Results 25,021-25,040 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: PSO levies are introduced for a reason. I will go into the details and then will ask questions of Deputy Varadkar to which he may be able to respond during his own contribution. As for the purpose, first and primarily-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Allow me to frame the questions for the Deputy. The PSO levy this year was approximately €156 million, approximately €90 million of which was accounted for by the peat-fired power stations, some brought over from the previous year but most from this year. In my announcement I stated that I wished to examine this issue to ascertain whether this could be reduced, which would be...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to hearing Deputy Charles Flanagan's response in this regard because a postponement along the lines suggested by Deputy Varadkar would have the effect of shutting the peat-fired power plants, as well as the associated harvesting arrangements. That is what would happen. Similarly, the second reason for the PSO is that the best way to protect our people from price rises is to...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: It is true. Moreover, were the Deputy to talk to people within the industry-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: -----about the reality of the market or were he to watch the market price, which now is transparent-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: -----Deputy Varadkar would see that when the wind blows, it brings down the market price of electricity. The reason I am surprised at the Deputy's position is that over the past four to five years, such has been the benefit of Ireland's switching to wind that it has derived more than €250 million in a subsidy from wind that has helped to avoid having a higher PSO in the peat-fired power...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Energy Regulation has carried out a detailed analysis to the effect that, from memory, were we to meet the 40% target of wind by 2020, it would result in a reduction in prices of approximately 10% to 15% from what otherwise would have been the case given what is expected regarding gas prices. Deputy Varadkar appears to have very little support in his own position for the...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy's proposal to postpone-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Fine Gael has stated in its press releases, which accords with the position of its Senators, that the PSO in respect of wind should be postponed. I assure the Deputy that the effect of so doing would be to kill immediately investment in the wind industry in Ireland. This would have huge consequences in terms of job losses, higher energy prices and, for the second time in a number of years,...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: This would be the worst position-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The actual outgoing to the wind sector is closer to approximately €40 million this year. However, even taking this into account, the effect of wind power within our system on a continuous basis is to help keep down the market prices. Such support measures are in place in every other European country in which wind or any other renewables are being developed as alternative supply sources...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My point is that Fine Gael's position, as set out in its press releases and in the motion tabled by Fine Gael is Senators last week to stop-----

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Stopping or deferring. We can get into semantics. I apologise to Deputy McManus for diverting from the core issue.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: No fantasy comes into it

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Through the Chair, Deputy Varadkar's proposal to postpone PSO support levies would be hugely damaging to the wind industry in Ireland and would have huge consequences in terms of higher electricity prices in the long term for Irish consumers. I am simply debating the proposals he has put in the public domain. This is not fantasy but is reality. It is the reality of an energy policy of...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I will if I have time.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I respect the independence of the regulator. However, I will, as I do on an ongoing basis, discuss that issue, among others, to ensure there is a common sense solution that does not cost the Irish consumer. In a variation on this subject, I understand that any such cost of a brand change would not go through to the regulated cost base. Although it would come from the company's cost base,...

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: This comes from having a regulated market and from giving the regulator the freedom to pursue competition. On the back of this initiative, the average Irish household, that is, the category that encompasses approximately half of all Irish households, now pays approximately 2% below the eurozone average. Deputy Varadkar should note that these are the EUROSTAT statistics.

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Why does the Deputy state that this is fantasy?

Fuel Poverty: Motion (12 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: No, I am afraid-----