Marc Ó Cathasaigh: Before I turn to the topic at hand, I could not speak on matters relating to the natural world today without marking the sad loss of Michael Viney, who was one of the finest nature writers we have had the fortune to have in this country. The “Another Life” column was founded…
Green Party representatives Marc Ó Cathasaigh and Róisín Garvey have labelled Census 2022 figures around the use of the Irish language as ‘an opportunity to be grasped in the European Year of Skills.’ According to Census 2022, 10% of the 1,874,000 people who can speak Irish reported being able to do so ‘very well’, with…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department’s review of the EIA agriculture regulations will commence; if he will require screening of all hedgerow removal, land drainage and conversion of land to agricultural use, regardless of the scale of such operations, while such a review is ongoing; and if he…
The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss reported at the beginning of last month, having been convened in May 2022 in line with a programme for Government commitment. Over the course of seven months and under the direction of their chair, Dr. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, the 99 citizens heard, weighed and considered the advice of experts,…
I spoke on Drivetime in relation to the EU Nature Restoration Law. Part 1 can be listened to above and Part 2 of the discussion below. Press Release, 24th May 2023 Disheartening to see FG MEPs vote against Nature Restoration Law – Ó Cathasaigh The European People’s Party and Fine Gael must justify to the…
Marc Ó Cathasaigh: The Minister will be aware of the pre-legislative scrutiny of the research and innovation Bill, which is before the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science at the moment. This Bill has been broadly welcomed across the sector. We in this country know the importance of research…
Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh: It has been an extraordinary meeting, and we started by talking about culture change and transparency. I am not sure I have seen that reflected in the someof the language which we have been using. I have some very quick questions regarding theOpera site. Was that proposed site acquisition discussed at…
Green Party TD announces €1,351,000 funding for key Waterford projects under the €50m Community Recognition Scheme which aims to support and recognise the communities hosting Ukrainians and and applicants for International Protection. The scheme will see funding for community facilities and infrastructure such as playgrounds, pocket parks and outdoor exercise equipment throughout the country with…
We recently had a public call for submissions on Ireland’s fourth open government national action plan under four thematic areas: transparency and accountability in public office; citizen decision-making; public access to Government data; and strengthening public trust in Government. I want to ask about the follow-up steps we are taking, how we will implement those…
President Joe Biden, who visited us last month, is famous for saying, “Don’t tell me what you … [care about]. Show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you … [care about]”. That very much applies to the ongoing work on the Wellbeing Framework in the Department. It is an important piece work in…
