Results 161-180 of 432 for speaker:Ciarán Ahern

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: On the broader issue of the network, we can build all the offshore wind we want but if we cannot connect it up to our network and distribute it throughout the country, there is no point. What do the witnesses see as the practical impediments to the enhancement and expansion of the grid? Mr. Tarrant spoke earlier about the need for local area plans to include zoning for electricity...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I have one last question relating to the level of political involvement. What is the organisation hoping for from the national development plan next week, in the context of political support and investment, to make this happen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: We spoke a bit about the reliability and security of our energy grid earlier. Someone mentioned Portugal having about 70% of its electricity coming from renewables. Someone said that might be a bit high or could be perceived as risky. Is there an ideal energy mix for our grid when it comes to reliability, security and all those aspects?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy: Climate Change Targets 2026-2030: Electricity Sector (16 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Is there scope or does Dr. Ryan see a need for further interconnectors as part of our energy future? Obviously a North-South one is being built up and there is the Celtic interconnector too.

Commission of Investigation (Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools) Order 2025: Motion (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: Before I begin, I acknowledge the presence of Mr. David Ryan in the Public Gallery. Mr. Ryan and his brother Mark participated in an RTÉ radio documentary, which precipitated all of what we are speaking about today. The establishment of this commission of investigation is welcome. It is not before time. The scourge of child sexual violence in our schools and the abject failure of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Budget 2026 (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 221. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his priorities for Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39452/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 222. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way in which he plans to address the €3.3 billion environmental investment gap identified in the latest European Commission Environmental Implementation Review country report for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39453/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Recycling Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 223. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his response to the fact that Ireland’s waste recycling rates have not improved for the past five years and are at risk of missing 2025 recycling targets; the steps he is taking to remedy the situation; the way in which he plans to improve Ireland’s circular use of materials rate, which stood at 2.3% versus...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 224. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the timeline for the phase-out of incineration in our waste management system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39456/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 225. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for a progress report on the implementation of Buying Greener: Green Public Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39457/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mining Industry (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 226. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the implementation of the previous Government’s 2022 Policy Statement on Mineral Exploration and Mining; the items that remain outstanding; the steps he is taking to ensure their implementation by the end of the five year implementation period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39458/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 227. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to increase the construction and demolition waste materials recycling rate in Ireland, which stood at 39.7% in 2020 versus an EU average of 78.1%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39459/25]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Waste Management (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 228. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding the remunicipalisation of waste services in Ireland; if he has engaged with campaigners on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39460/25]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 371. To ask the Minister for Finance his position on the eight-year deemed disposal rule in the capital gains tax system; whether he would consider abolishing this rule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39619/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure that school secretaries are not forced to take strike action, as is currently proposed to take place in August; if she will ensure school secretaries are given access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme given they have been on her Department’s centralised payroll since 2023; and if she will make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 735. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will pause the eviction of 6 families who have been granted asylum planned for this Friday 4 July from the IPAS centres (details supplied); if he will respond to reports of harassment of these families by staff at the IPAS centres; if he will confirm whether these families will be eligible for emergency accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Investigations (15 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: 774. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to the fact that over half of assessments of forested areas in Ireland indicate bad conservation status under the Nature Directives; the steps he is taking to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39455/25]

Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (10 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I am conscious we are discussing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence on the day we learned George Gibney will be extradited from Florida to Ireland to face 79 charges of sexual offences against children. Gibney was a high-profile Irish Olympic swimming team coach in the eighties and nineties who abused his position of power and trust. He was previously charged with, but not tried...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Jul 2025)

Ciarán Ahern: I am glad to hear about the Government's focus on accelerating what we are doing. However, the fact remains that we are not meeting our climate targets. While there was a 6% reduction in emissions in 2023, there was only a 2% reduction in 2024. The EPA is saying we are going backwards. This is because we are seeing significantly slower progress than needed on many fronts, like onshore...