Results 1,361-1,380 of 25,681 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bring banks play a very significant role in Ireland’s textiles separate collection system. Textile banks located around the country are provided and managed by local authorities, the charity sector and a number of private operators. Textile collectors provide a management service for these used textiles to local authorities and charities and hold waste collection permits from the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 106, 113 and 114 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deputy notes correctly that the National Risk Assessment (NRA) 2024 highlighted the importance of our strategic critical infrastructure, especially with regard to energy security. Risks can emerge through different developments such as weather events, including those influenced by climate change, and geopolitical tensions which bring the risk of deliberate disruption to both energy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: A public drinking water fountain scheme to improve our public drinking water infrastructure and reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles will be rolled out by my Department in phases. The initial phase of the scheme is focusing on the installation of drinking fountains within public buildings, with future phases to include installations in public outdoor spaces such as parks, greenways...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) operates on a return-to-retail model, where consumers bring empty containers back to a retailer to recoup their deposit. There are currently over 3,000 retail return points, about 90% of which are Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), providing a high level of coverage across the country. In its first year, almost one billion containers were returned through retail...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Climate Act 2021 has set Ireland on a legally binding path to achieving ambitious climate goals. As outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to taking decisive action to radically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to achieve a 51% reduction in emissions from 2018 to 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050. In the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 118 together. District heating is a proven technology that can decarbonise the built environment, diversify fuel sources for heat, and improve quality of life. The 2022 National Heat Study identified the potential of district heating to supply up to 54% of heat nationally and, crucially, identifies the prospect of using this technology in large towns...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Policies (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) are a critical part of the Government’s strategic plan for our maritime area, which is reflected by the commitment stated in the 2025 Programme for Government to prioritise the publication of further DMAPs, while ensuring that the relevant State bodies and agencies are sufficiently resourced to accelerate these developments. The use of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Supply Board (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: ESB is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, established under the Electricity Supply Act 1927. ESB is a corporate body and a separate legal entity to the Department. As well as a number of online briefings on the immediate aftermath and response by ESB Networks to Storm Eowyn, which we both attended, I met with the CEO...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, established under the Turf Development Act 1998. Bord na Móna is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. Any proposal to sell part of Bord na Móna’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) submit to the Minister for approval, separate Codes of Practice for the operation of CCTV schemes under the Litter Pollution Act and the Waste Management Act and a further Code of Practice for the use of "mobile recording...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I welcome the Climate Change Advisory Council 2024 report. The impacts of recent storms, including Storm Éowyn, have illustrated the importance of the need for greater prioritisation of climate adaptation, in particular the need to improve the climate resilience of our infrastructure. Significant resources are available through the National Development Plan which outlines the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Networks, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the Transmission Network and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, have responsibility for the development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Local government has a key role to play in developing and implementing mitigation and adaptation measures to meet Ireland’s national climate targets. Local authorities have been given a clear mandate to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions through the statutory requirement to prepare Local Authority Climate Action Plans (LA CAPs) as per the 2021 Climate (Amendment) Act. All 31...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Issues regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid, as Transmission System Operator, and ESB Networks, as Distribution System Operator, who are independent of me as Minister in the exercise of their respective functions. Both entities are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The Government does not have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU), as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU), and the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (the Espoo Convention) both set out the obligations of Member States/Parties to assess the environmental impact of certain activities or proposed development at an early stage of planning. They...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Millions of single-use cups are sent to landfill or incineration every year in Ireland. This is an entirely avoidable waste and I want to encourage people to prevent it by enjoying their on-the-go drink in a reusable cup. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, Ireland’s national waste policy, sets out a range of measures to tackle the waste and litter caused by single use...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Ireland has the natural resources to become a world leader in the production of green energy. With our location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Ireland’s coast is potentially one of the most energy productive in Europe. Ireland has a sea area approximately seven times the size of our landmass, with wind resources which are amongst the best in the world. Hydrogen represents one of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was set up in 2022 to deliver a system-wide plan across Government to accelerate and drive delivery of Ireland’s offshore wind targets and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. IDA Ireland has been an active participant in the Taskforce since its establishment. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Energy Generation (20 Feb 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: The phased deployment of offshore wind technology will make a critical contribution towards achieving Ireland’s legally binding climate objectives and will further address the twin crises of energy security and affordability through accelerating the green energy transition. As highlighted from experience in other jurisdictions, establishing an indigenous offshore wind sector will...