Results 6,141-6,160 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is working on an Energy Security Package which seeks to address the energy security challenges facing Ireland with a range of new and existing actions. This Package is made up of five pillars including the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems, the McCarthy Report (an independent review of the security of electricity supply),...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The overhead, alternating-current link between the Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids 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 the need to burning gas and coal, reduce electricity costs, and reduce greenhouse...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention is being delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, to roll out a high speed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with some 679 schools. I am advised by NBI that, as of 14 April...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Emergency Planning (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Officials in my Department are currently working with the Office of Emergency Planning, at the Department of Defence, to progress a mobile telephony based Public Warning System for Ireland, in line with the EU legislation, as a matter of urgency. An inter-departmental working group has been established to procure the necessary equipment and engage with the Mobile Network Operators to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Security Framework, which was published in April 2022, provides a single overarching and initial response to address Ireland’s energy security needs in the context of the war in Ukraine. It outlines measures connected to energy security across the electricity, gas and oil sectors and sets out a ‘whole-of-Government’ response to the challenges posed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The majority of exploration in Ireland is focused on zinc, which is utilised primarily for galvanising steel, as well as the manufacture of alloys for die casting and brass. Galvanised steel is used in wind turbines, in housing and construction and the bodies of cars, irrespective of the means of propulsion. The exploration for zinc, therefore, is not driven by the need to electrify the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Government is commitment to supporting the continued growth in renewable energy technologies to enable Ireland to reach its target of 80% of electricity demand from renewables by 2030 and support the transition to a climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy by no later than 2050. I therefore welcome the publication of the report of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 96 together. Ireland has made considerable progress in decarbonising our electricity sector over the last decade, owing mainly to the construction of renewable generation sources and their successful integration onto the electricity grid. Ireland is ranked in the top five countries in the world for installed wind power capacity per capita and is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 121 together. Hydrogen, including hydrogen based fuels and derivatives, provides us with an incredible opportunity in Ireland. It provides the potential for long duration energy storage, dispatchable renewable electricity, the opportunity to decarbonise some parts of high temperature processing and a potential export market opportunity, given...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas, and not me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Citizens' Assembly (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I have read the final report of the Citizens Assembly on biodiversity loss and I welcome its call for prompt, decisive and urgent action to ensure future generations will have a safe, clean and healthy environment with greater biodiversity.The Programme for Government committed to a Land-use Review to optimise land use across key Government objectives such as improving socioeconomic, climate,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas sets out that pending the outcome of the review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, it would not be appropriate for Ireland to permit or proceed with the development of any LNG terminals. The review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was assigned consumer protection functions under the 1999 Electricity Regulation Act and subsequent legislation and has statutory responsibility for the compliance by energy suppliers with their consumer protection obligations. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) state led intervention is being delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract, signed in November 2019 and which came into effect in January 2020, to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the intervention area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in over 560,000 premises, including almost 100,000...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 124 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. A range of measures to mitigate the risks identified as part of the review were examined in the technical analysis accompanying the Department's consultation document published in September 2022. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: 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 examination and the legal advice obtained, I intend to bring the matter to Government for formal decision shortly. Following on from that, a response will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible ahead of it being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Anaerobic Digestion (AD) produces biogas which can be captured and used for renewable heat and electricity generation. My Department has developed a number of schemes and initiatives designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. These schemes include the grid scale, auction based Renewable Electricity Support...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Government is acutely aware of the impact that the increases in global energy prices continue to have on households and has prioritised action across Government to support people to stay warm and well. This is why a €2.4 billion package of supports was implemented during 2022, and a package of once off measures worth €2.5 billion included in Budget 2023. The Budget package...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Apr 2023)

Eamon Ryan: District heating schemes are large-scale systems that are supplied by one or several centralised or decentralised heat sources and serve multiple buildings and multiple customers. Group, or communal, heating schemes are smaller-scale systems that typically supply single buildings or complexes. A central part of the journey from dependence on natural gas for heat lies with the...