail review. I know it is only at draft stage; hopefully it will be published soon now that the Northern Ireland Executive is up and running. On its backing with the national development plan, there are discussions around the more near-term infrastructural projects in the NDP. That spending...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: In that vein, I make the case again for connecting Shannon Airport to the national railway network. It is quite a short run. It is costed in the strategic rail review at between €100 million and €200 million. There will be institutional resistance to a project like that because of the current demand profile, but it is about growth as well as decarbonisation. It is about the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: The region would really accelerate. It would change how we view Shannon Airport and how the mid west is viewed nationally and internationally and would lead to a lot of investment. I note the chief executive of Irish Rail, and Irish Rail generally, would not be part of the institutional resistance. It is very supportive. Mr. Meade was before the transport committee just a few weeks ago...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I am mindful of the time. I want to ask Deputy Bruton if he wants to come in for a second round. We have just a few minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Deputy Whitmore. I am going to go to Deputy Bruton and then we will go back to the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: We do not have the time to get into the detail.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I am conscious of the Minister's time and my time because, ironically, I have to catch a train. Deputy Devlin has joined us. I want to give him an opportunity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: Every hour.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank the Minister and his officials for coming before the committee. I note that it is the second time because wearing his other hat as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, he appeared before us before Christmas, so I thank him for his engagement. We hope to really bed in the process set out in the climate Act whereby this committee holds the relevant Ministers...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Welfare Schemes (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: 96. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection in light of her announcement that the free travel scheme is to be extended this July to people who have never been able to drive due to a disability, her views on the idea to expand the free travel scheme to the shared bike and e-bike schemes in towns and cities across the country to the same cohort; and if she will make a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Meals Programme (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: 63. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when primary schools not included in the April 2024 hot meals scheme expansion will have an opportunity to formally express their interest in availing of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7862/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Business of Joint Committee (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: Apologies have been received from Senator Boylan. As members know, we will receive a short briefing in private session from officials of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. I propose, therefore, that we go into private session now. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss with representatives from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the gas safety (amendment) Bill 2023. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Department's wholesale gas policy division, Ms Jennifer Harte, principal officer, and Ms Cristina Hurson, assistant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: I thank Ms Harte for her opening statement, which was very thorough. I will turn to members now to indicate to ask questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: Following on from Deputy O’Rourke’s question, accepting the need for the legislation, it is good to hear that it has priority drafting status in Government. If the witnesses are to come back to us with a sense of how many operators this will bring into the CRU’s remit, can they also look at how many people might be affected and how many might be outside of it? How many...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Gas Safety (Amendment) Bill 2023: Discussion (20 Feb 2024)

Brian Leddin: It would be helpful for us to get a sense of the importance of it. I thank Ms Harte for that. Do any other members wish to ask questions? No. If there are no other questions, we will finish up this morning's session. I thank both the witnesses for coming in to engage with us. I think we will have a second session on our pre-legislative scrutiny of this Bill in the coming weeks. With...