Written Answers Nos. 57-84
57. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on whether delays in the launch of the renewable heat incentive has stalled developments in the biomass industry and make it even more likely that Ireland will fail to meet its renewable heat targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41899/17]
View answerThe proposed Renewable Heat Incentive will incentivise commercial opportunities for renewable heat technologies including biomass boiler installations. In addition, the scheme will open up new opportunities for biomass feedstock producers. There has been significant progress to date in the use of biomass which, in 2015, provided the vast majority of the 6.5% of energy consumption in the heat sector that came from renewable sources.
The development of the Renewable Heat Incentive has involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and two public consultations. The most recent of these consultations took place earlier this year and over 100 submissions were received. It is vital that views of stakeholders and the lessons learned in other jurisdictions are integrated into the design of the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. In particular, I intend the scheme to include eligibility criteria and budgetary controls in order to manage the overall costs and maintain value for money for taxpayers.
The scheme has a key role to play in contributing to meeting our 2020 renewable energy targets. It is therefore vital that the Renewable Heat Incentive is in place well in advance of 2020 in order to ensure projects are in operation in 2020 thus contributing to meeting our targets.
I will seek Government approval for the scheme shortly. Following this approval, it will be necessary to seek European Commission State Aid approval in advance of the scheme commencing in 2018.
60. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to address concerns that Brexit will jeopardise ongoing co-operation between Northern Ireland and the State in the area of environmental management and protection; if he has engaged with his Northern Irish and UK counterparts on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41902/17]
View answerNorth-South cooperation is a central part of the Good Friday Agreement. Under the Agreement, the North-South Ministerial Council was established to develop consultation, cooperation and action on matters of mutual interest on an all-island and cross-border basis.
Protecting the gains of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts have been identified by both the EU and the UK as a priority to be addressed within the context of the Article 50 negotiations. The European Commission Taskforce, led by Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, represents the EU27 in the Article 50 negotiations with the UK.
In its paper on Guiding Principles for the Dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the European Commission Taskforce has recognised the central importance of North-South cooperation and states that it should be protected across all relevant sectors.
While progress continues to be made, there is substantial work that remains to be done. Irish officials remain in close contact with Mr Barnier’s team to progress this work. It is not possible at this stage to say with certainty what impact the UK leaving the EU will have on sectors including the environment. This will be largely dependent on the shape of the future relationship between the EU and UK.
Since the formation of the new UK Government, I met with Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, on Monday 19 June, at the Environment Council in Luxembourg. This is the latest in a number of bilateral meetings I have had with my UK counterparts.
In February this year, I attended the EU Environment Council. I used this opportunity to hold bilateral discussions on the potential impacts of Brexit on the Irish and European energy sectors with the UK Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Energy, Mr Jesse Norman. I also held discussions with Simon Hamilton, Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive, on the margins of the North-South Ministerial Council in September last.
62. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on changes in An Post, both retail and mail businesses; and the steps he plans to take in the coming months to ensure that services are protected. [41833/17]
View answer81. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to address concerns that wholesale closures of post offices are imminent; his further plans for the post office network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41898/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 81 together.
As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post to ensure that the company is fully compliant with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters relating to the company’s mails and retail businesses are matters for the board and management of An Post. As Minister, I do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters.
It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong, viable company in a position to provide a high-quality, nationwide postal service and that it maintains a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. However, An Post has entered a period of long-term structural decline mainly due to the impact of eSubstitution on mail volumes and post office transactions. The environment in which the post office operates is changing and the network needs to change to thrive particularly with the move to digital transactions. This involves harnessing existing strengths such as its trusted brand and the relationship of postmasters with individual communities to build the network of the future. The post office plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike and this is at the forefront of An Post’s mandate. The Government is fully committed to a sustainable post office network which it sees as a key piece of economic and social infrastructure for both urban and rural areas.
In response to the challenges it is facing, a strategic review of An Post, including the post office network, which will identify the changes and restructuring necessary to maintain the company on a sound financial footing was initiated and is nearing completion. All opportunities are being assessed by An Post in the context of the strategic review.
Until such time as the review is finalised and assessed, it will not be possible to comment further. Government will be briefed once a definitive strategy has been agreed.
64. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the expected matters that the national dialogue on climate change will include. [41896/17]
View answerI understand that the Citizens’ Assembly met on 30 September and 1 October and will meet again in November to consider the topic of how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change and that these sessions will be informed by a public consultation which took place in August. As part of this work, I understand that the Assembly has been asked to consider how the National Dialogue on Climate Action should engage with the wider public to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act in relation to the challenges of climate change.
The primary objective of the National Dialogue will be to ensure an inclusive process of engagement and consensus building across society toward enabling the transformation to a low carbon and climate-resilient future. To do this, the Dialogue will seek to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change and to establish, on a long-term basis, appropriate networks for people to meet periodically to consider evidence-based inputs on the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.
I expect that the work of the Citizens' Assembly will provide a valuable base of evidence and ideas from which to draw on in the preparation of further activities under the National Dialogue in the coming months, including proposals for regional gatherings and local community conversations incorporating innovative consultation mechanisms.
National Dialogue initiatives already announced for 2017 include the Green Schools National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme, incorporating Climate Action Week between 16 and 20 October and the Green Schools Climate Expo on 22 February 2018; and the Climate Ambassador Programme which was formally launched on 18 September 2017.
66. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when his Department first announced plans to introduce the national broadband plan; the dates on which various Ministers held press conferences to publicise it; the expected commencement and completion dates given by Ministers at each of these press conferences; the projected commencement and completion dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41708/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my replies to Question Number 72 of 6 December 2016, Number 43 of 7 February 2017, Number 85 of 9 May 2017 and Number 88 of 27 June 2017.
By way of additional information, we have now reached a significant milestone in the procurement process for the State-led Intervention under the National Broadband Plan, NBP. Last Tuesday, 26 September 2017, my Department received submissions from two bidders, legally termed, "Detailed Solutions". This is the last stage of the procurement process before receipt of final tenders, which are expected early next year, and ultimate progression to the appointment of a preferred bidder or bidders.
67. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the analyses that have been undertaken by his Department on Irish energy prices, which are among the highest compared to other EU Member States. [41835/17]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation and monitoring of electricity markets is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, which is the independent energy regulator. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, is the lead organisation for the submission of Irish data on electricity and gas prices to Eurostat, and also publishes reports and analysis of these statistics twice yearly. The National Competitiveness Council, NCC, publishes reports on various business costs, including on electricity price statistics with commentary and analysis.
In the area of electricity prices, CRU carries out statutory market monitoring functions and has the responsibility to ensure the market operates competitively for the benefit of the consumer, under various relevant Statutory Instruments. In February 2017 the CRU published its, “Review of Competition in the Electricity and Gas Retail Markets: A Consumer Focused Assessment”, in line with its competition and consumer protection functions and reflecting a CRU commitment in the energy policy White Paper to publish a consumer focussed assessment of the development of competition in retail markets. This report, as well as CRU’s quarterly, “Electricity and Gas Retail Markets Reports”, published since 2010, are available on the CRU website. I am periodically provided with briefing and commentary on these publications.
The CRU’s review of competition in the electricity and gas retail markets makes a number of detailed findings, specifically in relation to consumer engagement, consumer protection, market entry and prices. It concludes by making a number of proposals to address the issues identified within the report, and it will be important that the outcomes of these proposals both for consumers and for competition are analysed and assessed in due course.
In this regard I must reiterate that the CRU is accountable for the performance of its functions to a Committee of the Oireachtas, and not to me the Minister or indeed the Government.
68. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has given consideration to the application by Bord na Móna to purchase a wood pellet factory in Georgia; and the way in which the Government would reach a decision on such an investment. [41897/17]
View answerBord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts, 1946 to 1998. The matter raised by the Deputy is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any direct function. Nevertheless, as Minister with responsibility for Bord na Móna, I am aware of the proposed plans to construct a biomass facility in the United States. I wish to advise the Deputy that an investment of this nature by Bord na Móna is subject to Ministerial approval from both myself and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform as the shareholding Ministers. Any request for Ministerial consent would be subject to detailed financial analysis by NewERA and policy analysis by the shareholding Departments. At this juncture, there has been no formal request for Ministerial consent in respect of this project.
69. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work carried out to date by the pricing watchdog monitoring unit in relation to waste management; the composition of this unit; the frequency with which it has met since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41707/17]
View answerA Household Waste Collection Rate Monitoring Group has been established and the first meeting of the Group was held on 13 September, 2017 and attended by representatives from my Department, the Central Statistics Office, St. Vincent de Paul and a market expertise company. The company has also been appointed to begin the process of monitoring the rates charged by household waste collectors. They will report back to the Group on a monthly basis and the results will be published. The results will be monitored and analysed, and they will provide an evidence base regarding future monitoring or additional regulation of the waste market.
