Results 12,241-12,260 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (17 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It is an offence for a learner driver to drive on a motorway.  There has been no recent amendment of the law in this regard. Section 43 of the Roads Act 1993 empowers the Minister to prescribe in regulations who may have access to motorways.  Regulation 7(2)(a) of Roads Regulations 1994 (S.I. No. 119 of 1994), made under the 1993 Act powers, specifies that a driver of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (17 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The details for the number of learner drivers disqualified having exceeded the maximum of seven penalty points in 2018, 2019 and to date 2020 and the number who subsequently surrendered their permit in each of the years is provided in the tabular table below. Year  Number of Learner Drivers Disqualified Number of Learner Permits Surrendered...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Vehicle and Driver File (17 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is currently working with An Garda Síochána to enable its handheld devices access real-time driver and vehicle data. Access to this data is subject to legal and data protection provision approval. Such data transfers will not however be able to determine the drivers that are insured to drive a particular vehicle. This element is subject to the creation of a Motor...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this important issue. As he is aware, the provision of electronic communications services, including the repair and restoration of telephone services, occurs within a liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, ComReg. As the Deputy referred to, it is responsible for the regulation of the electronic communications sector under European and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I hope the new national broadband scheme that we are rolling out, and about which I will be answering questions later, will close the gap where there is a shortage of service and an inability for customers, particularly in rural areas, to get broadband. We will ensure that not a single house is left out. That roll-out may also have knock-on benefits for building up the pole network and...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The programme for Government commits to the development of microgeneration and to letting people sell excess power back to the grid by June 2021. The climate action plan that my predecessor introduced included the delivery of a framework for microgeneration, whilst ensuring principles of equity, self-consumption and energy efficiency first are incorporated. There are a range of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I have not seen that research but I will read it if the Deputy could forward it on to me. I will happily respond to the Deputy once I have read and reviewed it. I agree with the Deputy. Roof after roof in the North has solar PV panels and it is not exactly the sunniest place on the planet. We have failed to do that in the South. During my previous term in this office, 12 years ago, we...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The roll-out is starting. While everything in this country has been somewhat delayed by Covid, I do not think it has been particularly badly affected. The initial delivery comprised 250,000 meters in the latter half of last year and the start of this year. We expect 500,000 meters to be installed in each of the next four years. The Commission for Energy Regulation, the Commission for...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Covid 19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of good reliable broadband to ensure that citizens across Ireland can avail of remote working, education and other essential online facilities. This is reflected in the commitments in the programme for Government where delivery of the national broadband plan will be a key enabler to many of the policies envisaged particularly around...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I will discuss local matters in County Wexford. I will happily put the rest of the reply on the record for the benefit of other Deputies. The national broadband plan is seeking to accelerate the development of this scheme. It has been delayed somewhat, as I said in my previous reply, due to Covid. Part of the difficulty is that some contractors from the UK have not been able to come to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is correct. The reason we are looking to accelerate and explore the national broadband operators is because the Covid pandemic showed the importance of remote working and the urgency of us providing that at this time. We are considering accelerating aspects of the plan. It has been scheduled, after several years of preparation, to be a six and seven year process. Those...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Such cases are the reason the State is putting money into this project. We have had differences in the House in terms of how it should be delivered and what the exact contact arrangements should be. I did not hear that and in my role in opposition I was always in support of the need for the plan at significant cost, but I believe it is worthwhile. The excuses the Deputy has mentioned as to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. It will also help us to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future. A resilient and well-connected energy infrastructure is vital...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: This is a real issue of concern for the Deputy’s constituents and for many of the people in this House and the people they represent. It is an issue that goes back a long time. I first engaged on this issue in 2003 or 2004 when, in the Oireachtas committee of which I was then a member - Deputy Durkan will remember that period, the vital strategic nature of this project and the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: This is a technically complex issue when one looks into it but I would have to say that the Deputy’s colleagues in the administration in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Féin are in power, have agreed with the assessment that I have come to, which is that this infrastructure is absolutely vital. We are all agreed on that. We need an all-island market and, with the granting of the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I will conclude on that.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: By all means, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I did not mean to misinterpret Sinn Fein’s position and I am happy to come back to discuss the North-South interconnector if I did. The programme for Government recognises the importance of community involvement as new energy infrastructure is installed. Specifically, the programme for Government commits to ensuring that community energy can play a role in reaching at...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The answer is "Yes". I am in contact with the energy regulator because if we go back to a position where Ministers or politicians are directly regulating the price of electricity, it would lead to higher prices as there would be less confidence in the system and more political interference. It would not work. The key way to bring down electricity prices in the long run is to switch to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is absolutely right. Templederry is a great example. However, it is only an early example. As I said, I would like to see 100 Templederrys and if we got that we would look at the next 100. I believe there is huge benefit to this country in the development of community ownership of renewable energy. It is a power supply that lends itself towards more distributed ownership...