Results 19,961-19,980 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The New Decade, New Approach agreement re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to the A5 scheme. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives, including the A5. The planning and implementation of the proposed A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Flexible Work Practices (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In July 2021, the Government approved a Policy Statement on Blended Working in the Civil Service. This statement committed the Civil Service to implementing a policy of blended working that could provide flexibility to both employees and their employers in a manner that supports the continued delivery of high quality services. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has worked...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Provision (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), and in line with Section 32(2) of the Road Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, nor decisions on fares. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) that has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and also has statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Reliefs (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Cycle to Work Scheme, which I am very supportive of, is a tax incentive scheme administered by the Revenue Commissioners and governed by tax legislation and tax policy which are matters for my colleague the Minister for Finance. In that regard I very much welcomed his announcement of increased thresholds under the existing scheme as part of the July Stimulus 2020. The increases are in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parliamentary Questions (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Parliamentary Question Nos. 152 and 153 of 1 March 2022 were sent to ESB eCars for further clarification. There was a recent change in staffing which led to a temporary delay in responses. The matter has been rectified and the Deputy can expect to receive a reply shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In addition, since 2010, the award of Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy, please see table below setting out the cost of consultants to the Department in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 plus an outline of the role of each. The costs exclude legal advice and external support for interview boards. Year Division Consultancy Reason Amount (€) 2021 MSPD Clinchmaritime Ltd Review...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February is unprecedented in Europe in modern times. The war has, and will continue to have, significant impacts for the world, for the European Union and for Ireland. It has caused a humanitarian catastrophe, with millions of Ukrainian citizens internally and externally displaced. Efforts have been consolidated across the Government to address these...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy. We support tougher and stiffer sanctions. I have had meetings in recent weeks in Berlin and Paris with other European ministers. There have been meetings of the International Energy Agency, IEA. It held an emergency meeting last week at which we made the case for tougher sanctions. That would affect other countries in Europe far more than it would affect Ireland. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will be dealing with questions on that issue later on. We have to be careful here. There will be certain short-term measures, such as the €200 credit that will be going onto people's bills this week. There will be medium-term responses to the crisis which include the likes of the acceleration of the retrofitting programme and the roll-out of renewables such as photovoltaic energy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy. I will read out the formal response and then come back to her on the issue she has just raised.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The written response I have is in answer to the Deputy's written question. If she would prefer, I will focus on the specific issue she has just raised orally. I have been involved with energy policy for approximately 20 years in this House. At various stages down through the years I have said that one should always look at all options in respect of nuclear power. I do not believe we will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Over the years, I have always made perfectly clear the importance of looking at every option and not being afraid of debate. Debate is, in fact, the most important and rigorous thing that one needs in order to assess all of the options. If one goes into such a debate saying that one will never discuss nuclear or gas storage in any format whatsoever, how will we then arrive at an informed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is set out in the programme for Government, which we are now pursuing by carrying out the energy security study. I must return to the first key point as to the cause of this current crisis in high gas prices.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Prices are one of the crises that we have to address-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: -----and this debate is on whether the price crisis is connected to the war. Yes or no? It is fundamentally important to look at all of the options and at what is happening, and that we get clarity on that. There are a number of complex factors involved here related to how we came out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and so on, but what is happening in Russia and Ukraine is central to why our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The immediate-term key is that we continue to monitor international gas and oil energy markets and to consult with our EU and international partners on appropriate measures, if necessary, to ensure energy security in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The European Commission is engaging with other countries to ensure sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (7 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Our Department is taking the lead on this. The Secretary General has set up a special energy security review group, which is meeting weekly. We expect to be able to publish a more detailed framework analysis to inform the public, other Departments and industry in the coming days or weeks. That analysis will look at a variety of aspects to this. We also need to look at further specific...