Results 13,661-13,680 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank both Deputies for raising this Topical Issue matter and I welcome the chance to discuss the future of the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line. This Government is committed to investment in the public transport network, to increase the size of the rail fleet in order to address the capacity constraints and to expand services in many parts of the country. Initiatives such as the Cork...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Browne is absolutely right that the current arrangements are not satisfactory. The timetables, journey times, lack of frequency, poor quality of the line and the fact that the carriages are left in Colbert Station in Limerick for the rest of the day are not satisfactory. Everyone recognises that. Deputy Browne is absolutely right that the services are very...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan, published in June 2019, sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). These actions, which are further underpinned by the Programme for Government, include developing the electric vehicle charging network necessary to support the growth of EVs and to ensure the supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 192 to 194, inclusive, together. The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also help Ireland to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 178, inclusive,196, 200, 202 and 203 together. In the four years since the Private Members motion referred to was debated a lot of work has been done to ensure An Post and the post office network remain viable.  An Post put in place a Strategic Plan, covering the period 2017 – 2021, in response to the structural challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 190 together. The Programme for Government sets out that, as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals that import fracked gas. The Programme for Government is clear that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and commits to developing a policy statement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: In general, competitive tendering is used by my Department unless exceptional circumstances exist which justifies the use of an alternative approach and Department of Finance Circular 40/02 on Public Procurement provides for instances where competitive tendering may not be appropriate, feasible or cost-effective.Non-compliant contracts of €25,000 or more are disclosed by my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Fund (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: In July 2019, the European Commission confirmed its agreement to the inclusion of the Midlands Region in the Platform for Coal Regions in Transition. The overall purpose of the Platform is to assist EU countries and their coal (and fossil fuel) regions with networking, knowledge sharing, and technical and advisory support. Membership of the initiative enabled the Midlands Region to apply for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Process (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has applied to waive pre-legislative scrutiny in respect of two items of primary legislation since January 2017. The first item of legislation was the Radiological Protection Bill 2018 and the second item of legislation was the Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017. Pre-legislative scrutiny was waived on 2 occasions for the Radiological Protection Bill 2018, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Chief Data Protection Officer in the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications is employed at the Assistant Principal Officer grade.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Correspondence (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: This correspondence was received recently by the Department and will be responded to shortly. I hope to be in a position to make a decision on this prospecting licence application soon.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Tribunals of Inquiry (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My Department currently has no tribunals, public enquiries or commissions of investigation in process.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Fund was established on a statutory basis with effect from 1 August 2020. A key objective of the Fund is to provide support for  projects and initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s climate and energy targets, and for projects and initiatives in regions of the State, and within sectors of the economy, impacted by the transition to a low...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. The Programme for Government provides that a reliable supply of safe, secure and clean energy is essential in order to deliver a phase-out of fossil fuels. The Government is committed to the rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector and will take the necessary action to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: 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. To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty was published in 2016. The Strategy set out a number of actions to alleviate the burden of energy poverty on the most vulnerable in society. The focus of the strategy was on high impact actions which aimed to make a real difference to the lives of those in energy poverty. Good progress has been made under the strategy including: ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Since 2013, my Department has engaged in an extensive process of mapping broadband availability in Ireland in order to identify areas which have no existing or planned Next Generation Access networks.  Following extensive engagement with commercial market operators, who were invited to inform the Department of their plans for commercial broadband deployment, a High Speed Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed last November to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Waste Framework Directive provides a framework whereby material recovered or recycled from waste may be considered to no longer be waste.  As the competent authority in Ireland for End of Waste determinations is the EPA, questions in relation to applications are more appropriately directed to that Agency than to myself, however I understand that the Agency currently has 34...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: 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. To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their...