Results 6,181-6,200 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is the same for everyone.

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: They are in the Lower House.

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I do not use one.

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: Senator Leyden raised the issue of the electric vehicle network. There are currently 668 charge points and 77 fast charge points. As I recently announced, through the climate action fund the ESB will invest in approximately 30 fast charge points. There will be multiple locations, mainly on motorways, and it will also upgrade a number of them. Hundreds more, therefore, will come on stream....

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: It does not matter. The idea of schools is good. There is an issue with low occupancy, which the Senator acknowledged by saying schools would need the capacity to sell solar power back to the grid. It is similar to the issue of the role of microgeneration that arose time and again. A microgeneration pilot is in place and there has been considerable uptake, but we need to develop a...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: That was the way-----

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The concept of the carbon tax is not to pay for failure. The issue with carbon tax is that in our daily lives we are all generating carbon for whose consequences we do not take account. The purpose of a carbon tax is not to take money but to make people recognise that there is a cost for the community, for the global environment, of some of our behaviours. The Taoiseach has been clear that...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: Okay. Senator Boyhan raised the issue of oversight of the plan. It is crucial. It will not work unless we can be seen to be driving it forward. I very much agree with that. I will seek to implement it. We will have to agree to differ on the licence. I do not see that banning exploration will suddenly get farmers or the transport industry to change their behaviours. I have to be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The formal procurement for the NBP State intervention was launched with the publication of the Pre-qualification Questionnaire, or PQQ, and Project Information Memorandum (PIM) in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). The PQQ assisted the Department in evaluating the eligibility, economic and financial standing and technical and professional capability of each bidder to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure access to a future proofed, high speed broadband service to every premises in Ireland. The plan involves a mix of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. It has acted as a catalyst in encouraging a significant level of investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure by commercial operators and is a key priority for Government. As...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 20 together. The North South Interconnector project will provide a second high-capacity electricity interconnector between the two transmission systems of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Following a rigorous planning process which included an eleven week oral hearing, the section of the project in Ireland was granted planning permission by An Bord...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 65 together. On 28 November 2018, I announced the seven successful projects from the first Call for Applications under the Climate Action Fund. The projects span a range of sectors including agriculture, transport, district heating, and public lighting. In the Agriculture sector, Gas Networks Ireland will be supported to deliver a facility that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The energy efficiency grants administered by the SEAI are funded by my Department. Grants are available to homeowners for insulation, heating controls, heat pumps and solar thermal hot water heating systems. Grants are also available for solar PV systems, electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging. Grants are also available for businesses to improve their energy efficiency. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 52 together. On 3 January, the Government decided that Government Departments would no longer purchase, directly or indirectly, single use plastic beverage cups, cutlery or straws. From 1 March 2019, this policy will also apply to all public bodies. The Government Decision also requires Departments to publish Resource Efficiency Action Plans to improve...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Process (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan aims to provide access to high speed broadband to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location, via a combination of commercial investment and a State intervention. I understand that the Bill referred to in the Question was initiated in 2017. The scheduling of debate on the Bill is a matter for the Dail.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Energy Rating Administration (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: Funding for residential energy efficiency programmes is provided from within the overall capital funding envelope of €142m for the Energy Programme in the 2019 Revised Estimates for Public Services. I have allocated €85m to the residential retrofit schemes this year. The National Development Plan demonstrates the Government’s commitment to meeting Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF), published in January 2018, sets out the context to ensure local authorities, regions and key sectors can assess the key risks and vulnerabilities of climate change, implement climate resilience actions and ensure climate adaptation considerations are mainstreamed into policy making. In January 2018, my Department also...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Data (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The EPA is the competent authority for the collation of national waste statistics and it reports annually on our performance against Ireland's recycling and recovery targets set out in the EU Packaging and Waste Packaging Directive. However, there are currently no specific targets set for plastic bottles within the Directive and, therefore, data relating to plastic bottles is compiled within...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The North South Interconnector project will provide a second high-capacity electricity interconnector between the two transmission systems of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Following a rigorous planning process which included an eleven week oral hearing, the section of the project in Ireland was granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanála in December 2016. This decision was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Jan 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved via a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high...