Results 4,581-4,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. I am aware of their intensity of feeling in this regard. I will just say a few things. Just transition is at the very heart of the climate action plan and Government has recognised that those who are most exposed to the impact of the climate transition that is under way have to be protected and that we have to support people. The co-firing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputies that I have already met with both CEOs. The ESB in particular is intensively assessing its options in light of An Bord Pleanála's decision. The decision An Bord Pleanála has made has been made in respect of west Offaly. The application from Lough Rea is with Longford County Council. Edenderry has permission for co-firing up to 2023. That was not clear from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicle Grants (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The electric vehicle purchase grant, introduced in April 2011, provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new battery electric vehicle or new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The scheme does not support the purchase of standard hybrid vehicles. From the introduction of the scheme to date, grant support has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (The Aarhus Convention) was adopted on 25 June 1998. Ireland ratified the Convention on 20 June 2012. The Aarhus Convention and related EU Directives had, prior to ratification, been given legal effect in Ireland by over 60 pieces of legislation and additional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since mid-2017, a range of charging options have operated, which encourage householders to reduce and separate their waste. This provides flexibility to waste collectors to develop various service-price offerings that suit different household circumstances. Mandatory per kilogramme 'pay by weight' charging was not introduced. ​A Price Monitoring Group (PMG) was established in mid-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries Ireland (2 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 207, inclusive, together. The principal statutory function of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Similarly to all bodies and individuals, IFI has an obligation to abide by statutory and EU requirements and consults appropriately with the Planning Authorities when...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Licensing of a plant such as that to which the Deputy refers falls within the remit of the independent Environmental Protection Agency. It makes decisions on applications and polices compliance with the conditions that it imposes on applications. It does not fall to the political system or to the Minister to make decisions on these matters, which have to be based on scientific evaluation...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position is that Shannon LNG has been on the list of projects of common interest for six years. It is likely that it will remain on that list. Gas has been recognised as an important transition fuel, as we move away from oil, peat and coal to renewables. I am considering the terms of a motion tabled by the Deputies.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have also signalled-----

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Administration (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government’s Climate Action Plan sets an ambitious target of 500,000 home retrofits to Building Energy Rating ‘B2’ by 2030. This was identified as the necessary contribution from the Built Environment to Ireland's overall emissions reduction targets for 2030. Achieving our 2050 ambition will require a further step up and many more houses will have to be retrofitted in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450, 462, 463, 479 and 480 together. The implementation of the Climate Action will significantly improve air quality. In particular, the Climate Action Plan sets out the necessary actions to: - Put 180,000 electric vehicles on our roads by 2025 and almost 1m by 2030 - Ensure the EV charging network underpins public confidence - Create an early public...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The UN Climate Action Summit, which took place on 23 September, was convened by the UN Secretary General to build momentum towards enhanced climate ambition by Parties to the Paris Agreement. This was preceded on Saturday, 21 September, by Youth Climate Summit which was attended by myself and the Minister for Children.Ireland’s national statement to the Climate Action Summit, delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government waste management policy is set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012.European, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together. The company referred to by the Deputy currently holds a Prospecting Licence for PLA 934 which is due to expire the 30thDecember, 2019. If the company applies to renew this Prospecting Licence, the renewal application will be subject to the normal due diligence applied to all applicants for and holders of Prospecting Licences. Currently my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Officials from my Department regularly meet Prospecting Licence holders and Mining Licence / Lease holders as part of ongoing Departmental monitoring to ensure compliance with the conditions of Licences. My officials also met with companies that are interested in exploring for minerals in Ireland and provide information on the regulatory regime and requirements for prospecting in Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. As Minister I have no function in relation to individual applications.These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. As stated in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Records (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: In July 1998, with the agreement of the Minister for Finance, Merrill Lynch and AIB Capital Markets were appointed by the then Minister for Public Enterprise as integrated financial advisers, to provide advice and assistance to the Government on all aspects of the flotation of shares owned by the State in Telecom Éireann. Having checked accessible records in my Department, no financial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Online Safety (1 Oct 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 464 together. On 4 March 2019 I announced proposals for an Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill to tackle the spread of harmful online content and launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposals. The public consultation closed on 15 April 2019. A wide a varied range of responses were received to the consultation, from...