Results 6,041-6,060 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Brexit Preparations (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has been engaged in active and ongoing contingency planning in respect of all of its relevant functions for some time in the context of preparing for the United Kingdom withdrawal from the EU. Work on the development of a new All of Government Climate Plan is continuing, and it is my intention to finalise this work with a view to bringing the plan to Government before the end...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: In order to meet Ireland’s target for 2030 that we will reduce emissions in the non-ETS sector by 30%, and building on the framework put in place by both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan, I am currently developing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken in every Government Department and Body. The central...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Job Creation (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The recently published draft National Energy and Climate Plan set out a number of measures that will assist in the transition to a low carbon economy. Many of these measures, while reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions will also promote job creation and economic growth, including such items as Town scale pilots of food and agriculture waste being converted to gas for local gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is 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 across electricity, transport and heat, as well as a range of other sectors. The All of Government Plan will have a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am currently developing the first-ever National Clean Air Strategy to provide the framework for a set of cross-Government policies and actions to reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality and public health. The issue of vehicular emissions and their effects on public health will be examined in the context of the strategy, which I intend to publish later this year. While I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department actively manages budgets and expenditure across its six Programme areas to deliver on its business priorities and objectives. The vast majority of capital and current expenditure in my Department comprises day to day operational funding for the Department and Agencies under its remit, funding for the broadcasting sector from TV licence fee receipts, grant funding for sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I circulated a note so I will not read from it exhaustively. The Department has been considering the contingency for all our various sources of energy in the context of a hard Brexit. We have looked at oil, gas, coal and electricity. We are content that the systems for oil, gas and coal will operate normally and without fear of significant disruption after careful examination by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is a WTO tariff in this respect but the EU does not apply it. The EU has zero tariffs on gas imports. The price of gas will not be affected and the same is true of electricity. As such, no tariff is being applied to electricity. On the issue of controlling the price, this is essentially a market system so the price is governed by supply and demand, under the oversight of regulators....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position is that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has examined margins and it is satisfied that the market is competitive. Two reports have been published and we can provide the Deputy with copies. It is also worth saying that it is a wholesale market and there is a volatility with world prices. World fuel prices will obviously impact on the market. The savings in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: We are very clear that we want to pursue the Celtic interconnector because, as the Deputy says, an interconnector with a non-member state is not as beneficial, even though it is an important connection and something we would continue to value. An interconnector to Europe would be very important for us. The Deputy expressed some wonder over whether disruption or market manipulation could...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get the Senator information on the Whiddy status. We have 90 day cover for our oil supplies. There is 60 days of supplies in the Republic, with some further days' supply in Northern Ireland, the UK and Europe. That diversity whereby we do not have all these supplies located here is not a bad thing. We are content that we have adequate cover. The oil markets are open and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will respond first to Senator O'Reilly. If there is an agreed withdrawal, the continuance of the North-South single market is recognised in the withdrawal agreement. There is a strong commitment among all concerned to ensure it continues. In the event of a crash-out, certain trades on the single electricity market will no longer occur. However, the expectation is that the remaining...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is more than that, but I cannot be categoric as to what will be the next steps in the planning process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I do not. It was only on the Friday before last the Department signalled to the court that it was withdrawing its application in light of a judgment regarding a similar frailty on another project.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My understanding is that there are standby plants which can be brought into operation. These are coal-fired plants that were identified for decommissioning and may not be ideal. However, I do not think blackouts will occur. Obviously, the continuing operation of the single market will address that issue. All involved are determined that it will continue to operate. I do not wish to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The UK has gone so far as to seek to replicate the legislative arrangements but it would not be adjudicated upon by the European courts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: That may not be the situation in the cases of Russia, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. Although Norway and Switzerland probably accept the rulings of the ECJ, I doubt that Russia does likewise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: That may be so. I do not wish to speculate on what final arrangements may emerge. There are no tariffs or regulatory obstacles in this area. Consideration must be given to how a new platform can be worked out. There is a desire in Europe, the UK and here that the North-South single electricity market should continue to operate. The wider relationship of the UK to Europe is a somewhat...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: General Scheme of the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (19 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy is leaping forward somewhat. Wanting to protect the single electricity market, North and South, does not mean we do not wish to rapidly proceed with a Celtic interconnector, as referenced by Deputy Dooley. Later this year we will make a joint application with France for EU support for that project. Maintaining the benefits of the single electricity market on the island of...