Results 14,761-14,780 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. As the issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Meetings (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As noted in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to placing Ireland at the heart of Europe. Membership of the European Union has been transformative for Ireland and its people and I believe that it is in Ireland's best interests to pursue an active and engaged membership by working with our colleagues across the Union. The following table sets out the meetings that I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Appointments (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: My Department publishes a copy of my Ministerial diary on the Department's website on a regular basis, and details for the January-June 2021 period are currently being compiled by my private office for release in coming weeks. The following tables set out the dates of my engagements with the Chairs / CEOs of agencies and bodies under the remit of the Department of Transport for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The publication of Freedom of Information logs is a priority for the Department of Transport, and we are committed to making this information available on a timely basis. The Department has published all Freedom of Information disclosure logs up to and including Quarter 1, 2021. Quarter 2 is scheduled to be uploaded in August 2021, once all non-personal FOIs received in Q2 have had decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The current Freedom of Information Act came into effect on 14th October 2014. In accordance with SI 264/2003 the previous fee for an FOI application was €15 and the fee for a review was €75 (€10 and €25 respectively for medical card holders) .Under the 2014 Act, the application fee was abolished and the fee for a review was reduced to €30 (€10 for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Department of Transport does not record the information that the Deputy requests, as we are not required to maintain such information under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. However I can assure the Deputy that while the cost aspect of the Freedom of Information legislation has been important in terms of discouraging vexatious requests, where the it appears from an initial review of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The planning and implementation of the proposed A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities. Following a Public Inquiry into the scheme in early 2020, the Department for Infrastructure received an Interim Report from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) in September 2020. After careful consideration and having taken legal advice, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (6 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: 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. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the NTA has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I signal in advance that I intend to accept amendments Nos. 1 and 92. I do so because, as I said in earlier debates on Second Stage in the Dáil, I believe the Bill already provides that we want to encourage the use of sinks of greenhouse gases and carbon, and this was our clear intention. The amendments strengthen this and give clarity on...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I appreciate that this is a critical issue in our transition and I am conscious that the setting of this definition is difficult. In resolving this, I keep going back to the point that the core of the legislation is referring back to being consistent with both the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, which was agreed in 1992, and the Paris Agreement, which was agreed...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: To answer the question from Deputy Gavan, I am sorry, from Senator Gavan-----

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I keep making that mistake. The Senator does not mind. The point he made is on my mind, but I think we are best served by going back to the core aspect in this regard. The strength of this Bill, and I have said this consistently, is that it is consonant with the Paris climate agreement and the original UN framework. I believe that is the best context, arena and process in which we can...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I presume amendments No. 8 and 9 are moot because of the acceptance of No. 7 but I accept what Senator Higgins says on these wordings. My understanding is that, in legislative terms, that wording gives real strength. It is not an easy out. One has to recognise that there will be circumstances where it is impractical to do something but this is not weak in legislative terms and it...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: It will take me some time to go through as there are so many different amendments but I will take the first one beyond Nos. 8 and 9 which, as I said, are now moot, as an example. The proposed section 4(11) provides "A Minister... shall, in so far as practicable, perform his or her functions in a manner consistent with the most recent approved climate action plan and the most recent approved...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: It does not allow for people to ignore the provision, go backwards or reverse the legislative intent. Who was it who said the revolution takes place in a grinding process in the corridors of bureaucracy? One sets in place policy measures to achieve an objective. That is the reality of our constitutional democratic Republic and the administrative process. My advisers tell me that is not...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: To answer Senator Higgins on the alternative wording, I will give an analogy. I remember when I was doing my leaving certificate I was not the most stellar student in the class and my mother always encouraged me as I went out the door that all I could do was my best reasonable effort. I fear that if we use the phrase "best reasonable effort", it will be far weaker than the wording we have...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am afraid I cannot accept amendment No. 11. The wording as provided is simpler in many ways but I believe this provides better clarity, whereby greenhouse gas emissions in 2050 are balanced or exceeded, which is important, by the removal of greenhouse gases.On the exact number, we will not know. That will be an evolving issue on which the Climate Change Advisory Council will be able to...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: One could project an estimate but I do not think any projection would be 50%. We could undertake the scientific research and provide the figure. I want to make a key point in respect of the earlier debate and the comments just made in terms of a trading system. Nothing has been specifically designed yet. There are proposals coming forward from various quarters as to how this transition...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee Stage (2 Jul 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We have been working with the trade union movement and others for many years now on defining, understanding and delivering what a just transition is as we make our transition to a zero-carbon future. My sense of this over the years has been that much of it is about jobs and employment. The unions have a particular role. We believe in working with trade unions in social partnership....