Results 5,481-5,500 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland’s strategic approach to the Circular Economy is currently set out in the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023. Section 7 of the Circular Economy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (‘the Act’) provides a statutory basis for future iterations of the Strategy, and also requires that such iterations include sectoral targets aimed at promoting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The appropriate regulation of District Heating is critical to ensure clarity in relation to the rights and obligations of consumers, and to provide market certainty to operators. It also allows for currently unregulated group heating schemes, which are generally smaller than district heating schemes and single building or housing scheme focussed, to be brought into the regulatory framework. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The North-South Interconnector has been designed as an overhead, alternating-current interconnector integrating the Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids. In this form, it is a critical infrastructure project for the island of Ireland. It will be the backbone of a fit for purpose electricity system that will ensure energy security, allow more renewables to be used on the island, reduce...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out Ireland’s response to the climate crisis, detailing the roadmap of policies, measures and actions that we will deliver in support of meeting Ireland's climate commitments and emission reduction targets. The plan implements the Carbon Budgets and Sectoral Emissions Ceilings agreed by the Government and sets out a roadmap for systemic change to reduce...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial and liberalised. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which was assigned responsibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The EPA’s latest GHG emissions projections highlight the challenge Ireland faces in meeting its highly ambitious climate objectives and legally-binding emissions targets. While the EPA’s projections do show that emissions are expected to decrease in almost all sectors over the next two decades, it is clear that we still have considerable work to do. The EPA report has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for regional economic development and oversees the development and implementation of nine Regional Enterprise Plans (REPs). The development of renewable energy is central to achieving our climate ambitions, protecting energy security and delivering long term sustainable economic development in Ireland. Under the Climate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices came into force in October 2022. This Regulation seeks to address windfall gains in the energy sector through a temporary solidarity contribution based on taxable profits in the fossil fuel production and refining sector and a cap on market revenues of specific generation technologies in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Climate Action Plan 2021 included a Public Sector Climate Action Mandate which was approved by Government in July 2022. As part of the preparation of Climate Action Plan 2023, the Mandate was reviewed and updated. The 2023 Mandate was approved by Government in May 2023. The Mandate helps public sector bodies to lead by example on climate action by highlighting the priority climate action...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which is accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister; has responsibility for the operation of the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG). In December 2021, the CRU published a Decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for its implementation, including eligibility criteria and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: A smart meter has the capability to collect data on electricity use every 30 minutes. Until recently, to have access to their data, customers needed to switch to a Time of Use tariff or give approval to their supplier to request this functionality be activated by ESB Networks. However, since November 2022, customers have been able to start accessing their smart meter data directly from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Government is acutely aware of the impact higher energy prices has been having on households, in particular those in or at risk of energy poverty. This is why a total of €1.57 billion has been spent on providing support totalling €800 (inc. VAT) to over 2.1 million domestic electricity accounts over the last year. People experiencing difficulties with meeting electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: A request for an Oireachtas Money Message for the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 was received from the Bills Office by my Department on 13th May 2022. The Bill referred to in the Question has been examined in detail by my Department and legal advice has been obtained from the Office of the Attorney General. On foot of that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Review of security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. To support its development, a detailed technical analysis has also been published and an extensive consultation process carried out, providing important insights from over 450 individuals and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Litter Pollution Act, 1997, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate public awareness, enforcement, and clean-up actions in relation to litter taking account of local circumstances and priorities. My Department provides financial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 strengthens the role of Local Authorities for effective climate action. It sets out a statutory requirement for each Local Authority to prepare a Climate Action Plan. The Local Authority Climate Action Plans have to be consistent with the most recently approved National Climate Action Plan, and include both mitigation and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein these markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive with the market being overseen by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Wholesale energy prices reached peak levels in August of last year, when wholesale gas prices were 706% higher than January 2021, while wholesale...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The EPA’s latest GHG emissions projections highlight the challenge Ireland faces in meeting its highly ambitious climate objectives and legally-binding emissions targets. While the EPA’s projections do show that emissions are expected to decrease in almost all sectors over the next two decades, it is clear that we still have considerable work to do. The EPA report has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Small Scale Generation Scheme (SSGS) will support non-domestic renewable electricity generators above 50kW, but smaller than those supported under the RESS. This scheme will enable community projects, larger businesses, farms, and public buildings to maximise their participation in the energy transition. The scheme proposes to support applicants to install renewable electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Programme (15 Jun 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has adopted, through the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), a framework for a just transition, comprising four principles: 1. An integrated, structured, and evidence-based approach to identify and plan our response to just climate transition requirements. 2. People are equipped with the right skills to be able to participate in and benefit from the future net zero economy....