Results 7,441-7,460 of 25,732 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: It is right as a sovereign nation that we allow debate within the country, that we have fora such as this, particularly when we look at how things have changed on our own Continent with the largest outbreak of war on the European Continent since the Second World War. Should we just sit there silently and not even discuss what the potential issues would be and how we can strengthen our own...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Unquestionably, there are people badly affected by the interest rate increases we have seen in recent months. I remind the Deputy that when Sinn Féin brought forward its alternative budget, it made no mention of mortgage interest relief whatsoever. What does that show about Sinn Féin's foresight or planning with regard to the economy? Every week, the Deputy comes in with further...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: -----and appropriately so, as we did in the most recent budget in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. Let us remember the Sinn Féin proposed energy price caps that would have spiralled out of control. We targeted the supports for people and families. We targeted additional social protection payments for our elderly and those with disabilities. He knows what we did.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What he did every week was come in with the last thing he heard outside the door and asked for it here in the Chamber.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this important issue. I believe, as does the Government, that the proposed regulation to which she refers provides an opportunity for transformative change with regard to achieving nature restoration in Ireland and in the EU as a whole. That is absolutely to be welcomed. She made reference to yesterday's EPA report and the challenges we face when it comes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has not been on the sidelines in this, nor indeed has this Government. We brought forward the most comprehensive climate action plan. We underpinned that in law.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Some parties decided to vote against it. Reversing the loss in biodiversity and tackling climate change is the single biggest challenge the world faces. Doing so is this generation's responsibility. This is probably the last generation that can actually do something about it. There will be tough choices. I want to give the Deputy a couple of examples of where we have already moved.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Táim buíoch as an cheist thábhachtach faoi mhorgáistí. I assure the Deputy that no one has their head in the sand. No one will be left alone, as the Government has proved during the cost-of-living crisis with the additional measures we have brought forward for families and individuals across the country. The average interest rate on new mortgages in April, prior to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis an gcoiste as an gcuireadh chun labhairt leo maidin inniu, agus go háirithe as an obair atá déanta acu ar son ár gcomhshaoil. I thank the Chair and the members for the invitation to be here today, and for the work they are doing on behalf of the environment and the climate action plan. I am joined by my colleagues,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We are actively engaged on that. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is leading the departmental modern methods of construction piece and, as the Chairman said, there are also the EU construction products regulation and the review of the energy performance of buildings. We are awaiting the EU regulation, although one or two countries in the EU have moved ahead on that. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I will add one point to that. We have established a vacant homes unit within the Department for the first time, so we are able to actually track what vacant and derelict stock is coming back into use, either through local authorities or through grants like Croí Cónaithe. We have updates every week on that. Thirty of our 31 local authorities now have a permanent vacant homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. She mentioned the Irish Green Building Council. I have engaged with it twice recently about its views on construction and seeing opportunities for how we could potentially do things better. I mentioned in my opening statement that all of the affordable and social housing stock is A2-rated. Some 87% are now-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I fully understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: What the construction sector will actually generate in carbon emissions has been quantified. My main focus is on making sure that we are using more modern methods of construction, MMC. As I have outlined that, I will not repeat myself. We have to catch up on State-delivered housing. I agree with the Deputy on that. For example, timber-framed houses use timber. Some 48% of all homes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We discussed the energy performance of buildings directive briefly earlier. We are working with the SEAI to put that in place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: That depends on the output in any given year. To give an example-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: To give an example, last year, we targeted 24,600 homes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Climate Action Plan 2023: Discussion (Resumed) (15 Jun 2023)

Darragh O'Brien: We built just short of 30,000. I can get the Deputy the detail. I do not have the overall quantification of that. I am saying-----