Results 28,001-28,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

UN Climate Action Summit: Statements (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I could not possibly do justice to the many contributions that have been made. It is encouraging that Members are significantly on board for the sort of transformation we need. As Deputy Eamon Ryan said, an existential threat of this scale gives us an opportunity to challenge our civilisation to step up to show its greatest creativity and its greatest capacity for collaboration. This is a...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to introduce this Bill because it is timely that we have a serious debate around broadcasting. There are major changes in the broadcasting arena and none of us need to be told the pace of that change. It is having an impact on the way in which people receive their media. There has been a significant move away from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The electric vehicle purchase grant, introduced in April 2011, provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new battery electric vehicle or new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The scheme does not support the purchase of standard hybrid vehicles. From the introduction of the scheme to date, grant support has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (The Aarhus Convention) was adopted on 25 June 1998. Ireland ratified the Convention on 20 June 2012. The Aarhus Convention and related EU Directives had, prior to ratification, been given legal effect in Ireland by over 60 pieces of legislation and additional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Ireland (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together. The principal statutory function of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Similarly to all bodies and individuals, IFI has an obligation to abide by statutory and EU requirements and consults appropriately with the Planning Authorities when...

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this issue. The climate action plan the Government has published sets out an ambition to have 70% of energy on our grid from renewable sources by 2030. The current figure is 30%. In practical terms that will require us to build five times the volume of renewable energy capacity we now have. In terms of operating the grid, it means that the...

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies for participating in this debate. This is a very important issue in that we now need to embark on an accelerated programme of removing fossil fuel from our energy mix. Unfortunately, we are starting from a position, as Deputy Lawless said, where we are north of 90% dependent on fossil fuels. This journey is going to require us to use natural gas. That is the reason behind...

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: That would have to be decided at European level. As I indicated to the House, I will be undertaking a review of energy security and sustainability. It is only in the context of such a study and where I am satisfied that such a project fits in with that, that I would support an application for funding. All the advice I have received from experts is that having access to LNG is an important...

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----they put through their energy mix. The position I am adopting is reasonable against the background of all the advice I received in terms of the security of supply, International Energy Agency, IEA,-----

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland, GNI. I am indicating to the House that I am conscious of the concerns and I will be undertaking a proper study of those issues and it will be against that background that I will judge any consideration of funding of such a project.

Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility in Ireland: Statements (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have just stated, if the Deputy was listening, exactly the position. There is no point in my repeating it.

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies for the high quality of this debate. While I probably should not state this, it contrasted with the debate related to climate we had in recent days when people were not listening to one another and did not try to tease out the difficulties of some of the issues we confront. This debate, however, showed a remarkable willingness to recognise the tricky nature of the...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: That is the reality. I joke when I refer to "mere politicians". That process also provides an important counterbalance between the Fourth Estate and ourselves. That is recognised as important. Deputy Dooley also suggested the need to widen the base of funding. The working group considered the option of moving completely to a form of licensing that is independent of the device used. That...

Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019: Referral to Select Committee (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The goal of the National Broadband Plan intervention is to engage a company to build, operate and maintain a high speed broadband network in order to provide access to high speed broadband services to every home, farm, school and business in Ireland – no matter where they are located. Since the Government’s decision on 7 May 2019 to approve the appointment of a preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Heat Incentive (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I understand this question relates to the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat which has been developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System.The first phase of the scheme, an installation grant for heat pumps, opened for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer the reply to Question No 462 of 1 October. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (3 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government has committed to delivering a whole of Government approach, and to working with local stakeholders, to ensure that a just transition is provided to those impacted by Ireland’s move away from carbon-intensive sources of fuel, such as peat. There will be several strands to Government’s response. These include the diversification of Bord na Móna; an accelerated...