Results 28,641-28,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Part IV of the Air Pollution Act 1987 makes provision for Special Control Areas for the control of air pollution. This is a process which may be initiated by a Local Authority, but in practice this has proven cumbersome in the past, with requirements for consultation, and public hearings where there are objections to a proposal for an order, before ultimately returning to the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Funding (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty, who meet the defined eligibility criteria. As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications. However...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Online Safety (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 4 March 2019 I launched a public consultation seeking views on the content of the proposed Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. The public consultation closed on 15 April 2019. A wide range of responses were received to the consultation from members of the public, NGOs, industry and government agencies. These responses, which were published on 27 June 2019, have informed the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has published figures comparing the respective costs of domestic fuels. These are available online at and show that while low smoke fuels are typically more expensive to buy on a weight-by-weight basis, they have a higher heat output than coal or lignite nuggets and, therefore, represent better value for money than smokier fuels. There is, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Electricity supply to the distribution grid is an operational matter for ESB Networks, which is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. I therefore have no function in the matter. I understand that Eirgrid, the transmission system operator, adopts a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), an independent statutory body and solely accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas for the performance of its functions. As part of its regulatory role, CRU accredits electricity and gas price comparison websites that adhere to the CRU price comparison...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (17 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout services and make specific investments in particular locations....

Environmental Policy: Motion [Private Members] (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 3: To delete the words “immediately enact a nationwide ban on smoky coal, which has already been proven to work in many larger urban areas without legal challenge;” and insert the following: “— not introduce a nationwide smoky coal ban at this time, as to do so carries a serious risk of illegality unless the burning of peat, turf and wet...

Environmental Policy: Motion [Private Members] (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Deputies will be aware that people who are burning solid fuel in rural areas are those who are at the highest risk of fuel poverty. It would do significant damage to their ability to heat their homes. The alternative would be that it would undermine the basis of the ban we already have. If such a case were taken successfully, it would undermine the ban that applies to Dublin and to the 26...

Environmental Policy: Motion [Private Members] (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I was going to comment on illegal dumping, but I will deal with it on another occasion.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the transition statement which has been published and laid before the House. There are a number of developments even since then. Deputy Dooley will be aware that COP 25 was somewhat disappointing in that progress was not made but many people took the view that no deal was better than a bad deal. That means the next conference, which is to be...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: On the level of fines, they are not finally determined. Basically, Ireland has two areas where we are likely to fall short. In regard to the 16% renewable energy across all systems, not just electricity, we are likely to fall short and we will have to purchase statistical transfers. The price at which they will be bought is not yet set or known. We have to enter into discussions about...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: On the first question, there is no doubt that the Government, similar to other governments, has lifted its ambition. When I came into office first, my target was to get us back on track. We were failing dismally to achieve our target. People may or may not attribute the hard work that we had to do to get all of the Departments to agree to targets that were set and that would deliver and...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The terms of reference of the security and sustainability review have not been finalised. We have sought input from our agencies, such as EirGrid, in order that we can understand the concerns before setting the terms. Contrary to what was stated earlier, it is in recognition of the concerns raised, such as in respect of LNG, that we want to ensure it will be assessed. I have committed that...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The EPA, which does the number-crunching, publishes its reports. Obviously, it is available to come before the committee to present its numbers. The SEAI does the number-crunching for energy alone. If we just want the energy side of things, as opposed to the wider piece, that is available from the SEAI.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: The EPA does that as well. It does the evaluation. It calculates the emissions from agriculture that arise from methane, nitrogen, oxides, urea and so on. It calculates the whole lot. Teagasc has done an estimate of how we can start to reduce those emissions. The question of land use and forestry is much more complicated. I am happy to make an official available to talk to Deputies....

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Chair and wish everyone a happy Christmas.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I do not think so. We will come back to this issue at the committee when we produce the climate Bill. I am happy to share as much as I can. This is a challenging area. It is a challenge to understand much of the science and to do the modelling. It is speculative. It is not as perfect as science as we might like. I am happy to share. I thank the Acting Chairman, the other Deputies and...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: Absolutely.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (18 Dec 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 366 and 375 together. I signed the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Peat Extraction) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 4 of 2019) on 25 January 2019, with the objective of making the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the sole competent authority for peat extraction of over 30 hectares in Ireland, and making Environmental Impact Assessment...