Results 1,541-1,560 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: First, I thank Deputy O'Rourke, in turn. It has always been a pleasure to work with him in various committees and in the Chamber here. I can respond similarly to the Deputy about the constructive approach he takes. As we still have some months to go in this Government, he and I will probably disagree on various issues, but the engagement with the Deputy has always been very civil and I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We are looking at definitions. The ESRI has been commissioned and will complete a body of research, although it will be some time before that is completed. An evidence-based approach will be key to its analysis and coming up with a definition. For the State, the most effective measure in terms of definitions or impacts has been on the awarding of fuel allowances for some 400,000 homes....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: First, our retrofit schemes are the most effective mechanism. We have immediate measures such as the fuel allowance, but the best way of tackling fuel poverty is to deal with the problem at source and to improve the building fabric so that people do not have to spend money, especially on wasteful or inefficient fossil fuel heating systems. Our strategy in that regard is very clearly towards...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The implementation of a robust, globally recognised offshore renewable energy (ORE) industry in Ireland is crucial to meeting our international and national climate and energy targets. As reiterated in the Future Framework for ORE Policy Statement, Ireland has set ambitious goals of 20GW of ORE by 2040 and at least 37GW by 2050. This will include the facilitation of floating offshore...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan recognises the need for a range of supporting measures to enable the transformation of Ireland's electricity sector. Electricity storage systems are a key measure to ensuring security of electricity supply in the electricity network throughout Ireland's energy transition. There are now over 1GW of electricity storage systems on the grid managing targeted demand...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland has a fully liberalised and competitive market for 4G and 5G mobile network services. In 2023, following the completion of the Multi-band Spectrum Award of 2022, ComReg awarded new radio spectrum to operators allowing them to roll out additional network capacity. These licenses contain obligations requiring the operators to achieve coverage and capacity targets within clear...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Industry (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the current situation in Moylisha and wish to clarify that mineral exploration is distinct from commercial mineral extraction, and both occur within an Irish and EU legislative framework, including instruments ensuring environmental and water quality protection. All exploration must be undertaken in such a manner as to avoid damage to the environment and amenities of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The 2024 National Adaptation Framework (NAF), which was approved and published by Government on 5 June 2024, sets out Ireland's climate adaptation policy. The new NAF was completed following my Department's review of the framework in 2022 and a statutory public consultation undertaken earlier this year. The new NAF, developed with input from key sectors, the Climate Change Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The legislation allowing for the installation and usage of CCTV for litter and waste enforcement purposes required that the Local Government Management Agency 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 devices" (e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within a European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is solely a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). However, I have been very clear in this House and in other forums...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Waste Management Act, the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to illegal dumping lies with the local authorities. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the most appropriate awareness, enforcement and clean-up actions in relation to illegal dumping taking account of local circumstances. It is a matter for Cork City Council to decide on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The national air quality monitoring network is operated, maintained, and monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (AAMP), which is funded by my Department. The EPA decide the most appropriate locations for monitors based on best practice and EU requirements, and questions in relation to proposed sites may be addressed to them...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In Budget 2024, Government continued to build on measures to provide support to households and businesses, being especially mindful of the fact that the rising cost of living hit hardest on those with lower incomes. Budget 2024 introduced a third Electricity Costs Emergency Benefit Scheme which over 2.2 million households have benefitted from -- worth €450 in total per household. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Schemes (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: In recent years, the Warmer Homes Scheme has delivered a greater volume of deeper and more complex upgrades. This is reflected in the average cost of upgrades which have seen an almost tenfold increase from €2,600 in 2015 to just over €25,800 in 2024. These deeper upgrades mean that more lower income homeowners are benefitting significantly from warmer, healthier and more...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Waste Management (Prohibition of Waste Disposal by Burning) Regulations 2009 make it an offence to dispose of waste by uncontrolled burning. Article 5 of the Regulations provided an exemption for the disposal of uncontaminated wood, trees, tree trimmings, leaves, brush, or other similar waste generated by agricultural practices by burning. Such burning was only to be done as a final...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, whereby producers are given responsibility for the collection and disposal of their products in line with existing successful EPRs for other consumer products such Batteries, Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) and Tyres. As with the other EPRs, it is the responsibility of producers to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Energy Poverty Action Plan 2022 set out the range of measures implemented, as well as key longer-term measures, to ensure that those least able to afford increased energy costs were supported and protected to adequately heat and power their homes over winter 2022/23. The implementation of the Action Plan has been monitored by a cross-departmental Steering Group, chaired by my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not myself as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Centres (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Data centres are central to Ireland’s economic and digital future and the Government is supportive of sustainable data centre developments as set out in the July 2022 Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy. The Strategy also states that data centres that are not connected to the electricity grid and are powered mainly by on-site fossil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (27 Jun 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity sector is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not the Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent...