Results 16,161-16,180 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As I said in an earlier contribution, we have amended the main Act to take into account the clawback we had at an earlier Bill, and will include in the relevant National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, legislation support for nature-based solutions. We defined them as enhancing biodiversity and that they seek to reduce or decrease, at the same time, the removal of greenhouse gas emission and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The appointment process will take into account a range of different characteristics and qualifications and I expect the Climate Change Advisory Council to reflect that. I do not believe it requires a definition of socioeconomic disadvantage to assist that process. I cannot support the amendment.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I accept the need for social justice in this transition. That is best delivered in the concept of a just transition, which is referred to in the Bill as a requirement of our approach and in the wider social justice issue in terms of climate justice. I cannot accept the amendment, but its intent is reflected in the legislation as drafted.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We have to transition away from gas. It will have a key role in providing backup for renewables, which is reflected in the wording of the amendment, but it cannot be seen as a long-term mainstay of our generation. It will have a role in backing up renewables as we find and roll out new mechanisms and new storage systems. However, the definition in the amendment would risk confusing the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: My response will be similar to an earlier one. We cannot legislate for non-territorial emissions, I am afraid, and I am asking that the amendment be withdrawn.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I cannot support the amendment because, similar to an earlier point, we cannot legislate for non-territorial emissions.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I cannot support the amendment. There will be both nature-based and technological ways of removing carbon. To differentiate strengthens or highlights the role of nature-based solutions, so I would retain the existing wording and will not support the amendment.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: There may be technological solutions. Carbon capture and storage, CCS, is an example of a technological solution and, as I said earlier, is something I support if it can be developed on an economic basis. We could just take out both words but both have potential importance.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We will have to do much more work on just transition, which includes broadening it out from just the midlands. In that, the likes of the National Economic and Social Council and our social dialogue with other pillars, such as the environmental, farming, social and trade union sectors, will all be engaged in a much more detailed process to ensure we do not only focus on the midlands. That...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that this has to be done through international co-operation. That is why, as I said at the very start, the centre of this Bill enhances, backs up, follows on from and delivers on the Paris Agreement on climate change, which is the mechanism for international co-operation. I believe that is sufficiently addressed in the existing text and I cannot support the amendment.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We had a good debate earlier and my mind has not changed. We do account for different sectors in different ways and have to account for every different greenhouse gas, each of which has different characteristics, but I think the Bill is appropriately structured. We have to look at our overall effort. Every sector will play its part to varying degrees and in varying ways. I do not support...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Oireachtas will have a critical role in this. The Government will report to the Houses and they will have a role in commenting and advising on the carbon budgets and other elements. However, the Government also has a key role. I do not believe it is appropriate to remove the phrase "the Government" in this instance. I do not support the amendment.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We must not accept the amendment because the Bill shall be much stronger by sticking with "shall", which is a strong word to use in this context.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (3 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I cannot accept the amendment. I keep coming back to the point that the Paris Agreement on climate is the overarching international legal structure. The agreement, through Articles 2 and 4, is very strong in its expression for climate justice and the fact those who are least responsible should not bear the greatest burden. I believe it is better to focus on those key articles as our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government commits to prioritising the development of micro-generation of electricity. Under the Climate Action Plan, a Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments.   My Department outlined...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). CRU was assigned this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Action Plan (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Public Consultation - Climate Conversation - Climate Action Plan 2021was launched on 23 March 2021 and ran for a period of 8 weeks until 18 May 2021. The purpose was to invite citizens and stakeholders to submit their views on climate change and inform the new Climate Action Plan 2021.The consultation was widely advertised and over 3,800 submissions were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The loss of natural gas supply to Ireland is considered by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities by way of Risk Assessment and the preparation of Preventive Action Plans and Emergency Plans which ensure that all necessary measures are taken to safeguard an uninterrupted supply of gas. The risk assessment and plans are required by Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 concerning measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland's Enterprise Strategy (2018) acknowledges the role of data centres as part of the digital and communications infrastructure for many sectors of our economy. They have become increasingly important in the context of remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic and also support high-quality jobs. The Statement also noted that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (15 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government sets out the need for research and development of hydrogen from renewable sources, known as ‘green hydrogen’, for use as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport.In July 2020, the European Commission published a hydrogen strategy for a carbon-neutral Europe. Ireland supported the hydrogen strategy, including...