Results 24,241-24,260 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. Our Department has doubled in size. The big increase has been in energy, and the big increase within that has been in offshore energy. We have a massive new team of capable civil servants working on this. The Deputy is right, though. The biggest challenge now is probably in An Bord Pleanála and MARA in getting the resource. MARA is up and running with more than 20 staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: An Bord Pleanála has been more challenging, as we all know. I agree. I keep referring to a reality. I think we have 2,000 people in the Central Bank and 200 in An Bord Pleanála. We are fighting the last war – the financial crash. We need to be fighting the next war, which is decarbonising. For that, An Bord Pleanála needs to scale up. Everyone agrees on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I will go back and show the Deputy the decision that was made.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (16 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I share that frustration. However, do not underestimate our ability to scale up quickly and be good at this. We are one of the leading countries in the world in integrating renewable power by any measure and assessment of the ability to deploy and catch renewable power. We are right up at the top. While we are late coming to the game on the offshore - the UK, Dutch, Belgians, Germans and...

Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In replying on behalf of the Government, I absolutely agree with Deputy Harkin that we must be unequivocal in condemning Russian aggression in this war. That is the purpose of the motion. At a meeting of the Business Committee, the possibility of just the Ceann Comhairle making a statement was considered. However, it is better that all groups in Parliament were given a chance to add their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: While the Regulations referred to are drafted in the Department, supporting technical and scientific inputs are provided via Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) as statutory advisers to me as Minister and the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department. It is established practice in respect of such regulations that part of this technical input is for IFI to procure an independent appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis) are a non-native / non naturalised species in Ireland and potentially invasive as is the experience throughout their range internationally. Their introduction would represent a potential threat to native and naturalised biodiversity.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Bye-Law 806 of 2006 referred to in the Question relates to measures concerning the catching and retaining of non-salmonid species (including roach). The Bye-Law is in force since 2006 on a National basis. Management of any fish species in a particular fishery is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function Inland Fisheries...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Road Projects (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I have no function in this matter. The Department of Rural and Community Development operate the Local Improvement Grant Scheme for private roads.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radon Gas Levels (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. The Government has established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS). The strategy is now in its second phase covering the period 2019 – 2024. Implementation of the strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radon Gas Levels (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The interdepartmental agency group responsible for the National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS) has not met since February 2022. The next meeting of the group is scheduled for 6 April 2023. The group is comprised of representatives from the following Departments and Agencies: - Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (Chair)- Department of Housing, Local Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) currently has a programme of actions underway – to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. This programme of actions contains a number of both demand and supply-side mitigation measures to address any potential shortfall. The actions include:...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland does not have infrastructure for the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG).Natural gas demand in Ireland is currently met through domestic production from the Corrib Gas Field and importation through interconnectors from the United Kingdom. Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices provides for a cap on market revenues of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 162 and 163 together. Group heating schemes are apartment blocks or housing developments that are supplied with heat rather than fuel and, in such cases, it is the heat supplier that is the purchaser of the fuel used. Where gas is being used, the provider may not fall within a domestic supply category, and will be supplied under commercial terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circular 01/2020 on Procedures for Offsetting the Emissions Associated with Official Air Travel introduced mandatory new procedures for all Government Departments and Offices for offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions associated with official air travel. The circular came into effect at the beginning of 2020 and requires...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is working with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund to develop a residential retrofit loan guarantee scheme. The scheme is also part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and will be co-funded by the EU Recovery and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department funds a number of grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. The administration and management of applications under the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) schemes are an operational matter for the SEAI. As Minister, I have no function with regard to individual grant applications. The SEAI has established a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In May 2021, the Government approved and published a Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas. The policy statement sets out the Government’s position that, pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG terminals in Ireland to be permitted...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: NGOs are active on a broad range of issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity and climate change. Organisations my Department funds include: - The Irish Environmental Network (IEN), which is an independent umbrella organisation for environmental NGOs with its own corporate governance structures. The distribution and allocation of funding to its members is decided by the IEN -...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Consumer Protection (21 Feb 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Government is acutely aware of the impact that the recent increases in global energy prices is having on households and throughout 2022 introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports and as part of Budget 2023 has introduced a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion. This includes a new Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of...