Results 761-780 of 1,036,434 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Damien English OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Mick Barry OR speaker:Joe Flaherty OR speaker:Mairead Farrell OR speaker:Patricia Ryan)

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The EPA could send us a draft report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The water quality report is very good, but there is never specific mention in it of wastewater. Agriculture is mentioned many times and I appreciate that we are the primary source of nitrates in water, but the next one is wastewater. Can the EPA give us an indication of whether there have been improvements and what it is doing in enforcement? If there is a rogue in the room, there is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: My next question is about enforcement and is directed at Mr. Byrne. There has been no significant change in the biological quality of rivers or waters. There have been some improvements but these have been offset by the declines in other areas. If I was looking after enforcement, I would do it strategically on key areas. Can Mr. Byrne set out a map in terms of enforcement? Is the EPA...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Are all those 57 positions filled?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: We did 1,000 inspections for agriculture in 2022 while 1,100 last year were targeted and the number for 2024 was 3,500. What was the number at the end of June?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: The EPA must have some indication.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: At best, will we be under 2,000 for this year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: There is obviously a failing on the part of some of these local authorities in that they have been given the posts and they are not filling them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: I know the EPA is very politically correct with its answers but are there rogue local authorities that are not shouldering their weight?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: We have targets for water quality to 2027. Obviously the EPA is looking at the figures and real-time reports. It is dependent on an annual report that is at best dated. From where the EPA is sitting, does it see itself attaining those 2027 targets given where we are now and the likely projections in terms of progress? Are the water quality targets for 2027 attainable?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: What do we need to do to move that dial?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compliance with the Nitrates Directive and Implications for Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2024)

Joe Flaherty: Will Dr. Cotter come back to the committee on whether the EPA can do an interim six-month report in December?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: I congratulate the Minister for Finance, Deputy Chambers. I wish the Minister the best. I thank the Ministers and their officials for being here today. The percentage of people aged 65 and over living in rented accommodation has increased by 83% according to the 2022 census. In view of that, has the Government put any provisions in place to protect those over 65 and living in rental...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: Yes, please.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: Does the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, have enough money to build homes specifically for our ageing people, such as one-bedroom units for single men or older widowed women and so on? We need to have some provision for older people rather than expecting them trying to rent all the time.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: At an affordable price, obviously, as well. With regard to the increase in the ageing cohort, and again I am speaking up on this because of my brief, our age bracket is going to be very high by 2051. What provisions have been put in place for the State pension fund? What is envisioned to ensure funds are available and properly ring-fenced to cover this?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: So will funds be ring-fenced.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: Will the Minister, Deputy Chambers, elaborate on that?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Summer Economic Statement: Discussion (10 Jul 2024)

Patricia Ryan: I appreciate that and I take on board the points made by the Minister. I get what was said but we are talking about homeless people. This is an ageing population as well. We have a lot of homeless people who are older too. While the Minister mentioned homelessness and health, we have many people who cannot get into hospitals as well. We need to do better in this regard too. It was...