Results 2,541-2,560 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Energy Resources. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have sympathy for anyone affected by rising costs. However, if we are to protect the public interest, we must divert from using oil products. We consume 165,000 barrels of oil every day; on average, ten pints of oil for every man, woman and child. In the long term if we are to protect our people from a peak in global oil production and a reduction in the availability of oil supplies,...

Energy Resources. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I can and do talk to the oil companies. I like to do it on the basis of proper policy analysis.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for connection offers under the gate 3 process is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation. My responsibilities relates to the allocation of support under the renewable energy feed in tariff programme, REFIT. The selection and allocation criteria for compliant projects under REFIT are set out in the competition notes. All compliant applications received on the same...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The broad outline of our intent is set out in the all-island grid study, which shows that our electricity supply system could include 42% renewable energy by 2020. We will then progress from there. The long-term objective is to move towards a zero-carbon energy system. If we consider the figures on where we expect this power to come from, we can see it will include some 4,000 MW of onshore...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: All three issues have to be taken into account. We must obviously consider grid development, ability to connect, and time in terms of——

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, but——

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The selection process, by nature, involves a grouping of projects, and this must take into account grid development and connection ability. It cannot be decided simply on the basis of date of application. The selection process is to allow for the CER to take the current large number of applications and create a system that is easier to manage and makes sense within our grid development system.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: People can see that, but they should realise that we are not stopping at 2020. Why should we not continue if we can develop our demand management system to support further wind——

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: No.

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 120, and 269 to 272, inclusive, together. The invitation to tender for the independent study on the comparative merits of overhead and underground electricity transmission lines was placed on the Government's eTenders website on 11 February last. The deadline for receipt of tenders was 29 February. The terms of reference for the study were available both...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I will have to check, but my understanding is that the deadline is 40 days, not 40 working days.

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Forty days would not allow us to stay within the April-May timeframe I am setting out. One of the options we wanted to preserve was for the consultants to come to the committee and present the analysis as set out. That would be appropriate and would allow the committee to ask relevant questions with regard to the findings of the study once it is completed. As to what happens after that, I...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I cannot give details of the companies involved or the likely winner as they are commercially sensitive. In terms of the Deputy's first question on reputation and independence, the companies that have applied are internationally recognised in this area of energy advice. The names of the companies indicate that we are dealing with leading international firms in the area of consultancy and...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: One of the elements I insisted on, in going through this process, was a forum for people with an interest in the issue to make detailed submissions that the consultants must take into account. We ensured this would happen by advertising widely in local and national newspapers to give people the opportunity to make a submission. People are very aware of some of the technical issues and I...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: This is the process we decided on to allow people make submissions. The time frame for the work to be done is tight but one of the advantages of using international consultants with experience in this area is they are not entirely new to the issue; they will draw on a basis of international experience as this matter has been examined in many countries. It is appropriate that we use best...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As our all-Ireland grid study, to which I referred earlier, shows there is a significant requirement for us to urgently build a series of grid connections — we would have to do this in any event to upgrade our grid, even if we were not changing our energy policy direction — it is right for us to treat this on a national basis rather than on a project-specific basis because the lessons we...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Having said that, there are very different topographic or regional demographic issues in regard to a 440 kV power line which would go 80 km through drumlin country versus a smaller grid connection that might be applied in the west or in a mountainous region. There are obviously different considerations. We are looking for the consultant to bring back information on the implications for...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid has made its point in numerous public fora and in publications.

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am not directing the consultant in terms of any meetings. It is up to them with their experience in the area to take the information provided and to bring in international experience because we need to see what exactly has applied elsewhere and if there are other examples in the world where this issue has been resolved. That will tell us more in a sense. The reality on the ground in...

Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: We are asking the consultants to bring in international expertise to look at the broad national picture here but, obviously, within that to look at specific examples of topography or network configurations which will apply in the development of our network. In doing that one has to look at some of the big connection projects, the North-South interconnector being one of the largest....