Results 21,801-21,820 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We have to get the 2 GW. What Mr. Foley said is absolutely true. We have a clear approach that will work. We will deliver a lower carbon, lower cost and more secure system. They are the three pillars of energy policy. Critical to that is delivering at least 2 GW of back-up generation capacity. To go back to what I said a short while ago, we have not delivered a single megawatt yet. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We will have to await discussions with the Department of Finance and take into account what is happening in the European Union, which is changing by the day. The arrangements were one of the subjects we discussed yesterday and we will continue to discuss that with the Minister for Finance. We do not have the final details yet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Everything on this issue is a matter of urgency. It is a matter of weeks rather than months.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I suppose the Senator is referring to where wind power is not available because of curtailment and constraint and is not sold into the market but generated and spilt. Maybe EirGrid will come in, but my understanding is it is a physical constraint. It is not traded because the grid cannot take it. The grid is central and key. As to how EnergyCloud works, I am not familiar with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with Deputy Bruton's sentiments regarding the officials here. People should realise that in managing this issue or crisis but also in having managed the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, public servants across the board have been through a series of crisis management periods. We should not ignore the fact their work in that regard has been incredibly stressful and pressurised, so it is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That relates to the earlier conversation on why that additional 2 GW was included in the sectoral emission agreements by the Government. It is to push and promote turning electrons into molecules, as a way of describing it, be that hydrogen, ammonia, methanol or other mechanisms. With regard to planning, there is an example, which Mr. Gannon mentioned earlier, which is our emergency...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We are, but on the basis that a survey must be done to make sure that it is in those specific circumstances. As for where we are going with the heat strategy in particular, to go back to what Deputy Bruton said about not wasting a good crisis, we have to stop putting in new fossil fuel boilers. We have to make sure that all of our schemes and systems support that switch. We cannot afford...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We are doing exactly that. We have three phases. In respect of microgeneration, householders can now sell power back to the grid. All suppliers have to offer them that price and that capability. We are going then to what we are calling microgeneration on a slightly bigger scale, of up to 50 kV, where someone might have larger premises such as a barn, a business premises roof and so on,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I ask the CRU to answer the Senator's last query and to indicate whether it has done an analysis in regard to that matter. On the potential role of offshore exploration, many commentators are saying that if only we had offshore oil and gas exploration, we would be out of this problem. I do not believe that is true. Of the 160 or 170 times we have drilled at real expense for hydrocarbons,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Energy Supply and Security: Discussion (30 Aug 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In response to Deputy Whitmore, the critical point in terms of plans, where we are going and what we will have it to do is set out in an electricity capacity problems policy statement from last November, among several. The critical one was the national energy security framework set out in April this year, at the start of this war. It has worsened but much contained in that has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Chair and members for inviting me to speak today about our sectoral emissions ceilings. These ceilings, which were approved by the Government in July, will support and guide our transition to a sustainable, healthy and more prosperous economy and society. They will underpin Ireland's ambitious commitments to tackle climate breakdown while also increasing our energy security and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: This week, I think.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Whitmore. As I said, that information will be shared. Information has already been shared with the Committee of Public Accounts, as I understand, as it also requested information. The further outline breakdown and background material will be published this week. I would like to make a point on the key question the Deputy asked regarding an unallocated element where we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has specific responsibility around social housing but our Department also has a key role there. For example, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has a role in terms of public buildings, but the key responsibility in retrofitting is that our Department will set a key lead. As I said in my opening statement, the six-month...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In terms of the further adjustment to the budgetary allocations, every sector could potentially play a part in that. However, it does require us to complete the land-use review because that will give us a better idea of the quantum in that particular sector and then we will have a better idea of what is potentially required elsewhere. The approach we have taken is better. Rather than just...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy O'Rourke. In regard to process, going back to what I said earlier, one of the reasons we rely on the UNFCCC accounting systems here is that we it means we do not have to replicate what we are doing already by creating a new system. The starting base was very much in the sectorial emissions ceilings that they would reflect the EPA emissions inventory. That makes sense. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I would agree with the Deputy. Within our existing system in Cabinet, we have to proof policy matters in a whole variety of aspects, including environmental. I believe the Department of the Taoiseach is looking at further ways - both internally in Government as well as in respect of sharing with the Opposition - in which we can carbon-proof in advance measures as they come to Cabinet, or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I might just say, if it makes sense, that if I was doing so, my instinct would be to include it within the existing PBO. It would take two years to create a new agency. I know that from experience, having helped to set up the PBO. It took three years, and it may have even been four years by the time it was fully set up. I would perhaps look at the remit of the office. At the time the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Sectoral Emissions Ceilings: Engagement with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (13 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I have the highest regard for Professors McMullin and Sweeney and Mr. Jackson and, obviously, I have read any letter of concern that they have with real attention. We will respond this week. I hope we can allay some of their concerns though perhaps not all. They may form a different view. Certainly, we can allay one of their concerns as to where the budgets were set out for 2025, which in...