Results 261-280 of 280 for speaker:Ciarán Ahern

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 225. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for a progress report on the implementation of Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39457/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mining Industry (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the implementation of the previous Government’s 2022 Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining; the items that remain outstanding; the steps he is taking to ensure their implementation by the end of the five year implementation period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39458/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 227. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to increase the construction and demolition waste materials recycling rate in Ireland, which stood at 39.7% in 2020 versus an EU average of 78.1%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39459/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 228. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the remunicipalisation of waste services in Ireland; if he has engaged with campaigners on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39460/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 371. To ask the Minister for Finance his position on the eight-year deemed disposal rule in the capital gains tax system; whether he would consider abolishing this rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39619/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure that school secretaries are not forced to take strike action, as is currently proposed to take place in August; if she will ensure school secretaries are given access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme given they have been on her Department’s centralised payroll since 2023; and if she will make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 735. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will pause the eviction of 6 families who have been granted asylum planned for this Friday 4 July from the IPAS centres (details supplied); if he will respond to reports of harassment of these families by staff at the IPAS centres; if he will confirm whether these families will be eligible for emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Investigations (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 774. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to the fact that over half of assessments of forested areas in Ireland indicate bad conservation status under the Nature Directives; the steps he is taking to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39455/25]

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: In respect of A.7 and the just transition, €47.7 million was allocated. Some €25.3 million of that is allocated to other Departments. Presumably, that is the Department of agriculture, Bord na Móna and places like that. I am curious as to where the balance of that is going, if the Minister has that information.

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: That would be great.

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I am looking at subhead C4. There was mention of geothermal energy development. It is not something we discuss particularly frequently. I understand that there is a trial in place at TUD Grangegorman about geothermal energy, but I am curious about where else this might be going on or how progressed it might be, as well as where it is potentially leading.

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: On the energy development piece, does the Minister know how much is being spent and what the status of the projects might be?

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I understand it has significant potential.

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I have one other item. It concerns subhead C6 and waste management and enforcement activities by local authorities. It has been on this committee's agenda already. We had Wexford County Council in here about Lady's Island Lake. I am querying whether there is any provision for funding for the recommendations this committee made in respect of getting that project under way to remediate the...

Select Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 29 - Climate, Energy and the Environment (Revised) (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Out of interest, had any of those contacted the Minister seeking more funding before that report came out?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I thank all our participants for giving us the benefit of their expertise and their time. I would like to move on to private wires for a minute because Deputy Byrne raised it. Maybe this is more for EirGrid and ESB Networks. Have they any concerns about the development of private wires? This in some respects amounts to part-privatisation of what was previously a totally State-controlled,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: On the broader issue of the network, we can build all the offshore wind we want but if we cannot connect it up to our network and distribute it throughout the country, there is no point. What do the witnesses see as the practical impediments to the enhancement and expansion of the grid? Mr. Tarrant spoke earlier about the need for local area plans to include zoning for electricity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I have one last question relating to the level of political involvement. What is the organisation hoping for from the national development plan next week, in the context of political support and investment, to make this happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: We spoke a bit about the reliability and security of our energy grid earlier. Someone mentioned Portugal having about 70% of its electricity coming from renewables. Someone said that might be a bit high or could be perceived as risky. Is there an ideal energy mix for our grid when it comes to reliability, security and all those aspects?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Is there scope or does Dr. Ryan see a need for further interconnectors as part of our energy future? Obviously a North-South one is being built up and there is the Celtic interconnector too.