Results 321-340 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: You are twisting-----
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: You are twisting what I said again.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: That is not what I said.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: You are twisting it now.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: That is not what I said.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Carry on and I will respond.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Read the record. I will come back in on a supplementary comment.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Read the record. I did not say that.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: No, it is not. What I accused the Deputy of was being fixated with LNG and with a floating strategic gas reserve that we actually need. It has been very clearly set out that the fact that we do not have a strategic gas reserve is a risk to our society, our country and our energy stability. I did not mention climate in my response to the Deputy at the start or accuse him of being fixated...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Affordability is critical. If we look at it from a positive standpoint first, about 162,000 homes have been supported for energy upgrades and 55,000 of those are B2 upgrades. We have to look at B2 or B2 equivalents and where the house is going. To improve the energy and heating in a home, particularly in older homes, the cost of getting to B2 can be substantial, if not prohibitive. That...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta agus go n-éirí leis ina phost nua. As part of EU efforts to tackle climate change, Ireland has accepted specific emissions reductions targets for the period to 2030, set by the EU effort sharing regulation, ESR. These targets are also in line with domestic commitments in Irish law as set out in the climate Act 2021. Ireland can meet these...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: The future is renewables and particularly offshore renewables. We have six projects off the east coast in planning, as the Deputy knows. We have our first designated maritime area plan, DMAP, through, which is in the south east. I will be bringing forward proposals to the Government in the coming weeks to accelerate the DMAP process. I have met stakeholders, including in the development...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: The State is investing tens of millions in this sector right now. We have put the legislative infrastructure in place. That was done in the previous Dáil. I had the honour of bringing forward the Maritime Area Planning Act, which was passed in this House, although it was not supported by everyone. It saw the establishment of Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA. I will meet...
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 25 together. We have had a good discussion on LNG already, because we have been here since 10.23 a.m., but I thank the Deputy for his question.
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Well done, that is great. I hope the Deputy was working with colleagues in a constructive manner this morning, as one would expect. I thank the Deputy for the question. I know he has a certain view on this. I mentioned to colleagues earlier that we could not ignore the advice we have received with regard to our own energy security, and the FSRU is absolutely needed. I am going to be...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na ceiste a ardú ar an ábhar an-tábhachtach seo. I thank the Deputy for his question on this very important subject. As he knows, Ireland has one of the most ambitious home retrofit targets in the world. The national retrofit plan sets out how these targets will be met, including with an €8 billion financial allocation in...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: The warmer homes scheme is important because it focuses on lower incomes families. I am looking at this issue. For context, the average value of upgrades in 2015 was just €2,600. In 2024, the most recent year for which I have full annualised data, it was €27,700. Deeper upgrades mean more lower income homeowners can benefit to a greater extent from the scheme and the...
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: I did. I will come back to it in the supplementary.
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: To answer the Deputy's question directly at the start, the analysis conducted by CEPA is under review in the Department now and I must review that. However, I can confirm the study finds Ireland will not meet the N-1 infrastructure standard for gas during the 2030s. The report finds the addition of an FSRU will allow Ireland to meet that standard and I will publish that in the coming weeks....
- Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)
Darragh O'Brien: Yes.