Results 161-180 of 25,713 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Responsibilities (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Primary responsibility for biodiversity and nature restoration policy falls under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and with the Minister of State responsible for the National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS). My officials work closely with NPWS and other Government Departments on biodiversity-related issues. In May 2019 the Oireachtas voted on and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government addresses the challenges regarding the sustainability of data centres by committing to allow data centres that contribute both to economic growth and efficient grid usage, by enhancing the use of renewable energy sources, energy efficient technology and energy effective solutions. The Programme for Government also sets out our commitment to achieving 80% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regulatory Bodies (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government 2025 makes a commitment to "prioritise a review and reform of the legislation underpinning the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU)" and to "emphasise that low costs for households and businesses are a central tenet in the updated mandate of the CRU". Since early 2024, my Department has been working closely with the CRU to undertake a review of its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The current planning application, referred to by the Deputy, from Shannon LNG, is a matter for An Bord Pleanála. Any application for fossil fuel infrastructure in Ireland will be subject to the planning, consenting and regulatory approvals by appropriate relevant bodies and the provision of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015-2021 will apply.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 274 together. A draft bye-law on the Sligo District Conservation of Trout on Lough Arrow (including the Unshin river) is currently under review by my Department. The relevant appropriate assessment process was managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), who have indicated to my Department that guidance on appropriate assessment screening...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Local Authorities (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276, 277 and 278 together. District heating can play a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to diversification of fuel supply for the heat sector and to decarbonise it. A District Heating Steering Group was established to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The European Climate Law, agreed by all EU Member States, including Ireland, commits the EU to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It also sets an EU wide intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In addition the European Climate Law sets out a process, currently underway, to agree a further EU wide intermediate target by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the Programme for Government, this 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 sets out the commitment to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Quality (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Fuel Quality Directive (Directive 98/70/EC as amended) sets the technical specifications on health and environmental grounds for fuels to be used with positive ignition and compression-ignition engines. My Department is responsible for overseeing the testing and sampling of fuels as required by that Directive but does not have responsibility for the implementation of the EN 590 fuel...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The new Climate Action Plan commits to the continued implementation of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community energy upgrade schemes. In this respect, my Department funds a number of grant schemes, administered by the SEAI, to support homeowners and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to improve the energy efficiency of their dwellings. This includes SEAI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland’s Climate Action Plans recognise the need for the electricity sector to become more adaptable and flexible, in response to the ever-increasing volume of distributed renewable energy sources on the grid. To ensure reliability in such a distributed energy system, as well as to minimise the network upgrades (and costs for all) needed to accommodate peaks in demand, it will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is committed to combatting nuisance communications, the unsolicited communications via voice calls or SMS text messages that are aimed at large groups of the population and which continue to have adverse effects upon the citizens and business of Ireland. While there is no one approach adopted across all EU Member States, many of our peers across the EU are, like Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. The Programme for Government 2025 further commits to the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The information sought in relation to transposition of EU legislation by my Department is set out in tabular form attached.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. The grants available through the SEAI aim to maximise emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible. The grants which are available, and their respective eligibility criteria, were selected...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Production (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Development of an anaerobic digestion industry is at a nascent stage in Ireland. Currently, Ireland has two operational biomethane facilities, and 43 biogas facilities. In line with the agreed Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, Government has committed to supporting the development of the industry, setting a production target of up to 5.7TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. A...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. The Programme for Government 2025 also sets a number of targets which include the completion of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The project in question sought funding under the Community Climate Action Programme's "Strand 1- Building Low Carbon Communities". The overall objective of this Programme is to support and empower communities, in partnership with their Local Authority, to shape and build low carbon, sustainable communities in a coherent way to contribute to national climate and energy targets. Approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 were introduced to ensure producers take responsibility for the environmentally sound management of tyres placed on the Irish market throughout their lifecycle. Ireland's Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for tyres is operated by Circol ELT. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025, however, commits to extending...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (29 Apr 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 307, 308 and 309 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 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional...