Results 22,581-22,600 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission of Regulation of Utilities which has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply, has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take sure measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and my Department. The CRU currently has a programme of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In March of this year the Energy Security Emergency Group (ESEG) was established to coordinate Ireland’s response to the impacts of the war in Ukraine on our energy system. This ESEG is chaired by my Department and includes relevant State bodies and Departments. The ESEG has met regularly since its creation and is supported by the work of a number of subgroups which focus on specific...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The UK, from where around three quarters of Ireland’s gas comes, has a diverse source of gas supplies. The UK National Grid Gas Winter Outlook Report 2022 published this month sets out that the Great Britain gas network has significant flexibility in its infrastructure, with a potential capability in excess of the anticipated peak demand that can be reasonably assumed during the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a commitment to review the policy position on the development of private networks/direct lines (Action 115). A consultation paper on policy options for private wires was due to be published in Q1 of this year. Unfortunately, the consultation was delayed. However, work on progressing this matter is ongoing within my Department and a consultation will issue...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: To inform the development of a hydrogen strategy for Ireland, stakeholder views were sought on the broad landscape of potential hydrogen supply, infrastructure, storage, and demand in Ireland, as well as the potential export opportunities for hydrogen. The consultation paper set out various areas of interest to be considered in the development of the hydrogen strategy and invited...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My officials engage on an ongoing basis with officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on all aspects of the planning system as it relates to the transition to renewable energy, at both a policy level, and on various legislative provisions. A recent example of positive collaboration in this respect being the new regulations made by the Minister for Housing,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Loss and damage is a priority for Ireland’s work on climate change. Ireland’s position is that we urgently need to scale up and improve access to climate finance to reach those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. There is a clear need for increased finance to avert, minimise and address loss and damage when devastating droughts, heat waves, floods, extreme weather...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects Dublin.  Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: 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 reliability of buses in Cork is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rights of People with Disabilities (19 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, as well as matters of enforcement and compliance in the SPSV sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Taoiseach was absolutely right that this Government is committing to protecting and helping every single family and household through this very difficult time in paying energy bills. There is a variety of measures. If they were easy and simplistic solutions that would be great but that is not the real world. In this real world what is actually working is the range of measures the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Those 440,000 people have a whole range of different circumstances. A lot of people go on to prepay because it actually works for them and helps them in budgeting.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It gives them the ability to reduce their bills and to reduce their use by about 8%. That is the experience of what is actually happening. There are complications in this because there is both gas and electricity. Yes, we will continue to look at the rules and regulations that would help them through a particularly difficult period. A lot of people disconnect when they are moving home or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: There is nothing wrong with that as a mechanism to help people out. Furthermore, that €38 million in additional needs payments is a system that works. It is fair, targeted and correct. It is targeting where we need the money most. Provision for that is the right approach to help people through this particular period.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right to draw attention to the need to have clean water systems, which is a critically important issue for our country. We need to manage our systems, including our wastewater treatment and our public water systems, in a way that ensures the Irish public and the environment have water that is clean and is in pristine condition for bathing or for other reasons. That is not the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: If the standards are not being met, Irish Water will have to go back. I have been to many towns. Our water supply is central not just in the context of our agricultural policy, our forestry policy and our river basins; it is also connected to our housing strategy and our housing policy. If one speaks to anyone across the country about the ability to build new housing, one will find that it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The national broadband plan had difficulties in the first two years due to Covid, problems at local authority level, the technical aspect around ducting and so on. Those problems are starting to be resolved and the plan is on track. We will meet our targets for this year. Some 94,500 premises are ready to be connected; 21,100 of those are already doing so. Schools and the broadband...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will look at that proposal and we will give it real consideration. The story of broadband in this country is not just about the national broadband plan. There is real progress across the country, within those areas and without. We have major investment by Eir, Virgin Media, Siro and other operators, as well as the national broadband plan, which is seeing competition, lower prices, higher...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will start by welcoming the group. I am someone who had a very bad stutter as a young man and boy. I got help at the age of 16 years or so. I occasionally still do stutter. It is sometimes in the middle of a speech here in the Dáil. You know it is coming up and you still have to get through it. I very much recognise the group's role and work. I think the people of this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Oct 2022)

Eamon Ryan: You have to have the people with you and work with them. There is a revolution happening in this country at the moment. It is a solar revolution. In Kerry and elsewhere, the Deputy can talk to the companies delivering that. They will say that the phone never stops ringing. It rings morning, noon and night, with Irish people waking up to the realisation that using our own clean,...