Results 9,301-9,320 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (21 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the Council. All...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In response to Deputy Conway-Walsh, I will commit to that. It is important that everyone does treat this situation as what it is, an emergency situation, the SEAI included. It is important for it to accelerate its communications with companies looking for advice or grants to make sure we act quickly. I agree with Deputy Cairns. It is not a functioning market. There are super-normal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Resources (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We consider a whole variety of different options and will still consider various options. Cork Harbour in particular has some real strategic advantages when it comes to a whole variety of different energy infrastructure. One of the storage options has always been looking at the likes of the Kinsale gas field, or the Ballycotton or Seven Heads fields as there is a network of fields there, to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Resources (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As I said, the decommissioning of this started a number of years ago and it is my understanding the platforms are starting to be decommissioned. They have already been taken out.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Resources (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The pipeline has been displaced to seawater and the Inch terminal has been degassed. As I said, that was a very old pipeline in the first place and I think it was already 40 years on the seabed. Accordingly, I do not think that infrastructure will be used. The decision was made on good energy grounds and there was much detailed consideration. The Department assessed all the potential uses...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: There is a wide range of grants, vouchers and training available to help SMEs to reduce their energy costs. Improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption helps to reduce emissions and ultimately improves competitiveness and saves on energy costs. Supported by my Department and administered by the SEAI, current supports to SMEs include the excellence in energy efficiency...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I accept those businesses, and so many others across the country, as well as households, are finding the bills that are coming are absolutely critical and critical to their operations. Government will engage in this six-month period ahead to look to providing further supports targeted at small or medium businesses because those businesses may not have the ability to pass on the costs. They...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Natural Resources (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The geoscience regulation office in my Department is responsible for the regulation of petroleum exploration and development in Ireland. Petroleum authorisations are issued under the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act 1960 and subsequent Acts and include decommissioning operations of petroleum facilities. Decommissioning of petroleum facilities is subject to regulatory and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The new North-South interconnector, which will allow for the flow of 900 MW of electricity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, will be critical for improving the operation of the all-island integrated single electricity market. It will also help to facilitate the achievement of the goal of generating up to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A resilient and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We listen acutely to communities. That is what all politicians do. We listen. I listen to a country where high energy prices are crippling people, as various Deputies said earlier. One of the benefits of having a North-South interconnector is that it would save Irish households significant amounts of money year in, year out. I hear people ask why we are so dependent on the distant fossil...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I met the Minister the other day and earlier in the summer. It is very difficult because there is no Administration up North. There is keen interest in it even if there are no structures whereby a government up North can make a decision on this. We need a decision. I first started hearing about this 20 years ago when it was described as the most important and urgent project to deliver an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That is what we need to change. That is what we need to get away from.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We have a responsibility in government to think of the long-term development of the island.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is an issue. I fully accept it is an issue.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I also believe-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In response to Deputy Stanton, inframarginal pricing is the right measure and one which we are looking to implement. There are complexities involved in it. It will apply to the likes of wind farm or other generators that are generating without the impact of high-input gas price, therefore, it is likely that they are making a significant profit. Inframarginal pricing will not apply where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: -----I would love to hear it, because the complexity and design and development of energy markets is not something that one can be easily categoric about. It is complex. What was also considered by the energy Council, and what we are intricately and centrally involved in the European Council - the Deputy is right; it is a joint competence - is the conducting of a wider review, starting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy will know, I have to be very sensitive because we are in the middle of a budget process. My Department and the Department of Finance have been exploring the potential to collect a portion of these windfall gains with a view to using the proceeds to support energy consumers. Subsequent to this, there have been significant developments at EU level, which we just discussed. At...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy in that the proposals coming from European Union are just one element. They are among the four pieces in the jigsaw of measures that we will need to implement, as I mentioned earlier. We will not have the full details on them by budget day. We will have a rough estimate of what implications it might have for Revenue but it is only one element of the response we must...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I meet the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, every couple of days and, leading up to the budget, I am sure it will be close to daily, in my capacity as the head of two Departments and as the leader of my party. Last night, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and I met the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. We have had a series of those meetings where we consider all of these...