Results 3,321-3,340 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I presume public consultation will not help those projects that are currently in the system and are due to deliver in the middle of next year. I ask the Minister to give us some assurance on that and what type of intervention might be needed to move that on. One of the issues Mr. McCarthy is dealing with is data centres. I understand that a number of weeks ago the Minister wrote to Gas...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Do we need legislation?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: First, it is completely disingenuous for the Minister to suggest what he did. Many people are not familiar with what is happening with the regulator in the North and with the System Operator for Northern Ireland, SONI, and EirGrid. To suggest Sinn Féin is part of it is completely disingenuous and I ask the Minister to withdraw it. He knows it well in terms of the politics in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: In terms of the outline, the Minister is correct. EnergyCloud is working with Clúid Housing. Explicitly, it is taking what would otherwise be waste renewable energy, mostly, during the night, and heating the hot water tanks in the homes of many people on their pilot. It said, as recently as Sunday night, that had it the capacity at scale it could have heated, because of the amount...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I would ask the Minister and his Department officials to meet with EnergyCloud and for the Minister to take a personal interest in this. There is a pilot under way. There are significant, serious and credible stakeholders involved in this who are committed to it and who have got the pilot up and running. It is already proving a success. The pilot has a tangible benefit to those households...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 5. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has engaged with a company (detail supplied) and its partners with a view to expanding its pilot programme, which uses surplus wind energy to provide households at risk of fuel poverty with hot water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55347/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: This question is to ask the Minister if he has engaged with a company, EnergyCloud, and its partners with a view to expanding its pilot programme, which uses surplus wind energy to provide households at risk of fuel poverty with hot water and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: It was about a long-term strategy.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason that the number of attic and cavity wall insulation works has decreased dramatically in recent years; if he accepts that approximately 165,000 homes have no such works completed and that in the region of 500,000 homes could benefit from such improvement works; if he will increase the 80% grant and reduce the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Why has the number of attic and cavity insulation works decreased so dramatically in recent years? Does the Minister accept that approximately 165,000 homes have no such works completed and that in the region of 500,000 homes could benefit from such improvement works? Will he increase the 80% grant and reduce the administrative burden for accessing these supports in light of the urgent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: As is always the case with retrofitting, there is a significant volume of figures. Some attention to detail is required in order to drill down into them. I repeat a point I made previously, namely, that it is not entirely impressive to continually reference a benchmark of last year when we had a lockdown. In that light, an increase of 150% is not as impressive as it might sound. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: There are a couple of things to watch. One is the amount of work completed. My understanding is that the target for this year was 27,800, not 27,000. Regarding the better energy warmer homes scheme, the SEAI indicated to us that it would get in the region of 4,000 rather than 4,800. Let us keep an eye on those. We need to talk about cold homes and the people we are lifting out of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the commitments he will seek from international counterparts at COP27, with particular reference to climate ambition, climate finance, loss and damage, and fossil fuel non-proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55345/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister outline the commitments he will seek from international counterparts at COP27, with particular reference to climate ambition, climate finance, loss and damage, and fossil fuel non-proliferation? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister might clarify the point about new licences. It was reported that a licence was issued or extended last week. I ask him to pick up on the concern about the potential of the Energy Charter Treaty and the comeback that energy companies might have. The question I wanted to raise, however, is about climate finance and the commitment to €225 million per annum from 2025....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Environmental Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We had a very helpful and informative session at the Committee on Environment and Climate Action, which is what prompted me to ask a number of these questions. The issue of the quality and quantity of climate finance was raised and, as the Minister said, Ireland was commended on the quality, but it was said the quantity is a different story. I will be happy to send those figures from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 32. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the negotiations from the EU Energy Council negotiations on decoupling gas from electricity prices, price cap proposals and on the windfall tax on excessive profits of energy companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55350/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 58. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will provide an update on the national broadband plan roll-out in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55352/22]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 63. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagements and meetings that he has held with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, relating to the increased staffing requirements in Ireland’s planning agencies to reduce the delays facing offshore wind and other renewable energy projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he intends to increase the arrears limit on pre-pay electricity and gas meters to ensure that these households are given the same protection from disconnection as bill-pay households during the moratorium on disconnections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55349/22]