Results 9,341-9,360 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Regulations (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The EU nature restoration law, as proposed, seeks to repair European habitats that are in poor condition and bring back nature to all ecosystems. The aim is for nature restoration measures to apply to a proportion of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030 and to eventually extend these measures to all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. In addition, there are proposals from the EU...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: When reading the CEPA report, which is comprehensive, it is important to realise it recognises we need a range of different options for energy security. We need not just gas storage but also other technologies, such as pumped storage and battery storage. The report also recognises that further interconnection, especially in respect of our electricity markets, will give us greater stability...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Government allocated €244 million to fund the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, residential, community and solar PV schemes this year. This budget enabled the introduction of a range of new measures to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake energy upgrades as well as to better target supports for those most in need. Data from the SEAI show...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Starting with the warmer homes energy aspect, it is not a case where we are just getting above the present standard and just going from a C rating to a B2. We are specifically targeting those houses that most need improvement, namely, those built before 1993. They must also have a present building energy rating, BER, of E, F or G. Again, regarding how the scheme has changed, we have gone...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I appreciate Deputy O'Rourke's argument, but I must say it runs directly contrary to what Deputy O'Reilly from Sinn Féin said only half an hour or 20 minutes ago.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: She accused us of not being on the same page because we were giving grants to houses that could afford-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: She did.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The record will show that is exactly what she said.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: She was having a cut at us for providing grants for better-off houses. It cannot be both ways. Do we agree with the position of Deputy O'Reilly or that of Deputy O'Rourke? My own-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy O'Reilly was saying we should not be giving any grants-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: What the Deputy is saying is we should give 100% grants. I believe this-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will tell-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: What we agree on is this. This 80% grant or the investment in cavity insulation is something 500,000 houses could benefit from and it is the best and most immediate thing any household can do. It will bring a 25% cut in bills and a payback time of less than a year. As I said in my earlier contribution, banks, credit unions and others will lend for this sort of one-year investment.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: If I was to go up to a 100% grant, I fear Deputy O'Reilly would come back and say I was helping the wealthy and not doing the right thing-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Conservation (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: -----as she said only half an hour ago.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: No, I do not. The reason we are following the measures we are is that I think the alternative presented by Sinn Féin would be less progressive. Its proposal for a cap on electricity prices seems to be very similar to what the Tory Party in the UK is proposing. It would give a direct benefit to the energy companies, which I do not think is what we need to do at this time.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As I understand the proposal by the Deputy's party, it would benefit the wealthiest households that use the most energy. Putting a cap in would enable those households to keep consuming energy in a way that would benefit them more than it would poorer households. I do not believe the alternative proposals being presented would give a better outcome. They are full of potential for eventual,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: There is no U-turn. I work very closely with the Spanish Minister and find we agree on a lot. I do not believe the measures introduced in Spain would work well here and that is why I prefer the approach we are taking. There were knock-on consequences in Spain, including a massive transfer of exports of energy to France, from which the latter benefited. There would potentially be the same...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: -----I again make the point that this would benefit the wealthiest households and the energy industries. I do not think that is what we need to do at this time.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy put climate at the centre of her question. I asked the consultants, CEPA, to look forward at the security situation of both our electricity grids and gas supplies and to look at options. In my mind, it benefits us to have a storage capability in gas and to look at that specific aspect of it. We wanted to rule out options that would not help us to meet our climate targets. That...