Results 10,521-10,540 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is important to note that the allegations raised in the Seanad and in a number of media reports, including those relating to insurance for vehicles in the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) fleet have been previously considered and addressed through, inter alia, the former Chair’s statutory Statement of Internal Control and audit reviews.  The Statement of Internal Control is part...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the commitment in the Climate Action Plan 2021, a District Heating Steering Group has been established to resolve barriers to expansion of district heating. The District Heating Steering Group has met four times since its establishment in February 2022 and it oversees a number of Working Groups that are conducting in-depth, solutions-based analysis of the key areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I remain committed to introducing new regulations on the use of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland as announced last September. These regulations will introduce minimum quality standards that will apply across all solid fuels, to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas was approved by Government and published in May 2021. The policy statement provides that, pending the outcome of a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems, which is currently being carried out by my Department, it would not be appropriate for the development of any LNG...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the commitment in the Climate Action Plan 2021, a District Heating Steering Group has been established to resolve barriers to expansion of district heating. This Steering Group will ensure that there is a robust governance framework put in place for district heating, and it will also bring forward recommendations for an optimum regulatory framework,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 134 together. I have initiated a review under Section 18 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 (which section is entitled, ‘Removal of Members from Office’, ‘Members’ being members of the Board).  The provisions of section 18 are very specific and the review relates to issues raised in correspondence between my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: There are two existing UK/Ireland treaties, or intergovernmental agreements, relating to the natural gas interconnectors from Scotland to Ireland.The two intergovernmental agreements were drawn up in respect of the construction and operation of the undersea gas interconnector pipelines between Scotland and Ireland that came into operation in 1993 and 2002 respectively. The intergovernmental...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Citizen engagement is central to Ireland’s offshore renewable energy transformation. The Maritime Area Planning Act (2021) establishes a new planning regime for the sustainable development of our offshore resources and it provides that public participation is a priority in plan and policy-making and in the assessment of  development proposals. In accordance with the Aarhus...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: On 18 May 2022, the European Commission published a communication “Short-Term Energy Market Interventions and Long Term Improvements to the Electricity Market Design – a course for action”. The communication proposes further short-term measures in the gas and electricity sectors to tackle effectively the impact of sustained high energy prices on consumers and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Earlier this year, Government announced a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department provides support to local authority efforts to tackle litter on a number of fronts. A once off allocation of €5m was provided in 2021 to assist local authorities with the provision and upgrade of their litter infrastructure. A further €750,000 was provided under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme, which will again be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan:  The Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy (November 2021) sets out the pathway for increasing the supply and use of renewable fuels in transport. The Policy and the proposed measures contained in it apply to both imported and indigenous supply of fuels. The Policy supports the decarbonising transport actions under the Climate Action Plan 2021 and the envisaged increase in the share of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Work on revising the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan is currently in progress by my Department. The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan II will set out the pathway for the long-term sustainable development of Ireland's offshore renewable energy resources. It will provide an evidence base for the identification of areas most suitable for the sustainable development of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has established a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce to drive delivery and capture wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. This will include the identification of supporting infrastructure development and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding target of a climate neutral economy no later than 2050 and a reduction in emissions of 51% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels. As part of an enhanced governance framework to reach these targets, the Act also sets out the processes and timelines for settling the carbon budgets and sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to the development of a support scheme for small-scale generators above 50kW to support the deployment of rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV in cohorts that are not as suited to other support measures, such as the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) and the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). This new scheme will enable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The State’s main tool for monitoring ambient air quality is the national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme, which is operated and maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rather than by my Department. However, my Department has provided funding for a significant upgrade to the network in recent years, and the number of monitoring stations has increased from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government and Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older, less efficient heating systems by end-2030. The National Retrofit Plan, published as part of the Climate Action Plan identifies a range...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: A public consultation on the draft Clean Air Strategy ran from 7 March to 3 May.More than 100 submissions were received and these are now being reviewed, with a view to finalising and publishing the strategy later this year. The strategy will outline how we will enhance and protect the air we breathe, and set out a pathway, based on a comprehensive cross-Government programme of policies and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (2 Jun 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Staffing and recruitment within Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are operational matters in which neither I nor my Department have any role.