Results 2,501-2,520 of 6,781 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: It would be important, in the context of our own decarbonisation and our role in decarbonising the wider European Union energy system, to have our own affairs in order and to realise the potential of our renewables. This morning, on "Morning Ireland", Dr. Frank Crowley of University College Cork, UCC, reporting on EU-funded research, was scathingly critical of the Government and, using a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on the development of a model to assess the impact of infrastructure investment as contained in the 2023 Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22187/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 65. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the development of a model to assess the impact of infrastructure investment as contained in the 2023 Climate Action Plan; if a framework has been developed to consider and appraise investments that may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22188/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress to date on the examination of the role the Public Spending Code can play in the achievement of broader environmental objectives, for example, valuing biodiversity or ecosystem services as contained in the 2023 Climate Action Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22189/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 67. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the definition of Government spending that may be harmful to the climate and environmental outcomes as contained within the 2023 climate action plan; if such a definition yet exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22190/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 68. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Government spending that may be harmful to the climate and environmental outcomes as contained within the 2023 climate action plan and if any harmful government spending has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22191/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 69. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the tracking of Government spending that may be harmful to the climate and environmental outcomes as contained within the 2023 climate action plan; if such a framework for tracking yet exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22192/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Climate Action Plan (10 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: 70. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform given the tracking of Government spending that may be harmful to the climate and environmental outcomes as contained within the 2023 climate action plan, if any harmful Government spending has been tracked / reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22193/23]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Does the CRU have oversight of those strategies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Does the CRU have to take their word on that? In other countries with regulators, hedging strategies are published or made available on a quarterly or annual basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Gannon for his comments on hedging. What about anti-competitive practices and profiteering? I suppose they are all profiteering, but what about excessive profiteering?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: Sorry. My question was on whether the CRU monitored the situation and had the power to intervene.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: In relation to the windfall tax and the cap on market revenues, there was some discussion about contracts for difference versus refit. The particular design of the windfall tax and the cap on market revenues means very significant windfall gains for some renewable energy companies depending on the contract they have. Wholesale gas prices were at their highest point from April to August last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (9 May 2023)

Darren O'Rourke: I want to focus on a couple of other areas first, if I can. Are the powers of the CRU comparable to international counterparts? Does the CRU have sight of the area of hedging? Does it regularly engage with companies about anti-competitive practices and potential profiteering? I asked the question about a simple thing like standing charges. The CRU says it is encouraging providers to...