Results 2,221-2,240 of 26,565 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: There is no secret deal done at all. I have mentioned and the Deputy has ignored completely the issue of what Ireland would do right now, next week, the week after or next year if there was a disruption to our gas supply. Gas is in our system right now and we are reducing our reliance on it. What would we do? Would we just have no strategic reserve of gas? Would we not run our hospitals...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It is a very serious proposition. If we have no energy and a major disruption to our gas supply, we need to have a reserve in place. This did not come about by any kind of deal that the Deputy suggests. It is about ensuring we have the adequate supports in place should there be a disruption to our gas supply while we are expanding renewables and increasing our interconnection, as the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: All of us understand and accept that we have vast future potential to harness additional renewables that will deliver price savings and stability in our energy market, which we need unquestionably, and help us to reach the exacting targets we have set with regard to climate. We saw very recently in some areas of the country how fragile our grid is to withstand very severe weather events....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Fundamentally, as the Deputy will know, the grid itself is owned by the State. We operate an all-island electricity market. The State owns the grid itself both North and South. The further expansion of that to harness offshore renewables in particular, as the Deputy knows, are the RESS auctions. We have five applications in planning right now. They are a very important part of actually...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As outlined in the programme for Government, the Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. In the programme for Government, we also set out commitments to achieving 80% of Ireland’s electricity generation from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Right, I do not know where to start with that. There is a reality. The Deputy has dismissed the report that was done and the research that was carried out with regard to energy security full stop. What would this country do if there was an unforeseen event that disrupted our gas supplies while we are transitioning away from fossil fuels? We have done that very successfully. I commend the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputies. I have taken on board what they have said and I have also taken on board the constructive manner in which it has been raised. To be clear, the board of management of Bord na Móna is responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and management of the organisation. It is a commercial State body and it will manage its operations. The piece with regard to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Daly. Specifically with regard to the roll-out of renewable energy onto the grid, it is an absolute priority for the Government. We have very exacting targets. We also have a climate action plan. We are making progress on renewables. We have further renewable resources we can tap into. We have offshore renewables but I believe we have more capacity for onshore renewables....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank my colleagues for the questions. There is a process to be followed here. The original engagement with the Department was in 2024, as I read into the record. Bord na Móna submitted papers to the CCPC on 7 February, just short of two weeks ago. I have not received any request for ministerial consent, which would be required. I read in detail the correspondence dated 10...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: My response will be six minutes for three questions. I asked about this group. It is the first time I have seen priority questions grouped. We queried that yesterday and apparently it is appropriate. We might work that out post this round of questions.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for this important question. I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 73 and 75 together. Bord na Móna is a commercial semi-State under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a corporate body and a separate legal entity to the Department, as Members will know....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: To align with overarching decarbonisation objectives, Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions are being delivered in a phased approach. Phase One comprises six projects which will deploy fixed-bottom technology, with the majority of these Phase One projects on the east coast and one on the west coast. The combined capacity of all Phase One projects is approximately 4.4 gigawatts. One of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. Both of whom are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. The Government does not have any role...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number of targets which include the completion of the installation of high-speed fibre broadband to 1.1 million people, including homes, farms, and businesses nationwide, by 2026. The majority of digital connectivity across the State will be delivered through commercial investment by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: EirGrid is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department and was established under Regulation 50 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000. EirGrid is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department and Minister. As a matter of course I, as Minister, will regularly meet with the Chair and CEO or equivalent of the Agencies under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Firstly it should be noted that providing telecommunication services and the repair of telecommunication networks is a matter for the relevant service providers, operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communication Regulation (ComReg) as independent Regulator. As the Deputy will be aware Storm Éowyn was the worst storm in history in respect of impact...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for the Environment, Climate & Communications, I have no function in relation to public procurement policy, which is a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Public procurement is governed by both EU and national regulations. Similarly, I have no function in relation to industrial relations matters in another jurisdiction. This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Solar Energy Guidelines (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Programme for Government reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 8GW of solar energy by 2030 in order to support our target of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables. Ireland now has circa 1.4GW of solar energy generation with significant further development needed to support Ireland’s economic growth and meet our growing energy demands. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund. Last year saw a record spend of almost...