4 Jul 2013, 10:40
Continuing its ongoing consideration of the Outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013, the Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht will hold three further days of Hearings on Friday, 5th, Monday 8th and Friday 12th July 2013.
The Committee will also meet with Mr Phil Hogan TD, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government to discuss the Outline Heads of the Bill on Wednesday, 10th July 2013.
Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, said: “Climate change is one of the key issues facing the world today and it is important that we formulate the necessary policy and legislation to help Ireland move to a low carbon and environmentally sustainable economy and society. That is why my Committee is putting so much effort into this and is meeting with as wide a range of stakeholders as possible.
“Given the importance of this issue and the need to prepare our society and economy for a low carbon future, the Committee has undertaken to hold a comprehensive and inclusive series of meetings so that we can hear from a wide range of interested parties and stakeholders to get their perspectives on the Bill as well as the challenges posed by climate change and adapting to it.
“The meetings we will hold over the coming days, as well as the meetings we have already held, will feed into a report the Committee will prepare on the Bill which will be forwarded to the Minister for the Environment. We are looking forward to working with the Minister and his department in helping to formulate policy on this very important issue. Our report, and the policy analysis by the National Economic and Social Council Secretariat, will be key inputs for consideration by Government in adopting a national policy position on the transition to a low-carbon future, and finalising the introduction of climate legislation in the second half of 2013.”
The schedule for the meetings is as follows:
Friday, 5th July
10.00 a.m. Irish Corporate Leaders on Climate Change (Bord Gáis, Bord Na Móna, Diageo, KPMG, NTR, Siemens, Vodafone, Sodexo)
10.45 a.m. Conor Linehan
12.00 p.m. Irish Dairy Industries Association
2.00 p.m. Trócaire
2.45 p.m. Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation
4.00 p.m. Bird Watch Ireland
4.45 p.m. Stop Climate Chaos
Monday, 8th July
10.00 a.m. Electricity Association of Ireland Ltd
10.45 a.m. Irish Farmers’ Association
12.00 p.m. Environmental Pillar
2.00 p.m. Stewart Stevenson Member of Scottish Parliament
2.45 p.m. An Taisce – National Trust for Ireland
4.00 p.m. Meteorology and Climate Centre, University College Dublin
4.45 p.m. Friends of the Earth Ireland
Friday, 12th July
10.00 a.m. Barry O’Flynn, Ernst and Young
10.45 a.m. Institute of International and European Affairs
12.00 p.m. Frank Convery, Chair, UCD Earth Institute
2.00 p.m. Dr Brian Motherway, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
2.45 p.m. Ceartas – Irish Lawyers for Human Rights
4.00 p.m. David Puttnam, Member of British House of Lords and Former Chair of Joint Parliamentary Committee on the draft Climate Change Bill in Britain
4.45 p.m. Dr Roderick O’Gorman, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/
Media enquiries to:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Membership of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht
Deputies: James Bannon TD (Fine Gael); Paudie Coffey TD (Fine Gael); Noel Coonan (Fine Gael) Leas-Chathaoirleach; Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD (Fine Gael); Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil); Luke Flanagan TD (Independent); Kevin Humphreys TD (Labour); Michael McCarthy TD (Labour) Cathaoirleach; Sandra McLellan TD (Sinn Féin); Tony Mc Loughlin TD (Fine Gael); Michelle Mulherin TD (Fine Gael); Catherine Murphy TD (Independent); Gerald Nash TD (Labour); Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD; Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin).
Senators: Senator Cáit Keane (Fine Gael) Senator Denis Landy (Labour); An Seanadóir Fiach Mac Conghail (Neamhspleách); Senator Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); An Seanadóir Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fáil): Senator Ned O’Sullivan (Fianna Fáil).