Results 1,421-1,440 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (3 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (3 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (3 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh, as an gcuireadh bheith anseo tráthnóna inniu. I thank the Chair, Deputies and Senators for the invitation to appear before the committee today and I very much look forward to working with the committee over the term of this Government. The committee's role in scrutinising the proposed second carbon budget programme is critical and is a...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Following extensive analysis and updated modelling, the CCAC has now submitted its proposal for the second programme-----

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: -----which is the subject of our discussion today. This proposes a finalised budget for 2031-2035, which is carbon budget 3, of 160 MtCO2eq with a provisional budget for 2036-2040, and carbon budget 4 of 120 MtCO2eq.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Senator for his welcome. Obviously all inputs into this process will be fully considered. On the matter of temperature neutrality, the Climate Change Advisory Council spoke to the committee last week. I received correspondence in that regard this morning, as I think the committee did. That is the whole purpose of this process. There will be different views. The calculations...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I truncated my opening statement but if one looks at ambition, the EPA’s projections are very clear and they show that, with additional measures, we will fall short of our targets for 2030. However, that should not be a reason to raise the white flag on this either because there are certain sectors that have performed well. We have seen significant emissions reductions in 2023, which...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: No, I do not think it does. The climate action plan speaks very clearly about energy security. The Government made a decision on the floating storage regasification unit, FSRU, that there be a State-owned and operated liquid natural gas reserve in the event of something happening to our existing connections. That was a risk we could not ignore. In her public commentary on this, Marie...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his questions, which I will answer directly. The Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 report was clear on the risk to Irish society and the economy should an unexpected event happen to our gas supply, most of which comes from Scotland. Between 25% and 30% comes from Corrib and the remainder is imported. We have seen activity around our gas interconnectors and...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: Maybe it was.

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: We will have to bring legislation forward to establish it. The monitoring of the facility will be clear. I will just say that the threats are not perceived. They are real. There are real threats to our communications and energy infrastructure. One point I did not come back to the Deputy on was how we will continue to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, which we are doing. The NDP will...

Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Carbon Budget: Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment (2 Jul 2025)

Darragh O'Brien: It was just to say from what I heard. That is all I mean.