Results 27,661-27,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bituminous Fuel Ban (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ban on smoky coal, as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to other major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved effective and research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in more than 350 fewer annual deaths in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bituminous Fuel Ban (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The challenge has arisen around this question of the equivalence regarding particulate matter derived from burning smoky coal or wood and peat products. That is the core issue. The nationwide extension of a ban on smoky coal, which I know was made in good faith by the former Ministers, envisaged that it would not apply to peat or wood products. This issue has to be examined carefully and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bituminous Fuel Ban (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Department is not rejecting anything. It recognises the merit of extending a ban on smoky coal. The issue that has been challenged is whether it is legally robust to have such protections in respect of one fuel product at a time when other fuel products, that have a similar profile regarding polluting affects, are excluded. That is the issue. We need to ensure that in taking action to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The national broadband plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high-speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across the country and a State intervention in those areas where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. The national broadband plan has been a catalyst in encouraging investment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will not give a view attributing motivations or otherwise of anyone involved in this project. The position is that Eir was involved in this process, it found fault with a number of elements which the State regarded as key to the protection of the State's investment, compliance with state aid rules and protection of those for whom this service was being designed. In other words, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Carbon proofing will have a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy and has been recognised by the Climate Change Advisory Council as an important tool for Ireland to achieve its long-term decarbonisation objectives in a cost-effective manner by 2050. As part of project appraisal for all public capital investments, it is essential to avoid expenditure that locks in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: There are two dimensions to the answer to that question. In terms of staying on track, we are setting up an implementation committee within the Department of the Taoiseach which will be co-chaired by the Secretaries General of that Department and of my Department. That will oversee the roll out and implementation of the action plan. In addition, there will be carbon proofing within the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The carbon-proofing of Government memoranda will come in later this year. It will be developed by the Department of the Taoiseach with input from other Departments, particularly the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for this important and timely question. The National Cyber Security Centre was established under my Department following a Government decision in 2011 and has a remit across the digital and cybersecurity of Government ICT and critical national infrastructure under the Network and Information Security Directive. The centre is focused on developing capacity to protect...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cyber Security Policy (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The resource for the centre has been steadily increased and it has approximately 30 staff. The ongoing resourcing requirements will be reviewed in the context of the next cybersecurity strategy. The strategy has just been out for public consultation and will be finalised shortly.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the climate action plan I have set a target of 70% for renewable electricity by 2030 to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. This will build on the progress made in the past ten years, in which the renewable energy sector has undergone a considerable transformation, with the share of renewable electricity generation more than doubling to 30% in 2017. However, we must...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The detail of the €13.7 billion investment has to be worked out, but it will be in the areas I mentioned, namely, the system service infrastructure, the transmission and distribution networks, the interconnectors and storage infrastructure. Those are predominantly State infrastructures to facilitate the system's capacity for more renewables. The private sector contribution will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree absolutely with the Deputy. We intend that the ESB, Coillte and Bord na Móna will be major players. Those companies have set out significant ambitions and put plans in train and will play a strategic role in the move to a decarbonised economy. We announced recently the renewable heat support scheme which will allow biomass provision to replace existing heat systems. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The recently published climate action plan sets an ambitious target of 500,000 energy efficiency retrofits by 2030. Achievement of this target will be supported by a Project Ireland 2040 allocation of €3 billion as well as the range of measures identified in the plan. One such measure is the development of a new retrofitting delivery model which will group retrofitting projects...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge the Deputy's support for the action plan. It is a significant target at 50,000 per year whereas the current rate is 34,000 per year, approximately. As the Deputy says, rightly, retrofitting takes place currently at a lower level. These are shallower retrofittings. To be fair, the deep retrofitting scheme was a pilot and was never intended to constitute the final approach....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Better Energy Homes Scheme (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy. Group and area-based schemes will allow us to carry out those shallow retrofits as they will offer people an easy, turnkey process by which to do so. I assure the Deputy that not only did I visit Mount Lucas as Minister for Education and Skills, but I have also visited in my new role. I fully acknowledge its potential. It is a fantastic centre. Great things are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The climate action plan sets a target of 936,000 EVs by 2030. That would represent approximately one third of all purchases in the period between now and then. To support the achievement of this target, the plan sets out a range of actions which include introducing a legislative ban on the sale of new fossil fuel cars from 2030; developing the charging network to stay sufficiently ahead of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is correct. The price of EVs is higher than that of conventional cars, but the running costs of EVs are approximately one eighth of those of conventional cars. It is a case of swings and roundabouts. It is worth pointing out that the price of batteries is decreasing rapidly and that their durability is improving. The expert opinion we have received is that, even if there were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: Some 500 are to be upgraded and there will be 224 new ones.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ambitions of the electricity network are based on very substantial growth in overall demand for power. From memory, a 50% growth in power demand arising from a variety of sectors, including new EVs, is anticipated. The Deputy is correct. We should be looking to car manufacturers and service stations to make investment in this area. Thus far it has had to be leveraged by a State...