Results 26,701-26,720 of 26,791 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to be helpful. I was asked by Deputy Ahern about a letter from An Coimisiún Pleanála. I genuinely have not received it.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We will chase up with the board and see where that letter is. If the letter is appropriate to respond to, and I say this as someone who used to be the Minister with responsibility for planning, in some instances, it may be appropriate or it may not be. I will not know until I see the contents of the letter. The policy decision Government has made regarding State-owned, State-led and...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I did not mention peat extraction but I am happy to answer Deputy Cronin's question. I did not mention legal or illegal peat extraction in my opening statement. All of us are aware of the report from the EPA last week and its findings about what seems to be commercial peat extraction that is being carried out illegally. That is something of great concern to all of us. It does not relate...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Enforcement of that is a matter for local authorities. The EPA was very clear in what it said about what it perceives to be a lack of enforcement at local authority level. What I have done is write to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy James Browne, to ask him to engage with the local authorities in question that are subject to the EPA report. Government has...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I mentioned to previous Deputies that there is no formal or informal formula regarding the imposition of fines. This will require further discussion with the Commission. The Deputy will see in the NDP review that will be published by the middle of July not just the ambition but the finance behind acceleration of renewables onshore and offshore. This is why the Government decision about the...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy is aware because we discussed it that the State's position regarding the reserve is clear - State-owned, State-led and State-operated.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We do not want to see and we will not see an increase in reliance on fossil fuels. We are transitioning away from fossil fuels. I do not have any correspondence from the commission. I am not saying it did not send it. There has been a report that it was sent in the past couple of days but I have not seen it. Where any clarity is required, that clarity will be given but I do not know what...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I will talk in general. I do not want to talk about a specific application.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I am just putting that on record here for fear that anyone would think that I am making any type of comment on an existing application. First and foremost, An Coimisiún Pleanála sits at the apex of the planning system. It makes decisions independently of Government. Our climate action plan 2025 is abundantly clear that the State's objective is to transition away from fossil...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not a matter-----

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is not a matter of the State allowing it. The State is clear that we want to transition away from fossil fuels, including gas, including LNG.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I do not want to be evasive and I am not being so. I have answered many questions from the Deputy on this. There is an existing planning application there that I am not referring to, but I can say the State's position is our future in energy is in renewables. I cannot be clearer than that. Our whole effort will be to accelerate the delivery of renewables. The FSRU is about energy...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We set aside-----

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Excuse me.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: If I am asked for a clarification and it is appropriate for me to answer it, I will assess the letter, answer it and advise the committee of that.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Sorry, Deputy, I got some breaking news on the letter. Go ahead.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I would rather the State control its gas reserve. That is the decision Government has taken. It is better if it is in State hands. We or a future Government would decide when that was no longer required and what we could do with it. It is a significant cost. I would put it that it is a considerable investment and a significant part of that would be reusable for other activities, like...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The cost is about €900 million over ten years. That includes capital expenditure and operating expenditure. The Government decision is clear. The working group is in place already. There have been meetings with that group across GNI, my Department and myself. Work is advancing on planning, legislative provision and so on. If we see a private operator getting permission and moving...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Our position is we want to transition away from fossil. I have answered that question. The Chair will decide on that but-----

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It means "moving away from".