Results 3,081-3,100 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister. We can all agree there is great potential and appetite for solar power, particularly for residences, businesses and farm buildings. There is a barrier at residential level and we can see it in the design of the scheme. From the large number of applications we can see there is demand. I believe the demand goes beyond the scheme, and it needs to do so to reach 5 GW....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister to have a clear line of sight on who applies for the grants and who is getting the work done. We have seen in other schemes where many of the 500,000 B2 rated premises are the relatively warm homes of relatively wealthy people who can afford solar. They get solar PV installed, it takes the building up to a B2 rating and one of the 500,000 target premises is met. We need...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 78. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will increase the grant support for lower income households to aid the installation of solar PV; the target number of homes for solar PV installation in the years 2023 to 2025, inclusive, to help meet the recently announced increased target of 5 GW of installed solar power capacity by 2025; and if he will make a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Conservation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister if he will increase the grant support for lower income households to aid the installation of solar photovoltaic, PV, and the target number of homes for solar PV installation in the years 2023 to 2025, inclusive, to help meet the recently announced increased target of 5 GW of installed solar power capacity by 2025.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Whatever one's position on the Galway ring road, this development has highlighted, as Deputy James O'Connor has pointed out, a disconnect between the planning system and the appraisal frameworks we have to ensure that project proposals are climate-aligned, climate-proofed or carbon-emissions assessed. We also have read newspaper reports in recent weeks that a similar appraisal tool is to be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 72. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions that his Department is taking to accelerate the delivery of offshore wind energy to ensure that Ireland meets the target of 7 GW by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62752/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Since I have not done so yet, I echo the condolences offered by the Minister and Deputies to the family of the soldier who lost his life in Lebanon and his injured colleagues. I commiserate with their families and wish them well in the time ahead as they grieve and heal. We will have the opportunity to talk again about solar as part of a later question. What actions has the Department...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: All today's priority questions, across the Opposition, are interrelated. They are on a theme, which is the Opposition trying to push the Government in a direction I believe the Minister wants to go. I will say again, however, that I am not convinced that members of the Government are entirely in tune regarding it. A number of these issues are cross-departmental. From talking to those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: My understanding is that funding was approved and a number of positions were filled in respect of the climate and marine unit at An Bord Pleanála, but a greater number of positions were not even advertised, despite funding being allocated for them. Does the Minister have the detail of the staffing complement for that unit? How many are employed there in position? Will this unit have a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: No, we did not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We did not vote against it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 70. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he has taken since the publication of the energy security review to improve Ireland’s energy security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62751/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What action has the Minister taken since the publication of the energy security review to improve Ireland's energy security? I am particularly interested in the area of gas storage and the emergency backup that is due for delivery next year. With regard to the scheduled capacity that is due to come on stream, I understand there is a challenge in delivering that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I will afford the Minister 30 seconds of my time for that. There is the storage piece and there was also a question mark over the viability of projects that were to be delivered next year and in the years ahead, related to the January auction by EirGrid. The last time we spoke here, the Minister said the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, was looking at it. I ask for an update as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: To be clear, if it is deliverable, Sinn Féin supports State-owned, non-commercial storage, preferably onshore. If we are saying Kinsale might be an option, it is important it is State-owned and non-commercial to avoid the potential of lock-in and, importantly, to ensure it is transferable to zero emissions gas or hydrogen, as appropriate. We will support the Government if that is the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Let us get real. I have heard that a few times from the Minister. Deputy Ryan is the Minister with responsibility to deliver on this and he said we are going to meet our budgets. We are not going to meet our first carbon budget. It is very clear that we are not. I am not saying that in order to score political points. Of course there is a need for significant movement in local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We have a fair idea.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 68. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the upcoming climate action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62750/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister for his views on the upcoming climate action plan and invite him to make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (15 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It is clear the climate action plan is going to need to deliver a step change. We and others in the Opposition have been critical about the approach the Government has taken, particularly in respect of the design of schemes. Many of the retrofitting and electric vehicle schemes are unfair because they are inaccessible to many people. At root, it is clear we are on the wrong trajectory....