Results 26,001-26,020 of 26,787 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: That report will be published this week. If anyone wants a briefing on it with officials, it will be available to colleagues. It is important that people understand the risks we are trying to mitigate. I restate that the programme for Government acknowledges the growing energy price and cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward measures to contain these...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Everyone agrees that we need substantial further investment in our grid, and price review 6 will bring that forward later this year. As part of the NDP, we are looking at other ways by which we can fund investment in our grid, which is critical to ensure we can realise the potential of more onshore and offshore renewables. Later this week, the Deputy will see a decision on the PSO, which...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his timely question. He will know and acknowledge that Storm Éowyn was one of the most severe weather events to impact Ireland in recent decades. At its peak, as we are all acutely aware, including the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and I who were dealing with it at the time - 768,000 customers were without electricity. Despite these challenges, ESB Networks...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: For the Deputy's information, there needs to be more than 10 m each side of a tree in most areas.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Actually, in some instances 30 m either side are required.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is obviously depending on the tree but I am telling the Deputy we have to work on this in a very structured way. Surveys are critically important. The whole network had never been surveyed as it has been done now. While I was in the process of telling the Deputy about the extensive survey work that is being done, a lot of clearances have happened already post storm, and the Deputy will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: No.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Grid (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I assure the Deputy that all of us want the same thing here. I have answered Deputy Daly's question about the importance of continued and enhanced investment in our grid, in that resilience aspect and in our distribution network in particular. Our generation network was not affected as much as the distribution network because the grid in those areas was resilient, but there is a significant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Usage (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. I thank both Deputies for the questions. The latest projections from the EPA are a clear signal that, while we have made progress, we need to move faster to meet our 2030 climate targets, and that is going to be incredibly challenging and incredibly difficult. The Government is building significant momentum and the EPA's analysis...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Usage (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Unquestionably, there are major challenges with meeting the 2030 targets. Anybody can see that from the EPA projections and previous projections. It is not hopeless though, not in any way, shape or form. I mentioned specifically energy generation because that is going to be the key and cornerstone to a reduction in dependence on fossil in particular and reducing carbon emissions while...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Usage (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Let us look at the facts. We all agree that the targets were always going to be challenging but we are still focused on doing our level best to achieve them. Certain sectors have done significantly well. If we look at energy industries, there is a 21.6% reduction in emissions while it is 4.6% in agriculture, 7% in residential and 5.8% in industry. Transport emissions did increase...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Centres (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The programme for Government outlines the policy position regarding energy policy, housing policy, foreign direct investment growth and the many other goals and objectives of this Government. It reflects the balance between the many opportunities and challenges facing the country and the actions that will be taken over the lifetime of this Government. It recognises that increased and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Centres (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am sure the Deputy and his party have interacted in respect of the CRU's draft statement on large energy users. There is a strategy being brought forward that is plan led rather than developer led, and that is critically important. There is no question that the number one priority for this Government is housing and continuing to increase of housing delivery. We also have to invest in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Data Centres (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: In the context of PR6 and the previous review, it is not a question that it is data centres first at all. PR6 takes into account Government targets and includes the connection of up to 50,000 new homes per year, up to 1 million electric vehicles and currently contracted data centre demand, which means currently contracted data centres - no new ones - and those with contracted connection...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The North-South interconnector is an essential transmission infrastructure project that will link the electricity transmission network between South and North on the island of Ireland, leading to a much more secure, affordable and sustainable supply of electricity across the island, operating in a single electricity market. The project is fully consented in the State and in the North, with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The project should have been delivered by 2030 and now it will not be. The revised date is 2031. We need the interconnector. Work has started in the North subject to challenge there too. Work should start in the South too. There are lessons to be learned. Engagement in some areas has been difficult. I am not going to apportion blame on either side. I have been in the Oireachtas since...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: This is a critical piece of infrastructure for the island. It has gone on for far too long. I remember this as well going way back to 2005. I remember protests in north Dublin about undergrounding coming from Wales into Rush and discussions and arguments around electromagnetic fields. I respect Deputy Carthy's point of view but he did not mention that there are many residents and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Infrastructure (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Could the Deputy let me answer? There are many residents who have consented. There is a need for further engagement but the reality is that if we go back through a planning process again, we would be talking about 2040. What will have happened then is that we will have less ability to bring more renewables on to our grid and will not have reduced costs for consumers North and South so we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 138 together. Ireland's energy policy is focused on achieving a sustainable, secure and competitive energy system with key elements centred around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy generation - 40% of our energy was generated through renewables last year - as well as improving energy efficiency and ensuring energy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We are not going to annihilate our climate targets. This Government is as committed as the previous Government was to the energy transition, reducing emissions and working as hard as we can to achieve the targets that have been set. On the expansion of renewable energy, 40% of all our energy last year was generated through renewables. We have made incredible progress in that regard, not...