Results 24,181-24,200 of 26,762 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: All of us understand and accept that we have vast future potential to harness additional renewables that will deliver price savings and stability in our energy market, which we need unquestionably, and help us to reach the exacting targets we have set with regard to climate. We saw very recently in some areas of the country how fragile our grid is to withstand very severe weather events....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Fundamentally, as the Deputy will know, the grid itself is owned by the State. We operate an all-island electricity market. The State owns the grid itself both North and South. The further expansion of that to harness offshore renewables in particular, as the Deputy knows, are the RESS auctions. We have five applications in planning right now. They are a very important part of actually...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 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 achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. In the programme for Government, we also set out commitments to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Right, I do not know where to start with that. There is a reality. The Deputy has dismissed the report that was done and the research that was carried out with regard to energy security full stop. What would this country do if there was an unforeseen event that disrupted our gas supplies while we are transitioning away from fossil fuels? We have done that very successfully. I commend the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no secret deal done at all. I have mentioned and the Deputy has ignored completely the issue of what Ireland would do right now, next week, the week after or next year if there was a disruption to our gas supply. Gas is in our system right now and we are reducing our reliance on it. What would we do? Would we just have no strategic reserve of gas? Would we not run our hospitals...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a very serious proposition. If we have no energy and a major disruption to our gas supply, we need to have a reserve in place. This did not come about by any kind of deal that the Deputy suggests. It is about ensuring we have the adequate supports in place should there be a disruption to our gas supply while we are expanding renewables and increasing our interconnection, as the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy O'Gorman for raising this important question. The Government has committed to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. In response to this ambitious target, my Department, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, published the national biomethane strategy in May 2024. Implementation of this strategy is ongoing and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I agree with the Deputy's analysis that there are major opportunities with biomethane. The original grant scheme was to the tune of about €40 million with 22 applications received. Within that, some of those are to expand existing facilities and others for new ones. The RHO will be an important component in allowing us to grow the sector even further. It will operate similar to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The best way we can protect this sector is to grow it and support it. That is where the work on the RHO is particularly important. The Deputy can be assured that I see the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund as a very obvious fit within my Department and the work we are doing on energy transition. That is something we will be discussing and agreeing with colleagues. The previous...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. 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 Development Fund. Last...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am glad the Deputy has raised this today because while I have been able to read into the record details of a reduction in waiting times from 26 months to 18 months, which is fine, that is still a significant length of time for anyone to be waiting. The waiting time has reduced for E, F and G homes, so there is a prioritisation of the worst affected. I will be engaging with the SEAI to see...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Growing green skills across the country was something in which the last Government was heavily involved and work is ongoing to grow this new sector. New apprenticeships are now in place and we will be working with the Minister, Deputy Lawless, and other colleagues to further advance that. I visited many of those centres myself during the term of the last Government and was impressed....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. It is an important scheme. We will continue it and there are exacting targets there. I would not say it is not working; it is. All schemes can always be improved somewhat. Ireland has one of the most ambitious home retrofit targets in the world. The national retrofit plan sets out how these targets will be met, including an €8 billion financial investment to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I gave quite a detailed answer to Deputy Cleere earlier, particularly on the warmer homes scheme because it focuses on lower income and more complex homes with BER E, F and G ratings. I want to see a reduction in the waiting period. The Deputy mentioned a constituent in Dingle who waited 18 months for a decision. The average processing time has reduced from 24 to 18 months but I want to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am reviewing all the schemes. There is an opportunity when a new Minister comes in to look at what is working and what can be improved. I would like to see us accelerate the transition from solid fuel but we should not rubbish the existing schemes. From 2020 alone, what Ireland is investing in this area is unprecedented - €1.1 billion and 162,000 home energy upgrades, which I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Supply Board (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Storm Éowyn was an unprecedented weather event. We have had debates and discussions in this Chamber. Many Members have views on it. At the peak, 768,000 homes, businesses and farms had no electricity. I commend all the crews - more than 3,000 ESB Network contractors and colleagues who assisted from Britain and the EU were out there to restore power to our citizens. I acknowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Properties (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My Department is currently compiling the information sought and will revert directly to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Policies (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The National Heat Study, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (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 to 2050. A draft Heat Policy Statement, informed by the findings of the National Heat Study, has been prepared and has undergone extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (18 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Action Plan 2025 (CAP25) builds upon the actions, measures, policies and plans set out in Climate Action Plan 2024. A process to update and refine the plan in the context of the latest reports from the Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Change Advisory Council and Climate Action Plan progress reports was coordinated by my Department to deliver a multi-stakeholder approach to...