Results 6,121-6,140 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The negotiations referred to by the Deputy were in relation to amending Directives introduced by the EU as part of a Circular Economy Legislative Package. The legislative amendments form one element of the EU’s overarching policy statement on the Circular Economy, ‘Closing the Loop’, published at the end of 2015. The Directives amended were: - Waste Framework Directive -...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The fee payable to apply for a waste collection permit is €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000 depending on whether the application is to collect waste in a single local authority functional area, a regional waste management area or nationally, as set out in Regulation 8 and the Third Schedule to the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, S.I. 820 of 2007 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: All smoke, including smoke from wood burning, contains a range of toxic pollutants including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that impact on health. While, there is no set of legislation that specifically addresses smoke from wood burning, Section 26 of the Air Pollution Act gives local authorities powers to serve a notice on the occupier of any premises in order to prevent or to limit air...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have announced the preparation of an All of Government Climate Action Plan which when complete will set out how we can make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. The plan will build on existing policy and will focus action across Government in all sectors of the economy that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The National Mitigation Plan, published in July 2017, restates...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The facility in question operates under an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) licence granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The monitoring and enforcement of conditions attaching to IPPC licences are a matter for the EPA and I am precluded from exercising any power in relation to the performance by the EPA of its licensing functions in specific cases under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Homes scheme is funded by my Department and is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme offers cash grants to all homeowners whose homes were built and occupied before 2006. The grants offered cover a range of works, including wall and attic insulation, heating controls and the installation of renewable technologies. In 2018 the Better...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Data (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Warmer Homes scheme has been in operation since 2000 and provides free energy efficiency upgrades to low income homeowners living in or at risk of energy poverty. The number of homes upgraded and overall funding for 2017 and 2018 is set out below. Subject to survey by SEAI and assessment of potential for improved energy performance, the scheme can provide energy efficiency upgrades...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Compliance (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deep Retrofit Pilot Scheme is investigating how to create a scalable offering for the deep retrofit of Ireland’s housing stock to an A3 Building Energy Rating (BER), while building consumer demand and contractor capacity for deep retrofit. Under the scheme Government is currently funding up to 50% of the total capital and project management costs for homes that achieve an A3...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their home. Fixed grants covering 30% of the works are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The specific premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The procurement process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Water Pollution (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have no role or function in the matter raised. The matter should be raised with the relevant Local Authority and, if appropriate, with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I hope this motion is something that will commend itself to the committee. Essentially, we are signing up to the Minamata Convention. The convention addresses all aspects of the use of mercury throughout its life cycle. The convention sets out a range of measures banning mercury mining and so on. We have signed up to the convention as a result of having enacted a series of EU legislative...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Yes. What I have signed is the national regulations, but the convention must then be ratified by the Dáil. We could not move to ratify it until those regulations were in place.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The EPA monitors mercury levels, which are extremely low. I do not have the precise details, but the levels are extremely low. Mercury is a hazardous waste, so the procedures for its safe disposal are set out in the same terms as found in the hazardous waste directive, which states that producers of waste shall comply with the guidance provided by the EPA and are subject to inspection by...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The European regulations were passed in 2017-----

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----so it was at least a year later. Yes, stakeholder consultation seemed to be involved. I know from experience that the drafting of statutory instruments can get into many delays. This does not necessarily reflect a lack of ability in Departments, but there tends to be a bit of a logjam in draftsmen's offices, which has dogged every Government of which I have ever been a party, and I am...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is a coherence to the brief I hold. On one side, the climate action, waste and energy elements are natural bedfellows because they are about better use of resources, so I think that is correct. On the other side, I have much of the digital technology, broadcasting and post communications element. Again, there is a certain coherence here. They are very disparate elements but there...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I do not think there is any danger from the fillings. Mercury is a very stable and hard-wearing compound when mixed with other metals, which is why it was used. There is no risk of leakage or seepage from fillings. The issue is the manufacture and managed storage waste of the materials where they are generated. My understanding is that the dental sector is migrating away from the use of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Motion (5 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Acting Chairman.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Warmer Homes Scheme Applications (31 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Warmer Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. Individual applications to the Warmer Homes Scheme are an operational matter for SEAI and as the Minister I have no role in such matters. However, to be of assistance to the Deputy, officials in my Department have been in contact with the SEAI and they have advised me that at...