Results 5,761-5,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy makes a really important point about how we are going to move the dial. He has acknowledged, as I have often said before, that Government cannot fund the level of change that we need. Much of the change that we need is good in itself. It pays for itself and produces a better, healthier environment and a more sustainable relationship with nature. We will definitely have to think...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is a provision for purchasing carbon credits. I think it is at something like €4.5 million. We anticipate that we will be well short of the end-year target which we were to be at in 2020 so even though there was a bit of a surplus early in the period of 2013 to 2020, when we were below our line and therefore earning credits, we will end up with a significant deficit and...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Eamon Ryan and the committee for the work that they have done. It is right, as we have done in this case, to have the Citizens' Assembly followed by the Oireachtas committee and then a Government plan. That approach has helped us to undertake significant change in other spheres of Government. I agree with the Deputy when he says that our Department will need to considerably...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy might say that. I could not comment.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: Mr. Manley may correct me on this if I am wrong. The position is that there are two processes through which solar energy can evolve. One is the renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, which is the successor to these refits. We are now working intensively to develop the capacity to have an auction for that, to be scheduled for about the end of this year. That will be a...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: Just to confirm, we will seek to have a road map for offshore wind to come on board. As Deputy Eamon Ryan said, we need to upgrade the Foreshore Act. The Taoiseach is taking a particular interest in driving that forward and there is a cross-Government team working on it. We also recognise that offshore wind could be lumpy in terms of the units so we will have to look at it differently from...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: These are the income receipts of my Department. The vast majority relate to the TV licence, €227 million, as I said. The balance comprises mining and petroleum income amounting to €8.8 million; some €4.3 million in pension levy and pension contributions; and some €2.5 million in other miscellaneous items.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: That was established by the waste management fund in 2001. In excess of €830 million has been raised by the fund through the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. These environmental levies achieved their objectives in reducing usage of plastic bags and tonnage of waste going to landfill. Revenue into the fund has fallen in recent years. The number of plastic bags subject to the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Mr. Michael Manley, Mr. Matt Collins, Ms Finola Rossi, Mr. Robert Deegan and Mr. Jim Whelan, as well as the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, for supporting the presentation of the Further Revised Estimate. I also thank Deputy Lowry for chairing part of the meeting in the absence of the Chairman. I thank Deputy Naughton for the work she did in putting together the recently published...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, I am currently preparing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives in electricity, transport, heat, and agriculture, as well as a range of other sectors. The new plan will have a strong...

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

Richard Bruton: The Warmth & Wellbeing scheme is a joint policy initiative between my Department and the Department of Health and is being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The main aim of the scheme, which began in 2016 is to validate, in an Irish context, the strong international evidence that making homes warmer, drier and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sustainable Energy Communities Scheme (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Communities (SEC) Programme is administered by SEAI on behalf of my Department. This Programme provides the first step for communities in learning how to develop local partnerships to manage and conserve energy before they apply to the Better Energy Communities Scheme. It facilitates the development of regional and national networks to allow for the sharing of knowledge...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings. An Post GeoDirectory, issue a new release of the GeoDirectory database file on a quarterly basis to Capita...

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

Richard Bruton: Ireland has huge potential for renewable energy. Currently 30% of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources. I am now committing to a 70% by 2030 as part of the all of government climate plan. Eirgrid (the Transmission System Operator) and ESB Networks (the Distribution System Operator) provide online data on size and location of windfarms connected to the national grid. While...

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

Richard Bruton: Under the European Union (Household Food Waste and Bio-waste) Regulations 2015, household waste collectors are required to provide, or arrange for the provision of a separate collection service for food waste from households in designated brown bin areas. Household & Commercial Waste Management Compliance has been a National Waste Enforcement Priority for 2018 and 2019. During...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. Fifth generation (5G) networks are expected to be commercialised over the next few years. Roll-out of 5G technology in Ireland is primarily a matter for private mobile network operators, operating on a commercial basis. Mobile network operators function in a liberalised market in Ireland, regulated by the Commission for Communications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Communications, I meet with my international colleagues on a variety of issues and in a variety of fora, as appropriate. In that context, I met with US Chargé d‘Affaires on 25 January 2019 for a wide-ranging discussion, during which the US views on the company in question were briefly raised. At a domestic level, it should be noted that there are statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure continued growth in electric vehicles. Home charging is the most cost-effective way to charge an electric vehicle and is the primary method of charging for the majority of electric vehicles both internationally and in Ireland. A Government grant of up to €600 is available, via the SEAI, to the purchasers of new and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: RTÉ Services (28 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that RTÉ shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in RTÉ's management of its day to day...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Disposal (27 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Illegal dumping is a matter of individual responsibility and compliance with the law. While enforcement action in this area is a matter for local authorities, my Department encourages a multifaceted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education. As such, it provides funding to support the activities of the waste enforcement regional lead...