Results 15,281-15,300 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Celtic Interconnector is a proposed 700 MW electricity interconnector between Brittany and Cork, promoted and developed by the Irish electricity Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, and its French counterpart, Reseau de Transporte d’Électricite (RTÉ). Upon scheduled completion in 2026, the Celtic Interconnector will result in the return of direct electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: In their Annual Review 2020, the Climate Change Advisory Council recommends that the Government should support efforts to ensure consistency between reporting and accounting rules and the objectives of the Paris Agreement and to engage constructively in the negotiations on the proposed revision of the EU’s 2030 effort-sharing targets. In addition, the review recommended that in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill sets out our national economy-wide climate targets for 2030 and 2050, and the process for setting carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings. It does not specify economy-wide or sectoral carbon budgets, and does not present options in relation to decarbonisation. Once the Climate Change Advisory Council proposes carbons...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government recognises that the next ten years are critical if we are to address the climate and biodiversity crisis which threatens our safe future on this planet, and commits to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. While this will be challenging,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Sector (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, including age limits for vehicles, is a matter for the statutory regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred the portion of your question regarding age limits to the Authority for direct reply to you....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Climate Change Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The National policy framework for alternative fuels infrastructure for transport in Ireland 2017-2030 acknowledges the lack of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure capability in Ireland coupled with low numbers of compatible vehicles appropriate for use in the Irish Market. The Climate Action Plan 2019, currently being reviewed for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (2 Jun 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. The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the individual transport operators and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (2 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Both the National Transport Authority (NTA) and my Department have been engaging directly with commercial bus operators throughout the Covid-19 Emergency. The public transport system in Ireland has played an essential service role over the course of the pandemic, especially in carrying essential workers and others making necessary journeys.  In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Generation (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy Stanton is correct, it is a real opportunity for Cork as well as Limerick. They have similar characteristics There is a world-class deepwater harbour in Cork. There is a lot of energy infrastructure. It is the same in Shannon with the Moneypoint grid. In Cork, there is the plant in Aghada, all the energy assets and the pharmaceutical industries, so it has the same combination. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Generation (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Many of the jobs will come. Take the likes of Ballycotton or other areas along the west Cork or east Cork coast, for example. There are many small ship fishing vessel capabilities which would be perfectly involved in servicing and maintenance. The numbers are not huge but, at the same time, they would be significant for coastal communities. I keep coming back to the point about the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Generation (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: That threat is something that can trip us up. We must do everything to avoid that, which will involve a series of different measures. We will have short-term, interim, open cycle gas and reactive power to keep balancing our system. Part of the problem is we have lost two large gas plants, which are down due to prolonged repairs. That has put us into difficulty. I will be honest and say...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Grid (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: It is interesting that the Deputy mentioned Limerick. I was reading The Irish Timesa couple of weeks ago, and while I cannot recall which supplement it was, it was on this subject. I turned the page and there was a full-page advert, I presume from Limerick County Council, stating that Limerick was going to go green and this was the future for the county. I must admit I was nodding. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Bruton. With the 2030 Climate Target Plan and EU climate law, the EU will raise its ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. This is a substantial increase compared to the existing 40% emissions reduction cut. The Commission is preparing to present by July 2021 an overhaul of all relevant climate legislation as part of a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Much of what happens here will depend on the outcome of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP, negotiations which are not concluded yet. I will be honest in saying that I will be very supportive of new income streams that we can create to pay for nature-based or environmental services that our farming community might deliver. It is critical that the CAP negotiations help in delivering on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Grid (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland’s increased climate and energy ambition is reflected by the Government target to achieve 5 GW of installed offshore wind generation by 2030. There is a further commitment in the programme for Government to develop a longer-term plan to utilise the potential 30 GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters. The 5 GW target will be primarily met through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electricity Grid (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy and even since the programme for Government was written, things are changing here which may actually see some of the targets being exceeded, if we get our policy approach right, and we may get some of the timelines reached earlier. As an example of that, I cite the announcement by ESB and Equinor, two companies with real scale, experience and a history of delivery,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Canney for his question. The better energy warmer homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low-income households who are vulnerable to energy poverty. In order to qualify for support, applicants must own and live in their home, which must have been built and occupied before 2006, and must be in receipt of certain social welfare payments....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I will commit to looking at that. The key issue is that we are looking to get to every single house in the country. That is what we have to do to meet this climate change challenge. Every place matters. We have to go to every community in a systematic way. It will take three decades, with 500,000 houses a decade and 50,000 houses a year reached. That is what we need to do. That is why...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (1 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: It is true what the Deputy says about the supply chain. Across a range of different sectors what we are seeing as a result of the pandemic is disruption to global supply chains. It is very real and is occurring in the construction sector as well as other sectors. It is adding to inflationary pressures, which is a real difficulty. We have to hope and expect that, as the economy returns to...