Results 481-500 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2023, which came into force on the 1 January 2024, oblige waste collectors to provide a bio-waste (brown) bin to all their customers regardless of where in the country they live. Enforcement of the regulations is a matter for the relevant local authority. The expansion of the brown bin is being supported by a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Oasis (floral foam) is a phenol-formaldehyde foam used globally in the floral industry as a medium to support stems in floral arrangements while also acting as a water source. Research has found traditional phenol-formaldehyde foam breaks down into microplastics. In 2023, the EU REACH restriction of Synthetic Polymer Microparticles Regulation (commonly known as ‘the microplastics...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This Department has one major capital project, the National Broadband Plan, being delivered as part of Project Ireland 2040. This plan is a core element of the implementation of the Digital Connectivity Strategy. The availability of high-speed, reliable, digital connectivity will support the delivery of Ireland’s economic and social ambitions, and will position Ireland at the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Implementation Bodies (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Loughs Agency is an agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC), established as one of the North South Implementation Bodies under the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, constituted under the North South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the British Irish Agreement Acts 1999 and 2002. The Board of the Loughs Agency reports to and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fisheries Protection (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Since 2007, salmon stocks have been individually annually assessed in selected Irish rivers. Knowing the stock levels for each river, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) - the independent statutory body tasked with the protection, management and conservation of the Inland Fisheries resource in Ireland - can advise on the number of fish that might be sustainably harvested, without impacting the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2022, the Digital Connectivity Strategy for Ireland was published and it sets out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. This target is on track and will be met through a combination of commercial investment and State funding. The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: ESB is a commercial State body, under the aegis of my Department, established under the Electricity Supply Act 1927. ESB is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. This is an operational matter for ESB and not one in which I have any function. The Deputy may wish to contact ESB directly via Oireachtas@esb.ie in relation to the matter raised in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy the job title, and where appropriate, the salaries of my Ministerial staff: One Special Advisor. No salary is paid by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The salary will be included in the Department of Transport's answer to the Deputy, as there is a single payroll for me as Minister across two Departments. One Private Secretary who...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland's EU Just Transition Fund Programme aims to address employment, economic, social and environmental impacts arising from the ending of peat extraction for power generation in the Midlands Region. Action 1.2 of the Programme seeks to support the implementation of local and regional economic strategies and is managed on behalf of my Department by Pobal. Longford County Council have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is developing Ireland’s National Building Renovation Plan which will outline our approach to ensuring the renovation of the national stock of residential and non-residential buildings, both public and private, into a highly energy-efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050, with the objective of transforming existing buildings into zero-emission buildings. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. Regulation (EU) 2023/955 on the establishment of a Social Climate Fund (SCF) requires that all EU Member States prepare a Social Climate Plan setting out the programmes for the period 2026-2032 aimed at addressing the social and distributional effects of fossil fuel price increases. My Department is now preparing a draft Social...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have any vacant or derelict buildings in Dublin-Rathdown.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Heat Study, published by the SEAI, contains detailed analysis that is being used to inform the development of options, policies and measures to decarbonise Ireland’s heating and cooling sectors by 2050. The study considered a number of potential decarbonisation options for a wide range of dwellings and business premises. This included the use of liquid biofuels such as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Imports (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. The Programme for Government also commits to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Delivery of the Government's target of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenous biomethane by 2030 and its use within our energy system will have multiple cross-sectoral benefits for Ireland’s economy, energy security and emissions profile. As such, development of the industry will require a coherent and collaborative approach to policy implementation across all sectors including energy,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Gender Recognition (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am advised that my Department is not part of the interdepartmental working group referred to in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2024 commits to achieving at least 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030. The Government's Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce is driving delivery of this objective. My Department’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme is the support mechanism to incentivise the development of both offshore and onshore wind and also of grid scale solar....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of employees working for Irish Rail after the age of 66 is a matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 290 and 318 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including application and scheduling matters. I have referred the Deputies' questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply and I would ask the Deputies to contact my office if a...