Results 4,101-4,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Action 30 of the Climate Action Plan commits to the delivery of a framework for micro-generation with a view to commencement of an enduring support scheme by 2021, at the latest, to ensure that people can sell excess electricity they produce back to the grid. There are ten sub-actions listed under this heading for delivery, mainly by the Department and the Commission for the Regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In recent years, the broadcasting sector has faced severe financial, market and structural challenges, including the impact on advertising revenue arising from Brexit and the migration of advertising to online services. This has impacted on the capacity of all broadcasters, including RTE, to produce high quality Irish content and to commission such content from independent producers. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: International Summits (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will hold its 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) in Madrid, Spain, from 2 to 13 December 2019. Ireland engages in negotiations under this Convention through its membership of the European Union (EU). At COP 24 in Katowice, Poland, the main elements of the Paris Agreement rulebook were achieved. A key priority...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Increasing public awareness to improve recyclate and organic waste quality through better recycling practices and reduced contamination of waste continues to be a priority for my Department. In this regard my Department is committed to the continued promotion of . This web portal which was launched in November 2018 has been developed by the Regional Waste Management Offices with support from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is developing proposals to provide for the independent review of large public capital infrastructure projects before they proceed to tender, as part of the proposed updating of the Public Spending Code. The contract for the National Broadband Plan which was signed on Ireland on 19th November is the Government’s plan...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cybersecurity Protocols (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The security of the Irish State and its citizens is a matter of the highest priority for the Government. Telecommunications security is an increasingly critical component of national security, and there are a range of measures already in place around the resilience of services, and responding to incidents. All telecommunications operators already have statutory obligations to take...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan will bridge the digital divide that is emerging between urban and rural areas. High speed connectivity has multiple potential positive impacts on the lives and livelihoods of citizens throughout the country. The National Broadband Plan will ensure that those benefits can be enjoyed by the 1.1 million people living and working in the Intervention Area, in nearly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Transitioning away from fossil fuels to more renewable, sustainable energy sources is at the heart of the Climate Action Plan. Currently 40% of homes use coal and peat for heating (many in combination with other fossil fuel heating systems). By 2030, we will upgrade a third of all homes to at least a B2 energy standard, installing approximately 400,000 heat pumps. Currently over 99% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The North South Interconnector has been designated a Project of Common Interest (PCI). PCIs are cross border energy projects deemed by the European Commission to be of the highest priority within the EU. The fourth PCI list was published in October 2019 pending ratification in early 2020. The North South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government recognises the need to roll out high speed broadband as quickly as possible and is conscious that the full rollout of the National Broadband Plan State intervention area will take a number of years. Broadband Connection Points are key National Broadband Plan (NBP) locations in communities across Ireland. Broadband Connection Points are locations of community importance such...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the initiative of the Oireachtas to hold the Youth Assembly on 15 November. It is heartening to see the active engagement and mobilisation to the climate crisis which is, without doubt, the defining challenge of our generation. I thank the members of the Youth Assembly for their recommendations for action to stop climate breakdown which I am currently considering. In relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have met with the Bord na Móna management and representatives of the Bord na Móna workers on a number of occasions in the last number of months. The most recent meeting was on Monday, 11 November, when myself and a number of my Cabinet colleagues visited the Lough Boora Discovery Park and Lough Ree Power station. I met with Mr Kieran Mulvey, in his role as the Just Transition...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Fund (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government recognises that early and complete phase-out of peat for electricity generation will have a significant impact on the workers, their families and the Midlands as a whole. In this context, the Government has committed to delivering a whole-of-Government approach to addressing this challenge, and to working with local stakeholders to ensure that people impacted can be best be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 55 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is funded by my Department to administer energy efficiency grant schemes to support homeowners to improve the energy performance of their properties. Since 2000, over 400,000 homeowners have received direct support under these schemes. Social housing upgrades are primarily a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Online Safety (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: On 4 March 2019 I launched a public consultation seeking views on the content of the proposed Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill. The public consultation closed on 15 April 2019. A wide range of responses were received to the consultation from members of the public, NGOs, industry and government agencies. These responses, which were published on 27 June 2019, are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan launched in June 2019 sets out the comprehensive suite of actions to ensure Ireland can meet the 2030 climate commitments putting us on a trajectory to be net zero by 2050. Ireland has abundant, diverse and indigenous renewable energy, which will be critical to decarbonising our energy system and enhancing our security of supply. The Renewable Electricity Support...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Imports (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I understand that in July 2017 US company NextDecade announced it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Cork to develop a Liquid Natural Gas import terminal in Cork harbour, using a floating storage and regasification unit. NextDecade’s “Inisfree” project is a private sector project. Final investment decisions for this project and compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The contract that I signed with National Broadband Ireland on 19 November is the Government’s plan to rollout high speed broadband to the 1.1 million people living and working in the nearly 540,000 premises including almost 100,000 businesses and farms, along with 695 schools, where commercial operators will not commit to deliver the service. The total amount spent to date on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government has appointed Mr Kieran Mulvey as the Just Transition Commissioner on a non-statutory basis to facilitate discussions and work with stakeholders to develop, mobilise, and deliver opportunities for the Midlands. A key objective of the new Commissioner will be to collaborate with, and build on the work undertaken by, the existing local taskforces to ensure that locally generated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (28 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan sets out, for the first time, how Ireland can reach its 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also puts Ireland on the right trajectory towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Plan has been informed by the work of the Citizens’ Assembly and the All Party Committee on Climate Action. The Plan sets out over 180 actions, together with over 600...