Results 11,581-11,600 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I very much appreciate the contributions by all the Senators. I will try to reflect on some of the questions, answer them if I can and comment on some of the contributions. I will start with Senator Fitzpatrick who was right in stating that a key in this transition is the health benefits that accrue from the decarbonisation. In terms of the analysis that has been done, for example, in...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: A €10 million mistake.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Second Stage (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: We all make mistakes.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I can see the motivation for the amendment but I do not propose to accept it. The agency in its operations has a specific, relatively limited role. It is about energy security and it has always been about the provision of 90 days' stock of oil. To be honest, the meetings and international obligations in that regard are relatively precise and do not go into the wider energy policy areas....

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I am happy to give the Senator that commitment. I have a clear understanding of this not only for environmental reasons but also from the point of view of the State's strategic interests as a leader in decarbonisation and the switch to an alternative, community-orientated, sustainable, renewable, local energy supply system. I commit absolutely to keeping abreast of whatever is happening in...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: What Senator Ward said about the consolidation of Bills is true in so many different ways. We may have to come back to this legislation in five or ten years as we move out of the fossil fuel era into an alternative where energy storage and security would be completely different. It may involve batteries, hydrogen or interconnection. We do not know that yet but in the interim, under...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I am happy to give that assurance if I can. I cannot see any circumstances where grant funding, in particular, would be available from the European Union or another outside body for a specific project and that it would be refused, particularly if it was recommended by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, but I will read the note I have for why we cannot accept...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It certainly will not. I would raise the issue very publicly if that was the case. I cannot see why we would-----

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Senator. I cannot accept the amendment but I can give her the assurances that amendment No. 8 does that. It is envisaged that it will assist us in engaging with these issues. The first work to be done on a just transition will involve spending money on bog rehabilitation to create new jobs and alternative employment for workers who leave companies like Bord na Móna.I also...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: This amendment amends section 15 on page 13. The amendment is being undertaken following discussions between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General. It was determined that an amendment to section 15 of the Bill by way of Committee Stage amendment would be appropriate in order to clarify the basis on which the Minister may support climate action projects. The aim of the...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I do not propose to accept the amendment. The purpose of the Bill is to establish the climate action fund and provide for the use of surplus NORA levies to be paid to the fund to pay for climate action projects. There may be another mechanism to achieve the Senator's objectives. The programme for Government contains a commitment in respect of the establishment of a tax commission which, in...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I do not propose to accept the amendment relating to palm oil being excluded as a biofuel for the purposes of the Act as it is outside the scope of the Bill. However, I do share the Senator's concerns regarding the use of palm oil as a feedstock in the production of biofuels. The risk in terms of the production of biofuels is that feedstock will be grown on cropland previously used to grow...

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I absolutely commit that the implementation of the directive here does include the issue of the double counting of cooking oil. I was aware of the scandal that has emerged in this regard and certainly we will look to address this at the same time as we implement the other conditions in the directive.

Seanad: National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Members of the Seanad for their support on this. The timing required is unfortunate. I very much appreciate the help given in order that we can avail of the timing to get it commenced on 1 August. I thank everyone for their help in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is managed by my Department and delivered nationwide in partnership with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, Enterprise Ireland, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Scheme offers advice and peer-to-peer support...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fisheries Protection (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. Following a comprehensive public consultation process, Ireland introduced its Eel Management Plan (EMP), which was approved by the European Commission under EU Regulation 1100/2007 in 2009. In setting out its EMP, Ireland followed the objective of the Regulation to ensure that escapement of eels to the sea should be at 40% relative to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. It should be notedthat the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant scheme supports the cost of installing a home charger up to a maximum of €600 for buyers of both new and second-hand EVs. As part of Budget 2020, €4 million was allocated to the Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant Scheme. If this allocation were to be increased by 20% in Budget 2021, the cost of the scheme would be €4.8...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 87 and 94 together. I am determined to reduce the excessive use of plastics in Ireland and to increase general recycling rates to ensure we meet or exceed all EU targets. I will shortly be bringing forward an ambitious new Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which will include a range of specific measures to reform and strengthen how we manage...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (21 Jul 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government recognises that a modernised post office network will provide a better range of financial services and e-commerce services for citizens and enterprise, as part of our commitment to a sustainable nationwide post office network. Government remains fully committed to a sustainable post office network as a key component of the economic and social...