Results 12,021-12,040 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, which is located in my Department, has a broad remit across the cybersecurity of Government, ICT infrastructure and critical national infrastructure. In the immediate aftermath of the ransomware attack on the HSE, the NCSC led the national response process and took measures to protect other critical infrastructure operators. This included rapidly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right to raise concerns about security on mobile telephone devices. Everyone, even within the industry, recognises it is a real issue. There is much public debate on issues such as Ministers having a Garda driver and so on. In discussions with officials recently, we all agreed we need Garda security on our mobile communications system as much as we need a Garda driver. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: As I said, I have been in touch with the director of the NCSC in recent days to get an update on the particular situation we are in at the moment. I agree with Deputy Stanton that we have to do more and we are looking and working in co-operation with network operators to improve our security and to make sure they maximise security on their networks. The NCSC publishes a lot of its...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will give the Deputy some of the numbers involved in response to her question about the survey. There were 82 responses to the online public consultation survey and 41 submissions from individuals and groups. We are only just assessing those at the moment so I do not have a timeline yet for the delivery of the report, but as soon as I do, I will share it with the Deputy. With regard...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I had the pleasure of visiting County Offaly late last year and meeting council officials, the people involved in organising these transition fund projects and a number of those who are involved in the projects. Rather than it being a story of a lack of success, what I heard from both the council and the people involved was that this is working. It took time. If I was in here saying the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right and I remember the role he played in those grant schemes. We favoured the islands for a number of reasons. The islands are demonstrable. They are particular geographic areas so one can show and measure effects. The likes of Inis Mór and the Aran Islands have been progressive and have showed leadership in demonstrating how communities can come together. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I would be happy to meet the representatives of the organisation the Deputy mentioned to discuss this issue. If we do that, I would also like to broaden the discussion because I think there is a lot we can learn from the islands. As the Deputy mentioned, there are island-specific skills. Islanders have the ability to be innovative and flexible. They do a variety of tasks that often...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: On the regulations, my understanding is that they were to be ready in weeks rather than months. I will have to check that and revert to the Deputy. He is correct that our response in reducing our emissions and our dependency on imported gas, regardless of where it is from, has to be in every different location and every school building. We have to avail of every opportunity to make the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: My Department published the general scheme of the circular economy Bill 2021 on 15 June last. It is my intention under this Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV but the use of a broad range of audiovisual recording, AVR, equipment to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat litter and illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced and the final report of the Joint...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree. In that regard, the circular economy Bill, which will be published within weeks, will be critical. My understanding is that alongside that it is proposed to implement mandatory codes of practice that will ensure relevant data protection legislation is complied with by any local authority. The combination of legislation, non-statutory guidance and the use of mandatory codes of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Measures (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That is what we need. An Garda Síochána and the local authorities have been hindered previously for the lack of legislation that provided real clarity on data protection and privacy protection and, at the same time, allowed for enforcement. As I said, the combination of legislation and the codes of practices we propose to introduce will resolve that problem.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The EU just transition fund is a newly established fund for the 2021-2027 period operating within the framework of the EU cohesion policy. The fund is to address the adverse socio-economic effects of the climate transition by supporting the most affected territories and workers and ensuring a fair transition. Ireland must prepare a territorial just transition plan and accompanying...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am glad that the Deputy acknowledged that the appointment of Mr. Browne as director of the NCSC was a key appointment. Mr. Browne is well qualified and was centrally involved during the HSE attack last May. I can confirm that we have already brought on board many of the people we want. The NCSC is being moved to new offices that are fully equipped and secure. Further down the line as my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy on the risks in terms of crime as well as national security. It is vital that the Garda cyber unit, the NCSC and our Defence Forces cyber capabilities work. Each has a separate but co-ordinated role. The central co-ordinating role lies with the NCSC. It has to have the best expertise and contacts with international networks in order to assess risks and share...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is important that we help our people through what is, unfortunately, an historic period of high international fuel prices caused by international events - not just what we now see as the war in Ukraine, but a variety of factors that are outside our control. At the start, the Government's response was to monitor the situation constantly. This year's budget contains significant increases...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The Bill to allow for the payment of the credit still has to come back to the Dáil. It was amended in the Seanad this week. Subject to it being able to return to the Dáil, which I presume will be next week, the Business Committee will have to decide. That would bring us into early March. It will have to be signed by the President and the various regulations will have to be put...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am happy to make that statement. In 2021, we saw a step-change in our approach to climate action, with the signing into law of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and the publication of the national development plan, NDP, and the Climate Action Plan 2021. The significantly strengthened legally binding framework established under the climate Act with clear...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Finance is not the key obstacle. It is one of the elements we need to have in place but it is not the biggest constraint. The biggest constraint is that we all - public and Government - must engage in a form of system change that takes time, especially with transport, agriculture and energy. With energy, there is probably a clearer, more certain path. All the finance in energy is going to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The question I come back with is: where are those resources going to come from?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (24 Feb 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, and my answer to that is much of the private finance is already going in this direction. What I say to the food industry and the farmers behind it is if they think that industry is going to be able to survive in this decade if it does not start addressing the ecological crisis we are in then they are badly mistaken because that funding will disappear. It is the same for forestry. We...