Results 1-20 of 51 for peat speaker:Barry Cowen

Did you mean: pat speaker:355?

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (25 Apr 2023)

Barry Cowen: ...and ESB funds, following closures, of up to €15 million or more. On foot of an interjection by me and local councillors in my county, it was insisted that the then Government seek to include the peat regions among the coal regions eligible for funding under the EU just transition fund. That has been forthcoming and will be announced this week when the administrative element of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (23 Feb 2023)

Barry Cowen: ...of the ring-fencing of carbon tax funding to assist with transition, which the Department has played a role in recently. The European Commission, on foot of an application from the Government to include peat regions in the coal regions, is providing €170 million by means of a transition programme. We now know the regional authority will begin to administer that money in the coming...

Energy Security: Statements (27 Oct 2022)

Barry Cowen: ...to this debate on energy security. My interest in this area was particularly heightened following the decision of An Bord Pleanála some years ago to reject applications by ESB to co-fuel peat and biomass at Lanesborough and Shannonbridge. That decision brought forward and cliff-edged the decarbonisation of Bord na Móna by some eight years. Its impact on Offaly and the region...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Barry Cowen: ...by the acceleration of decarbonisation long before the introduction of carbon budgets or the new targets that this Government set in its programme for Government. The cessation of extraction of peat on a commercial and industrial basis by Bord na Móna and, of course, the closure of power plants were eight to ten years ahead of plan. Thereafter, because such agencies as Bord na...

Just Transition: Statements (18 May 2022)

Barry Cowen: ...seen the earlier than anticipated closure of power stations in Lanesborough in Longford and in Shannonbridge, Ferbane and Rhode in Offaly. We have seen Bord na Móna's industrial excavation of peat cease as a result of that and its commitment to decarbonisation has resulted in the anticipated closure of Derrinlough briquette factory in 2024. This is an industry that has served our...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2021)

Barry Cowen: ...as originally envisaged. I call on the Government to soon, if not immediately, publish the territorial plan which it will shortly submit to the European Commission to draw down a further €84.5 million from the coal and peat regions in transition fund. That funding must be better targeted to benefit those most impacted by the acceleration of decarbonisation, particularly in my own...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Apr 2021)

Barry Cowen: ..., I consider or would have considered the example that should have been shown with energy transition in County Offaly and the midlands. The accelerated decarbonisation process including cessation of peat extraction meant the Government was under severe pressure to provide and cater for a just transition in the past two years. I envisaged funding addressing the effects of cessation and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Just Transition Fund (20 Jan 2021)

Barry Cowen: 48. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department will assist in the provision of compensation to the peat harvesting contractors; and if he will meet the industry, including the Just Transition Commissioner, to allow it make recommendations for a fair and equitable just transition that adequately compensates and offers financial incentives to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (17 Dec 2020)

Barry Cowen: ...and other rural constituencies like it. It is incumbent on me and other public representatives in my constituency to work tirelessly in an effort to ensure that the transition away from peat power generation meets with the approval of those we represent. We want to ensure that every effort has been made by the Government on its contracted roll-out of broadband and that it is meeting its...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigrant Investor Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: ...covered by me and others relating to the subsequent specific needs of the region, which will be accommodated, we would expect, by just transition funds, climate action funds and the EU coal and peat regions in transition fund. I continue, as I did last week, to insist the main criteria associated with such targeted funding should, above all else, assist those areas that have suffered the...

National Oil Reserves Agency (Amendment) and Provision of Central Treasury Services Bill 2020: From the Seanad (22 Jul 2020)

Barry Cowen: ..., I acknowledge and appreciate that this amendment provides for funding to be allocated from within the climate action fund to meet the demands associated with the rewetting and reinstatement of peatlands associated with Bord na Móna and the extraction of peat for various uses. However, in welcoming this provision, I ask the Minister to tell the House whether the commitments made by...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horticulture Sector (30 Jun 2020)

Barry Cowen: The extent of any commercial impact on the horticulture sector arising from a decision by Bord na Mona to suspend all peat harvesting will depend initially on the level of domestic stocks of horticultural peat on hand, alternative suppliers of peat and the development of alternative growing mediums. The amenity, soft fruit and mushrooms sectors are the most reliant on milled...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (17 Jun 2020)

Barry Cowen: ...of measures which will be very important in supporting a just transition in the midlands. This will be even more critical given the announcement yesterday that Bord na Móna has further suspended peat harvesting and further accelerated the decarbonisation of its product and is now bringing forward the commencement of work on the enhanced peatland rehabilitation scheme. I welcome the...

Social Protection (Covid-19): Statements (2 Apr 2020)

Barry Cowen: ...xe1;il and others. I have recently received representations from my constituents on the fuel allowance. Many who receive it may not be able to buy briquettes. The new licensing laws associated with the harvesting of peat, initiated as a result of the decision of the High Court last September further to the statutory instruments produced by the Government last January, proved ineffective...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (18 Dec 2019)

Barry Cowen: ...can proceed in March 2020 to ensure job security for up to 4,000 employed in the sector further to a recent High Court decision in which statutory instruments for the harvesting of horticultural peat was challenged successfully and introduced earlier in 2019 for plots in excess of 30 hectares. [53451/19]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Planning Issues (18 Dec 2019)

Barry Cowen: ...can proceed in March 2020 to ensure job security for up to 4,000 employed in the sector further to a recent High Court decision in which statutory instruments for the harvesting of horticultural peat were challenged successfully and introduced earlier in 2019 for plots in excess of 30 hectares. [53452/19]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Dec 2019)

Barry Cowen: ...Government introduce new legislation to counteract the High Court’s suppression of statutory instruments introduced earlier this year which had sought to allow the horticultural sector to harvest peat on foot of Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, licences? If such legislation is not brought forward, there will be no harvesting come March and 4,000 more jobs associated with the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Dec 2019)

Barry Cowen: The Government brought forward statutory instruments earlier this year to address the issue in regard to horticultural peat and its harvesting. The decision of the High Court later in the year left the Government in a position whereby it would need new legislation in order to counteract that. It will face the loss of a further 4,000 jobs in that sector of that industry unless it addresses...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Barry Cowen: ...revenue and gearing it towards regions that have been unfairly affected, especially following the decision by the ESB not to proceed with the Government policy of co-fuelling two of its plants with peat and biomass. Notwithstanding the difficulties arising from that decision for the Government and its repercussions in terms of its responsibility to respond to it, when can we expect...

Finance Bill 2019: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Nov 2019)

Barry Cowen: ...cost the State €450 million 15 years ago. There was an understanding, a belief and a contention at the time that they were constructed in such a way that there would be capacity to transfer from peat to biomass, either exclusively or with co-fuelling. As I said earlier, Government policy reflected this. Unfortunately, An Bord Pleanála in its wisdom decided against a...