Results 341-360 of 1,046,924 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ned O'Sullivan OR speaker:Frank Feighan OR speaker:Cormac Devlin OR speaker:James Lawless OR speaker:Duncan Smith OR speaker:Catherine Murphy)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Conclusion of IBRC Special Liquidation and Dissolution of NAMA Bill: Department of Finance (18 Sep 2024)

Catherine Murphy: We all probably hope that something like this will not happen again. However, it is important to make sure we learn some lessons from it in terms of deficiencies. I thank the witnesses.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: I apologise to Mr. Hughes, my colleague Deputy Farrell and the Leas-Chathaoirleach for being late to the committee. I thank Mr. Hughes for coming to the committee. On the 4.5% increase in European travel over the last year, if Europe as a continent continues to grow at that rate or maybe slightly less or more, at what point does that become unsustainable and we reach a crisis level, or an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: We are in an environment where an awful lot of airlines are looking and planning to grow. As Mr. Hughes said, we are at a crisis point in the context of air traffic capacity. In that overall context, do bespoke or individual planning conditions, such as either passenger caps or total flight movements, help Eurocontrol to curb any further immediate growth, even though that may not be the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: That is interesting. On the sustainability side, I refer to sustainable aviation fuel and its production, future use, etc. Where are we at with that in the context of European aviation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: Is there light at the end of the tunnel on this? Are we making progress or is it a pipe dream?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: We have been dealing with drone issues vis-à-vis Dublin Airport where they impinge on the airspace. In Balbriggan, County Dublin, private pilot projects have been set up for delivery of takeaways, packages and all the rest. That is happening in other parts of Dublin and the country. I am not sure I have any questions, as such, on what Mr. Hughes has presented today. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Trends, Air Traffic Control and Drone Activity: Discussion (18 Sep 2024)

Duncan Smith: Yes, very thought provoking.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: I thank the Deputy. The answer indicates the Department of housing has no plans to introduce more specific guidelines on how solar farms should be developed. The Deputy asked about that. The Department is saying it is bringing in regional capacity allocations. In other words, these are projections for the amount of solar power we have produced in each region of Ireland. Those are to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 11.14 p.m. go dtí 9 a.m., Déardaoin, an 19 Meán Fómhair 2024. The Dáil adjourned at at 11.14 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The proof that road projects are proceeding and being completed in Kerry is shown by the Listowel bypass, which was completed this summer. This year, €4.7 million was allocated for the construction of new national roads in Kerry and another €9.7 million was allocated for the improvement of the existing network. This is in addition to approximately €119 million in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Danny Healy-Rae: No money, no fun.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: Due to the funding constraints for national roads this year, a prioritisation exercise was necessary. In line with the NDP and Government policy, the Minister for Transport has allocated national roads funding for 2024 in a manner which seeks to achieve the following outcomes: protection and renewal of the existing national road network; progressing major projects in or near construction;...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Danny Healy-Rae: That is 44 years old.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: This is a much larger project that is more than 20 km long and which goes past Farranfore, as well as Killarney. It is a much more ambitious and larger project.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Renewable Energy Generation

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: It is a given that we must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase the use of renewable and low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar, as I am sure the Minister of State will agree. The need for solar farms across Ireland is growing. I refer to the best practice planning guidance report on large-scale solar energy development in Ireland produced with the Irish Solar Energy...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

Ossian Smyth: The Minister for housing has asked me to take this question on his behalf. I am glad to have the opportunity to update the Members of the Dáil on the regulation of large-scale solar energy developments from a planning perspective. With regard to this specific issue, it is the case that, as with the large majority of development types, there are currently no specific planning guidelines...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Generation (18 Sep 2024)

David Stanton: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Basically, he is saying there are no guidelines and no plans to develop any, yet this whole industry is developing at a very fast pace. The UK Government has said it will seek the large-scale deployment of ground-mounted solar on brownfield industrial and low or medium grade agricultural land, being quite clear that poor quality land should...