Results 341-360 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is aware of this, but I restate An Bord Pleanála is independent of Government. Applications are made. The potential development she refers to is a matter that has been before the courts and has been with An Bord Pleanála. I am not going to comment further other than to say Government will not intervene in that instance. It would not be appropriate for us to do so....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Yes. We will share it with the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The legal advice I referred to is the legal advice my predecessor received, going back to 2020, which I was not aware of at the time either. I had to act on it. To answer the Deputy's question about "State-led" directly, that means State-led, State-owned, State-operated. I want to be very clear on that. This is not a commercial entity. It will be used in the event of a disruption to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question because it gives me an opportunity to put on the record of the House that "State-led" means that the strategic gas emergency reserve will be owned and operated by the gas system operator, which is Gas Networks Ireland, and public procurement processes will determine any future partners, that is, whom we will purchase the gas from. I think the Deputy, with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We will not be dependent on the gas reserve for energy generation at all unless there is a disruption to the gas supply. Between 70% and 80% of our gas supply comes from Britain. Corrib is a diminishing resource, as we know. We are not seeking to access or explore any additional gas fields. The way forward is through renewables. I will give the Deputy one example. Six years ago, about...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As the Deputy rightly says, the Department engaged Cambridge Economic Policy Associates Limited to carry out an updated analysis of security of energy supply in Ireland covering the period beyond 2030 and up to 2040. This study builds on CEPA's technical analysis of the security of supply of Ireland's electricity and natural gas systems up to 2030, published in September 2022. That helped...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The local authorities are doing a good job retrofitting social housing stock. I had experience of that in my previous portfolio. We have an exacting target of retrofitting 500,000 homes by 2030. At the last count, the figure stood at approximately 165,000 across the country, both public and private. However, there is work to do be done. To answer the Deputy's question on the grant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. As outlined in the programme for Government, we committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and achieve a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030, while achieving net zero by no later than 2050. We have been making significant progress in that regard. We also committed to achieving 80% of Ireland's electricity...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I need to get clarification from the Deputy's own party on whether it supports the State-led strategic gas reserve? I am not sure where the Labour Party stands on that. All parties should support it because there is a risk to our country, society and economy if we do not build it. We have an oil reserve but we do not have a gas reserve and we need that. It will be State-led. On the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We are absolutely committed to continuing the transition to renewable energy. We are making progress on that with onshore wind. We have created the infrastructure, which I set up in my previous Department under the marine planning Act and the creation of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA. We have six planning applications in for offshore renewables. I will bring forward...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a cheist. National Heat Study, published by the SEAI, contains a detailed analysis that is being used by my Department to inform the development of policies and measures to decarbonise Ireland's heating and cooling sectors by 2050. I assure the Deputy that the study considered several potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of homes...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am considering all options. There is a new Administration and new Minister. I can see where we have done very well in retrofitting. I have already said very clearly that heat pumps represent the optimal solution but not the only one. We have got to carry out a very detailed assessment of the supply of biofuels, including biofuels used in transportation. If we are to accelerate their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. The Board and management of Bord na Móna are accountable for both the strategic direction and management of the organisation. My Department is responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2024 commits to achieving at least 5 gigawatts of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. In addition, through the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy Policy Statement, published in 2024, Government aims to achieve 20 gigawatts of installed offshore wind by 2040 and 37 gigawatts by 2020. These ambitious levels of offshore wind capacity will facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 18 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the SEAI on behalf of my Department and is funded through carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Government policy recognises the contribution that district heating can make to Ireland’s climate and energy goals, and has financially supported the development of district heating networks in Ireland, including the Tallaght Scheme, through the Climate Action Fund. In 2023, my Department published a District Heating Steering Group Report, containing a suite of recommendations for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sustainable Development Goals (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government commits to accelerating Ireland’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and to adopting a coordinated approach to drive impactful action both at home and abroad. A whole-of-Government approach is being taken to deliver the SDGs in Ireland. My Department has overall responsibility for promoting the SDGs and overseeing delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and are overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Price setting by energy suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. However, I am deeply aware of the impact which rising...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (10 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Developing a private wires policy is of importance to this Government and an action was included in the Programme for Government to expedite the delivery of this policy. This is a complex area with a range of potential options. Work on the policy is ongoing within my Department; initial policy proposals will be published shortly. Having received Government approval, on 4 July last year,...