Results 1,441-1,460 of 28,190 for speaker:Darragh O'Brien

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

Darragh O'Brien: As I said earlier, my comment about the chair of the climate advisory council related to her remarks about the FSRU. With regard to the EPA projections, they are projections, and they are clear. I said that at the start. They are not predictions in the sense that is exactly what is going to happen. What it does is ensure that we should all redouble our efforts to accelerate the delivery...

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

Darragh O'Brien: We are not on track. That is being honest.

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

Darragh O'Brien: No. I fully accept that we are not on track. I have given examples of certain sectors that are doing well. Thankfully, with a growing economy and population we have been able to do that, and our emissions are still lower than they were in 1990.

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

Darragh O'Brien: We have to redouble our efforts to do everything we can to get as close to the 2030 targets as we can. I also say to the committee that there is life after 2030 too. I will be quick because I know we are timebound here. If you take on renewables, they will be key to us meeting our overall targets.

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

Darragh O'Brien: To answer the Deputy's question again-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: I know the Deputy is a solicitor. I am not in court. I am trying to actually answer the questions that have been put and to contextualise them.

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

Darragh O'Brien: Will the Deputy give me one second? The projections are clear. I met the EPA and I thank it for its work. It shows sectors that are working well, and it shows where there are gaps. It will be really challenging to meet the 2030 targets. However, I am not giving up on that yet, no.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am not giving up on it yet.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I need 30 seconds to answer if the Deputy wants to put this in context. The energy council met the week before last in Luxembourg and this is a discussion right across the EU. There is no definition as to potential fines or penalties, or no calculation in that regard. That is just pure speculation. There are a number of states, the majority of those in the EU, which based on their...

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

Darragh O'Brien: -----investment in-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: There is no formula right now. There is no formula published. There is no informal formula as to what measures would be taken by the Commission regarding states that do not meet their targets. That is just speculative. I have said this is something I have discussed with the Commission regarding not just showing the efforts, but the progress Ireland and other states are making and, should...

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

Darragh O'Brien: Everyone has to consider that.

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

Darragh O'Brien: First, we will hit our EV targets for this year. The first quarter returns were good and it looks like we will hit the targets on that. The overall target to the end of the decade is about 969,000. It is unlikely we will hit that but we are projecting to well over 600,000. I have answered about this in the Dáil as well. I have a submission regarding how we might refocus the EV grant...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I do not accept that. There has been a significant increase in EVs over the past four or five years. The target set for the end of the decade is very exacting but I do not think anyone could-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: There was but there was an increase in quarter 1. We could throw figures back and forth at each other. If the Deputy looks at the reality, he should just go out on the streets and see the number of EVs that are there. Real progress has been made. It is about accelerating that. The same goes for heat pumps.

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

Darragh O'Brien: I said to Deputy Ahern that I have no letter-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: Why would I? I will respond to it if it writes to me but the policy decision-----

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

Darragh O'Brien: I am trying to be helpful. I was asked by Deputy Ahern about a letter from An Coimisiún Pleanála. I genuinely have not received it.

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

Darragh O'Brien: We will chase up with the board and see where that letter is. If the letter is appropriate to respond to, and I say this as someone who used to be the Minister with responsibility for planning, in some instances, it may be appropriate or it may not be. I will not know until I see the contents of the letter. The policy decision Government has made regarding State-owned, State-led and...

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

Darragh O'Brien: I did not mention peat extraction but I am happy to answer Deputy Cronin's question. I did not mention legal or illegal peat extraction in my opening statement. All of us are aware of the report from the EPA last week and its findings about what seems to be commercial peat extraction that is being carried out illegally. That is something of great concern to all of us. It does not relate...