Results 23,401-23,420 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I believe they can be but it is not certain. Earlier, I read out some of the analysis of what has happened in recent years. The increase last year in our transport, agriculture and power generation emissions makes it harder. Every year we see emissions continuing to increase makes the scale of the change required on the other side of the equation all the greater. I believe, however, that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In deference to Deputy Durkan, I might focus on Deputy Ó Cuív in the short few minutes I have because I spoke about agriculture in the first response. It is not only offshore wind. We also have to develop further onshore wind. Many State companies, such as Coillte and Bord na Móna, have considerable potential to do that if our planning system can free up and deliver some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As we are doing that, in the lifetime of this Government, we will set out the so-called "enduring regime", which is the really big project. In truth, the big power is to the west and north west, if one looks at where the resource is - where the really strong winds are - and where our largest sea area is. Critical to that is getting the environmental conditions right and, therefore, one...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The EV target is on track. On the sale of EVs, although I cannot remember the exact percentage, roughly one in five new cars is plug-in electric or plug-in hybrid. Everything I see with the car companies shows that they are all switching because of better cars, maintenance is lower, and running costs are lower. That target is the one that is most achievable. I cannot remember the exact...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We need to look at how we can improve the transport system so that it works, not only on a climate basis but also that we are not all stuck in traffic. It is not only about switching one car for the other. It is about reducing the demand for travel by the likes of remote working and other mechanisms, and not everyone having to drive to Dublin or to move to the big city. For example, our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Solar PV panels are installed under a number of circumstances. For domestic installations, solar PV is installed on new homes, as one of the measures to achieve compliance with Part L of the building regulations. They are also installed on existing buildings through grant supports offered by Government, through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. The microgeneration support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: From speaking to solar PV installers there are two real obstacles to the further massive expansion we need to see. The first is the workforce. The people installing it say there is not a shortage of demand but a shortage of skilled workers. These workers will come. I mentioned the apprenticeships the Minister, Deputy Harris, is delivering at scale. These will start to address this. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Department is working on the matter Deputy O'Dowd has raised but I do not have the details with me. I will come back to him. To respond to Deputy Cowen, it was interesting to meet some solid fuel supply companies yesterday and hear them state they are interested in developing low carbon alternatives for use in solid fuel heating systems. They see this as a big opportunity to develop...

Death of Private Seán Rooney: Expressions of Sympathy (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I recall an Oireachtas trip a number of years ago. A delegation went to Egypt. We happened to meet the secretary-general of the Arab League to discuss various important issues. Before we could say a word, he said that he wanted to say that they will never forget what Irish peacekeepers have done in Lebanon. He said that when militia came to attack a village, Irish soldiers held the line...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, the Government last July approved sectoral emissions ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods, with the exception...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Details of the locations of all monitoring stations currently in operation, along with real-time and historic data from each station, can be found at the website, www.airquality.ie which is operated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The network of stations is part of the national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme which is operated, maintained and monitored by the EPA....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050, and a reduction in greenhouse emissions of 51% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels. Following the process set out in the Act, on 28 July the Government approved sectoral emission ceilings for both the first and second carbon budget periods,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Celtic Interconnector is a 575 km electricity interconnector that will connect the Irish and French electricity grids from East Cork to North-West France, and is being jointly developed by EirGrid and French Transmission System Operator, RTÉ (Réseau de Transport d’Électricité). With a capacity of 700MW, the interconnector will be in a position to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department provides significant support to the local authority sector in their efforts to tackle illegal dumping. Almost €15m, including €2.8m in 2022, has been provided to the sector under the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) since it was first introduced in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, community groups and other State Agencies to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Earlier this year, the Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills and lower emissions. The supports announced included the establishment of: -the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which offers grant levels of up to 50% of the cost...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Hydrogen provides us with an incredible opportunity in Ireland. It provides the potential for long term storage of energy, the opportunity of dispatchable wind and solar power, the potential of chemical feedstocks, the potential of an export market and the opportunity to decarbonise some parts of high temperature processing. Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. Seven community projects, comprising five solar and two wind projects, were successful in first RESS auction (RESS1), six of which remain in RESS. These projects are progressing through the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In February, the Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. Free upgrades are available for households at risk of energy poverty under the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme. Since February, demand across the SEAI retrofit schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 100, 107 and 108 together. The National Heat Study recognises the potential of geothermal energy to supply district heating schemes, my Department has established the Geothermal Energy Advisory Group to advise on the finalisation of the ‘Draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy for a Circular Economy’. The Advisory Group will hold its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (15 Dec 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department and the Local Government Management Agency are continuing to work together to establish an enhanced enforcement support structure to be established next year. This structure will support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise, and advice to support consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the country. A business case for a new structure has been...