Results 11,181-11,200 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Priorities (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating of B2 (or cost optimal equivalent), and to install 400,000 heat pumps to replace existing heating systems by 2030. The review of the National Development Plan (NDP) resulted in an unprecedented financial commitment to support achievement of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Mobile coverage obligations are set out in licences granted by the independent regulator, ComReg, to mobile operators. ComReg advises that the current minimum coverage obligations in those licences are being considerably exceeded by all operators. Capital investment by telecommunications operators over the last 5 years was in the order of €3.3 billion for both fixed and mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Under Section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) may give directions to EirGrid, the transmission system operator (TSO) and ESB Networks, the distribution system operator (DSO), collectively the “system operators” (SOs), on the terms and conditions of access to the transmission and distribution systems (the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Electricity Costs (Domestic Electricity Accounts) Emergency Measures Act 2022 established a scheme for the making in 2022, of a once-off Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Payment to each domestic electricity account. The credit of €176.22 (excluding VAT) is being applied to all domestic electricity accounts through April and May, and includes prepay meters. This scheme is in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Following a detailed review of all valid objections received by the Geoscience Regulation Office (GSRO) in my Department, a decision has been taken to grant the two Prospecting Licences (PLs) for base metals, gold and silver.   All those who made a submission in respect of the Minister’s original notice of intention to grant the Prospecting Licences in question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Prices (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) , under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, is responsible for ensuring that commercial markets are functioning correctly and that consumers are not being unfairly disadvantaged.I understand that Marked gasoil (MGO) demand, in common with the other petroleum products, is generally relatively...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Prices (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is required, under its membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Union, to hold strategic oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) maintains these strategic reserves on behalf of the State. These stocks may be released to the market in the event of a serious shortage of petroleum products arising in domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I remain committed to introducing new regulations on the use of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland this Autumn, as announced last September, and reflecting the ongoing consultation as to their final content. They will introduce minimum 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is currently reviewing and updating procurement and contract management practices for contracted service providers (external contractors) used by the Department, including the Geological Survey Ireland, to ensure full compliance with relevant legislative requirements and guidelines. This review is related to the use of external contractors and not to employment practices within...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Prices (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is required, under its membership of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the European Union, to hold strategic oil stocks equivalent to 90 days of net imports. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) maintains these strategic reserves on behalf of the State. These stocks may be released to the market in the event of a serious shortage of petroleum products arising in domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Prices (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) , under the aegis of the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, is responsible for ensuring that commercial markets are functioning correctly and that consumers are not being unfairly disadvantaged.I understand that Marked gasoil (MGO) demand, in common with the other petroleum products, is generally relatively...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has adopted, through the Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP 2021), a framework for a just transition, comprising four principles: 1. An integrated, structured, and evidence-based approach to identify and plan our response to just climate transition requirements.2. People are equipped with the right skills to be able to participate in and benefit from the future net zero...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The war in Ukraine has impacted Europe’s energy system. In particular, the invasion has triggered a decision by the European Union to phase out its dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal imports as soon as possible. It will also impact where and how we source that energy and will change how we design energy policy to ensure the system’s long-term resilience.The National Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together. The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030. The RESS is an auction-based support scheme. It invites grid-scale renewable energy generation projects to compete to receive a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Priorities (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Current legislation in the area of noise does not specifically address the use of bird scarers (also referred to as crow bangers). There are no plans at present to introduce such legislation. There is provision, however, under sections 107 or 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 to deal with the issue of nuisance noise from a range of sources, including agricultural sources.My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Medical Aids and Appliances (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to the reply to Question No 60 of 9 September 2021. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department , as do all other Government Departments participates in the Monitoring and Reporting (M&R) System, which was established by the SEAI to enable public bodies to track their energy efficiency performance and facilitates them in their energy management.In 2009 the Government set an ambitious target for the Public Sector to improve energy efficiency by 33% by the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Energy poverty, or fuel poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home, and the cost of the energy they use in their home.  Excess winter mortality has been linked to energy poverty and to poor housing standards. Energy efficiency measures are central to addressing the root causes of energy poverty, and may also be an effective preventative...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Energy poverty, or fuel poverty is influenced by a person’s income, the energy efficiency of their home, and the cost of the energy they use in their home. In 2020, the ESRI estimated that 17.5% of households in Ireland could be at risk of energy poverty. Lower income households living in inefficient homes are more at risk of energy poverty when energy prices increase, as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (26 Apr 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290, 296 and 315 together.On 15 February this year I signed the Regulations (Statutory Instrument 76 of 2022), that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive into Irish law. These Regulations create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators...