Results 6,681-6,700 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The latest Climate Action Plan (published in December) and the associated Annex of Actions (published yesterday) include a commitment to develop a new National Demand Management Strategy for the transport sector over the course of this year with the aim of reducing congestion and complementing an extensive range of supports being provided by Government to help halve our transport emissions by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to your question regarding the speed limit on the L3020. The Road Traffic Act 2004 sets out default speed limits for the road network. Local Authorities have the discretion to decide on varying these limits through Special Speed Limit byelaws for roads within their administrative area. The making of such byelaws is a reserved function of the elected members of the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and shelters. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and their previous reply to the Deputy in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In keeping with the requirements outlined in the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, the salaries of CEOs’ of airport and port authorities under the remit of my department are published in the annual reports of the company. The most recent published accounts for the requested agencies are available on their websites (links below), with 2022 reports to be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally including the licensing of bus operators In light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Properties (9 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the procurement of office and other accommodation required for Government Departments, including the Department of Transport and accordingly arrangements for vacant property is a matter for OPW. My Department does not own any vacant habitable dwelling unit or vacant derelict residential dwelling unit. It does, however, own one vacant...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the members of the Opposition. I know this was difficult because it came at them late and at short notice. I appreciate that. I also thank my officials. It has not been short notice for them. They have been working extensively for a long time to try to ensure this plant is built. I commend their work and thank them for it.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The reason for this emergency Bill is to make sure we have power available for next winter. If we do not get the Bill passed and get the EPA started in the licensing process, that will not be possible for the two stations and plants that are planned, whatever about other plants. Starting another process would mean adding another 12 months at least. We have seen from experience, even using...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: No, because the limit of the designated development is 450 MW, which will be fully delivered by the plants we have proposed.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I will try to get that answer for the Deputy now. The Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022, under the heading "Designation of development", states: Development comprising of the installation of up to 450 megawatts of temporary emergency electricity generation plant, site development and works ancillary to that installation, and the operation of the plant, intended to be...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Shannonbridge and Tarbert.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Yes.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The arguments have been made.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am afraid I cannot accept it, for the primary reason that we already have a sunset clause. The Eirgrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022, which was published last year, has such a clause, saying the project will cease operation in 2027, with an option of a further year, if required, but only if a resolution is passed by both Houses. The purpose of that legislation was to provide...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The project will cease.

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: There is no prospect of any other sites being used. The 2022 Act is precise and clear as to what designated development is. The intention is for it to be located at two separate sites, that is, Shannonbridge and Tarbert generation stations. It is not possible to use alternative sites. Legally, courts have to interpret a particular provision, but any assessment by a court of the definition...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The holder of an industrial emissions licence is required to submit an annual environmental report, AER, each year to the agency. The AER is designed to facilitate the provision to the public of a concise summary of environmental performance and ongoing developments on a licensed site over the previous year. AERs, depending on the nature of the site, typically include details of...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The legislation relates to the licensing process under the EPA Act. It would not be appropriate to insert provisions dealing with matters outside the scope of the functions of the agency, such as reporting on electricity and security of supply. There is, as I said on the previous amendment, not just the collection of data but the public reporting of that. That is publicly available, in...

Environmental Protection Agency (Emergency Electricity Generation) (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I would be happy to do that at any stage. There are probably two different time periods. This equipment will not be in until the end of the year, whereas I presume the debate on the energy security issue would happen before that. I am happy to commit to further debate along those lines at an appropriate time.