Results 1-20 of 30 for peat speaker:Ossian Smyth

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Increased Fossil Fuel Divestment: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (13 Dec 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...and long-term climate strategies supported by a system of carbon budgeting and sectoral emissions ceilings to meet our 2030 and 2050 targets. Ireland has committed to an early and complete phasing out of coal- and peat-fired electricity generation and has ceased issuing new licences for oil and gas exploration. In fact, we also ceased issuing new licences for coal exploration since the...

Seanad: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (9 Nov 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...energy support scheme. This demonstrates that a double-sided contract for difference which involves payback when market prices exceed €120 per megawatt hour does not hinder investment in wind generation. Coal, oil, peat and biomass by comparison will experience no increase in unexpected revenue due to the variable cap proposed by the Department. The variable cap contained in...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (5 Oct 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...support scheme. This demonstrates that a double-sided contract for difference which involves payback when market prices exceed €1€20 MW/h does not hinder investment in wind generation. Coal, oil, peat, biomass and so on, by comparison, will experience no increase in unexpected revenue due to the variable cap proposed by the Department. The variable cap contained in Article...

Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill 2023: Second Stage (21 Sep 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...this by implementing a cap of €120 per MWh on electricity produced from renewable sources, namely, wind, solar and hydropower. In addition, a variable cap, of at least €180, is applied to coal, oil, peat and biomass fuels. On the basis of economic appraisal conducted by my Department, I would like to note that these cap levels strike the balance of capturing excess revenue...

Seanad: Government Commitments on Offshore Renewable Energy: Motion (31 May 2023)

Ossian Smyth: ...the Senator made relates to her concern about having sufficient supply of skilled workers to do these tasks. When we think about just transition, we often think about people who are involved in peat-burning, coal-burning or in other types of dirty energy production. There are many other jobs throughout society that will also transform. People who are involved in oil or gas prospecting...

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

Ossian Smyth: ...as a climate solutions company has been progressing for many years and through its brown to green strategy, Bord na Móna is involved in renewable power generation, recycling, resource recovery and peatland rehabilitation. Peatlands play an important role in carbon storage. Rehabilitated peatlands in particular have the potential to contribute significantly to reducing emissions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Energy Policy (15 Sep 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...working groups established under the just transition programme which looked at the future of the midlands area following the closure of the ESB midlands stations and the ending of the harvesting of peat by Bord na Móna. One of the working groups, which included representatives of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, relevant local authorities and the just...

Seanad: EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...investments to ensure our grid can accommodate up to 80% renewables by 2030. The Bill also enables Bord na Móna to further develop its brown to green strategy and deliver new investments to former peat harvesting regions. To ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming years, it is vital that the legislation be passed prior to the Dåil rising in order to make...

Seanad: EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (5 Jul 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...what the companies can use the increased borrowing limits for. A borrowing limit increase for Bord na Móna will underpin the company's brown-to-green transition. The company has ceased its peat harvesting activities and is accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, particularly in these former peat harvesting regions. Just transition is already a part of Bord na Móna's...

EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (28 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...necessary investments to ensure our grid can accommodate up to 80% renewables by 2030. It also enables Bord na Móna to further develop its brown to green strategy and deliver new investments to former peat harvesting regions. In order to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming years, it is vital that this legislation be passed prior to the Dáil rising to...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement: Statements (22 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ..., I will provide a brief overview of these. In November 2021, the EPA reported that for 2020, total emissions in Ireland were estimated to have declined by roughly 3.6% compared with 2019. This reduction was driven by a drop in the use of peat for electricity generation and Covid-19's impact on transport. In this period our energy sector saw an almost 8% reduction in emissions while...

Annual Transition Statement: Statements (15 Jun 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...brief overview of them. In November 2021, the agency reported that for 2020, total emissions in Ireland were estimated to have declined by approximately 3.6% compared to 2019. This reduction was driven by a drop in the use of peat for electricity generation and Covid-19's impact on transport. This relatively small overall reduction, given the substantial impact Covid has had on our...

Just Transition: Statements (18 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...foresight role is essential, given that the climate ambitions the Oireachtas has set for Ireland through the 2021 climate legislation extend to 2050. Stakeholder participation and dialogue have repeatedly been shown to be a key ingredient to promote a just transition. The work of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, in this area has found that co-designing inclusive, focused...

Regulations for the Sale and Distribution of Turf: Motion [Private Members] (5 May 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...regulations is to ensure better quality and more efficient fuels will be available on the market. Low smoke ovoids are a suitable cost-efficient alternative to other types of high polluting coal, peat and wood logs in terms of heat delivered per cent cost. Given recent research which highlights a greater dependence on solid fuels by those in energy poverty, the risk of long-term...

Carbon Budget: Motion (6 Apr 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...growth through multispecies swards. We will reduce emissions from land use and make a move towards being an overall store of carbon, which will involve further bog rehabilitation, increased afforestation and the re-wetting of peat organic soils. A new forestry programme will be prepared for launch in 2023. The plan places a just transition at its core. It sets out four principles that...

Seanad: Carbon Budgets: Motion (5 Apr 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...swards. Sixth, there will be a reduction in emissions from land use and a move to being an overall store of carbon, which will involve further bog rehabilitation, increased afforestation and the rewetting of peat organic soils. A new forestry programme will be prepared for launch in 2023. This plan places a just transition at its core. It sets out four principles that will guide our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (1 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: ...was commissioned by my Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and relates to the regulatory framework (primarily that aspect which relates to the planning system) which applies to peat extraction at the time of publication. The guidance was published on 17 January 2022 and is available here www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7651-the-regulatory-framework-app...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (1 Feb 2022)

Ossian Smyth: I take it that the question refers to actions included in the Working Paper to Address Challenges Related to Peat Supply in the Horticulture Sector, recently published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. That Working Paper was prepared by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and my...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (14 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: The Government is committed to a just transition in the midlands region and has dedicated significant funding to supporting workers, companies and communities affected by the closure of the peat-fired power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna. As part of this commitment, the just transition commissioner was appointed in November 2019 with the mandate to engage...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Climate Change Policy (7 Dec 2021)

Ossian Smyth: ...the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Government. I welcome the opportunity to set out the actions being taken by the Government in response to the announcement of the closure of the peat-fuelled power stations and the end of peat harvesting by Bord na Móna. The work of Kieran Mulvey, as just transition commissioner in the midlands over the past year, has seen a...