Results 6,701-6,720 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: I agree. The point I was making is that it is provided for in the legislation. It is caveated, one would argue, by the further text, which Deputy Whitmore's amendment would delete. It must recognise that in this particular instance it must take account of the exceptional circumstances of this legislation. The text was included in the 2022 Act on the advice of the Attorney General and...

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

Eamon Ryan: This Bill is very similar to the earlier Act which provided for An Bord Pleanála in the context of being able to apply Article 2(4) of the environmental impact assessment directive with regard to consideration by An Bord Pleanála. This is a similar provision. We are replicating the provision in this Act in section 3 to give the same requirements. It is being done on the advice of...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy's amendment states it should be "consistent with" rather than "having regard to".

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

Eamon Ryan: This similarly says "in line with the provisions as set out".

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

Eamon Ryan: The wording "in a manner consistent with" is in the text of the amendments to the legislation drafted before us, but it does delete the other wording. I believe what we are doing here is consistent with the Act. I also believe it is consistent with the 2023 plan to which the Deputy referred. It specifically states that we will need such a generation capacity as the ones we are legislating...

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

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for proposing this amendment. The Climate Action Act and Low Carbon Development Act and the provisions therein are extremely important to provide for public bodies to act in a manner consistent with the latest climate action plan. This particular legislative provision was inserted on the advice of the Attorney General and reflects the language already approved by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 62 together. The electricity retail market in Ireland operates within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and prices are no longer regulated. Operating within this overall EU framework, responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Exploration Industry (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: There are currently no active mineral prospecting licences that have been granted in the area referred to in the Question. Additionally, there have been no petroleum exploration licences granted in the same area referred in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wildlife Protection (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Bye-laws referred to by the Deputy have been in place for some 16 years. However, to provide for the most robust, modern, comprehensive and sustainable management of SAC designated waters, I requested Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to prepare and submit to me a comprehensive draft management plan for all waters within the Great Western Lakes. This Plan aims to address some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: My Department employs a number scientific and technical advisers, as well as other civil servants with backgrounds in environmental sciences and other related disciplines. I should also make the Deputy aware that the Public Appointments Services are currently running a competition for Administrative Officers with backgrounds in Environmental Science, Energy, Agriculture, Economics, Electrical...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Budget 2023 included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and suppliers began crediting the third payment to accounts from 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Acts 2015 to 2021 provide for the establishment of carbon budgets to support the delivery of our legally binding emission reduction targets, setting Ireland on a pathway consistent with a sustainable economy and society where we reach climate neutrality no later than 2050. In accordance with the legislation, the Climate Change Advisory Council...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Sector Pensions (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Eircom Main Superannuation Scheme (as amended) was established by Statute for the purpose of providing for the pension liabilities of staff transferred from the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs to Telecom Éireann on its establishment on 1st January 1984, the Vesting day. The pre-vesting and post vesting liabilities of the scheme members were paid entirely out of the Main...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Consultations (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 138 of 15 December 2022. As indicated that response, my Department issued a request for tenders (RFT) for research to examine the potential social, economic and environmental implications of a transition to reduced working time, including a four-day workweek. Only one tender was received which complied with the Terms & Conditions as set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government funds a number of home energy grant schemes which are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Grants of €700 are available to all homeowners, including private landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2011, for the installation of fully integrated heating controls in line with the SEAI's Domestic Technical Standards and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the flagship Government policies to help deliver on the target set out in the Climate Action Plan 23 of 80% renewable electricity by 2030. All projects successful in RESS auctions are required to establish a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) for the wider economic, environmental, social and cultural well-being of the local community. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention. I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 24th February 2023, over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Budget 2023 included an Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme through which €550.47 (exclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments of €183.49 (exclusive of VAT). The first two payments have already been made to accounts and suppliers began crediting the third payment to accounts on 1 March. The estimated cost of this scheme is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The European Commission launched a public consultation into electricity market reform on 23rdJanuary. Ireland submitted a position paper on the 13thFebruary which can be accessed at gov.ie ( www.gov.ie/en/publication/9d196-european-commission-public-c onsultation-on-reform-of-electricity-market-to-support-a-cle an-and-affordable-energy-transition/ ) While we are supportive of reform, we...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (8 Mar 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The European Commission launched a public consultation into electricity market reform on 23rd January. Ireland submitted a position paper on the 13th February which can be accessed at (www.gov.ie/en/publication/9d196-european-commission-public- consultation-on-reform-of-electricity-market-to-support-a-cl ean-and-affordable-energy-transition/). While we are supportive of reform, we should not...