In the interest of encouraging further waste prevention, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection will be phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. It is worth noting that the measure to phase out flat fees is not "new" for about half of kerbside household waste customers, who are already on an incentivised usage pricing plan, i.e., a plan which contains a per lift or weight-related fee.
To assist householders in managing their waste, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices commenced a programme of education and awareness funded by my Department earlier this year with radio advertisements encouraging the use of brown bin and focusing on food waste prevention. This was backed up with social media campaigns to further encourage the use of the brown bin. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices will continue to roll out waste awareness and education initiatives this year, re-focussing on the use of the brown bin, but also concentrating on improving and increasing recycling, waste prevention and the correct use of the kerbside collection system. My Department is also undertaking an awareness campaign to inform people about the phase out of flat rate fees, which began during the summer and will continue this year.
70. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the interactions his Department has had with other Government Departments to encourage the growth of indigenous biomass further to the recent launch of Bioenergy Ireland. [41836/17]
View answerAs the Deputy has indicated, there are a wide range of Government departments, agencies and State bodies that are critical enablers for biomass development by virtue of their responsibility for areas such as energy, forestry, agriculture, waste, research funding and business development. The interdepartmental Bioenergy Steering Group, chaired by my Department, is in the process of finalising a Bioenergy Plan for public consultation. This group includes representation from eight Government departments and a number of State agencies. It met most recently on 3 October.
The Bioenergy Plan will highlight the range of supply-side and demand-side measures that are needed to release the potential of the domestic biomass sector in Ireland. I expect it will be published for public consultation in the coming months.
One of the key measures in the Bioenergy Plan is the proposed Renewable Heat Incentive. This scheme is a demand side measure with the principal objective of contributing to meeting our national renewable energy targets. In addition, the scheme provides a key opportunity for the domestic biomass sector. The Renewable Heat Incentive will be designed to incentivise commercial opportunities for renewable heat technologies including biomass boiler installations and it is expected that, arising from this, new opportunities will open up for biomass feedstock producers.
71. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the programme for Government commitment on broadband. [32477/17]
View answer80. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan. [41903/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 80 together.
I have given a detailed outline on the current status of the procurement process in my responses to the priority questions on today's order paper. The Deputies will be aware that this procurement process will select a bidder, or bidders, who will roll-out a new high-speed broadband network to remote and rural areas not served by commercial operators. The successful bidder, or bidders, will build, maintain and operate this State intervention network for the next 25 years.
Last Tuesday, 26 September 2017 was the closing date for bidders to submit their, "Detailed Solutions", in the procurement process and I can confirm that my Department received submissions from two bidders. These bidders were Eircom Limited and the Granahan McCourt, enet, SSE, John Laing Group plc consortium. This is a significant and positive milestone in the process and the path to a digitally equal Ireland. The submissions received means that we are at the final stages of this procurement process.
My Department's specialist NBP team will now evaluate these two submissions over the coming weeks, with the expectation that very early in 2018 bidders will be invited to submit final tenders.
I am confident that the combination of existing commercial investment and the State intervention will make Ireland an exemplar in Europe and beyond, in terms of providing high-speed services to all citizens regardless of where they live or work.
72. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagement he has held with his counterpart in the United Kingdom since June 2017 on the issue of cross-Border co-operation to ensure all island broadband capability. [41964/17]
View answerThere have been no meetings between officials from my Department and our Northern Ireland counterparts in relation to an all island broadband network. Achieving universal access to high speed broadband is a key target under the EU Digital Agenda for Europe which requires, inter alia, all Members States to publish National Broadband Plans to facilitate the achievement of high speed broadband access of at least 30Mbps to all citizens. The link to the Study on National Broadband Plans in the 28 EU-Member States is available at: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/broadband-member-states.
The Irish Government committed to facilitating investment with policy and regulatory support and to funding a State intervention to provide high-speed broadband to all premises in the State.
The 2012 National Broadband Plan, NBP, published in August 2012 outlined the Government’s commitment to deliver high-speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland, regardless of location. Delivery of High Speed Broadband is a specific priority under the Programme for Government and reflects European objectives.
Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators providing services over a telecommunications network. The State is not a service provider and can only intervene, subject to EU competition rules, to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market has failed to deliver such services.
73. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if future funding proposals for RTÉ or other networks will contain gender equality pay guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41841/17]
View answerRTÉ is established under the Broadcasting Act 2009 as the national public service broadcaster. Section 114 (1) of the Act states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and section 98 provides that it shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in RTÉ’s day-to-day operations.
74. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions his Department will be taking concerning breaches in view of the decision of the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee recommendations concerning environmental impact assessment on the Hinkley Point nuclear reactors in Britain. [41834/17]
View answerI refer the reply to Question No. 1468 of 11 September 2017 on the issue of the Aarhus Convention.
In relation to the development of the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power plant, I can advise the Deputy that my Department has taken a keen interest in the project since it was initially proposed. It formed part of a study by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, now merged with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, of all proposed new nuclear build projects in the United Kingdom. The study was published in 2013.
Ireland enjoys a close working relationship with the United Kingdom on radiological matters of mutual interest. This relationship is formalised through a UK-Ireland Contact Group which meets biannually. The UK's new nuclear build programme, including Hinkley Point C, is a standing agenda item at these meetings.
Senior officials from my Department and the EPA have been invited to visit the site to learn more about the project. This visit will take place shortly.
Ireland’s established position is that, while not a nuclear energy producing country, we acknowledge the right of states to determine their own energy mix. However, we expect that, where a state chooses to develop a nuclear power industry, this will be done in line with the highest international standards with respect to safety and environmental protection.
76. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he is taking to support the roll out of rapid charge points for electric vehicles. [41904/17]
View answerThe ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out an extensive public network of charging points across Ireland. With approximately 900 electric vehicle charge points, for a country of our size, we have one of the more comprehensive charge point networks in Europe. As battery technology develops, the range of electric cars will grow and higher capacity charging will be needed to support quicker charge times and longer travelling ranges.
The provision of electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly the installation of public charging points, is a key focus of the work of the Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce. The Taskforce is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is examining options for infrastructure, regulation and pricing in order to devise a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle recharging. The work of the Taskforce is well underway with a stakeholder engagement event in July helping inform proposals in relation to Budget 2018.
Large car manufacturers are also expected to become involved in the provision of high-powered infrastructure. A number of providers are likely to emerge onto the Irish market in the coming years. Through its dealer network Nissan already has a number of charge points available through its dealer network and Tesla has recently opened its first supercharger location in Ireland.
77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the withdrawal of a company (details supplied) from the national broadband competition will result in higher costs to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41839/17]
View answerAs I have already indicated to the House, last week my Department received, "Detailed Solutions", from two bidders as part of the ongoing procurement process to select a bidder, or bidders, who will roll-out a new high-speed broadband network for those areas that will not be served by commercial operators acting alone. These bidders were Eircom Limited and the Granahan McCourt, enet, SSE, John Laing Group plc consortium. This is a significant and positive milestone in the process and the path to a digitally equal Ireland. The submissions received means that we are at the final stages of this procurement process. My Department's specialist NBP team are now evaluating these two submissions over the coming weeks, with the expectation that very early in 2018, bidders will be invited to submit final tenders. As the level of State subsidy required for the National Broadband Plan will be determined through the competitive tender process, it would be premature and not in the public interest, to discuss costs while that procurement process is still in train. The process remains competitive.
As the House is aware, SIRO formally withdrew from the procurement process last week. SIRO remain strongly supportive of the National Broadband Plan and will focus on its investment of €450 million to provide fibre broadband to 500,000 premises across 51 towns.
The facts are that the National Broadband Plan has been a catalyst in driving commercial operators in their deployment of high speed broadband to the extent that today almost seven out of ten premises now have access to high-speed broadband. This figure will rise to nearly eight out of ten premises by 2018 and nine out of ten by 2020. In the last six months, there has been a 150% increase in the number of pure fibre connections.
I am confident that the combination of existing commercial investment and the State intervention will make Ireland an exemplar in Europe and beyond, in terms of providing high speed services to all citizens regardless of where they live or work.
78. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Ireland's position in relation to meeting its 2020 carbon emission targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41881/17]
View answerThe 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. This will be Ireland’s contribution to the overall EU objective to reduce its emissions by the order of 20% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. Ireland’s target is jointly the most demanding 2020 reduction target allocated to EU Member States under this Decision, which is shared only with Denmark and Luxembourg.
The latest projections of greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that emissions from those sectors of the economy covered by Ireland's 2020 targets could be between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels by 2020. The projected shortfall to our targets in 2020 reflects both the constrained investment capacity over the past decade due to the economic crisis, and the extremely challenging nature of the target itself. In fact, it is now accepted that Ireland’s 2020 target was not consistent with what would be achievable on an EU-wide, cost-effective basis.
Notwithstanding this projected shortfall, Ireland's first statutory National Mitigation Plan, which I published in July of this year, provides a framework to guide investment decisions by Government in domestic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan sets out what Ireland is currently doing, and is planning to do, to further the national transition objective as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015. Although this first plan will not provide a complete roadmap to achieve the national transition objective to 2050, it begins the process of development of medium- to long-term options to ensure that we are well-positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades.
The legislative framework governing the EU’s 2020 emissions reductions targets includes a number of flexibility mechanisms to enable Member States to meet their annual emissions targets, including provisions to bank any excess allowances to future years and to trade allowances between Member States. Using our banked emissions from the period to 2015, Ireland is projected to comply with its emission reduction targets in each of the years 2013 to 2018. However, our cumulative emissions are expected to exceed targets for 2019 and 2020, which will result in a requirement to purchase additional allowances. While this purchasing requirement is not, at this stage, expected to be significant, further analysis will be required to quantify the likely costs involved, in light of the final amount and price of allowances required.
82. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason areas of the national broadband map are blue in areas of the country that denote rivers and forests indicating they are supported by companies yet the houses next to the blue areas are amber and are not supported by broadband such as in Cloyne, County Cork. [41962/17]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that all premises, regardless of location, are targeted to receive broadband under the National Broadband Plan. The high-speed broadband Map, which can be accessed on my Department's at www.broadband.gov.ie, shows all premises to be covered under the Plan, which include State Intervention and commercial investment.
The Map is colour-coded Amber for areas to be covered by the State roll-out and Blue for areas where commercial operators are delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. Light Blue areas on the Map include homes and businesses to be served under eir's rural planned deployment broadband to 300,000 premises by the end of 2018. By necessity, the map will include the geographical spread of Ireland - townlands, rivers, lakes, etc. The townland of Townparks, (ed Cloyne) comprise a mix of premises to be covered by either commercial or State-led intervention and are colour-coded accordingly.
83. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will refrain from issuing future licences for oil or gas exploration in view of the State's commitments under the Paris treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41837/17]
View answerThe Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November 2016, aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Agreement is designed to meet this objective through Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs, submitted by all parties to the agreement. In this regard, the European Union submitted an NDC committing to a reduction of at least 40% in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, which will be met through reductions of 43% in the Emission Trading System, ETS, and 30% in the non-ETS sector compared with 2005 levels.
Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement via the NDC tabled by the EU on behalf of its Member States. The specific details of Ireland's contribution are currently being negotiated between the EU and its Member States.
The Energy White Paper, “Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030”, sets out a vision and framework to guide Irish energy policy and the actions that Government intends to take in the energy sector from now up to 2030, aimed at transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low-carbon system by 2050. This ambitious vision for Ireland’s energy system envisages a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from that sector by 80-95% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. The White Paper identifies the long-term strategic importance of diversifying Ireland's energy generation portfolio and largely decarbonising the energy sector by 2050.
Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon energy future will involve progressively moving to lower emissions fuels, e.g. moving initially from peat and coal to natural gas, and ultimately toward an even greater reliance on renewable energy. In that regard, the Government has introduced a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of renewable energy and deliver energy efficiency. In 2015, over 25% of Ireland’s electricity was generated from renewable energy sources.
The White Paper also recognises that oil and natural gas will remain significant elements of Ireland’s energy supply in that transition period.
Ireland sources all its oil needs from abroad. In addition, Ireland currently sources its gas supply from the Kinsale gasfields, the Corrib gasfield and the gas pipeline from Moffat in Scotland. Corrib and Kinsale are not in a position to meet all of Ireland’s annual gas demand and so Ireland will continue to rely on gas via Great Britain for the foreseeable future. The Kinsale fields are expected to cease production by 2021 while Corrib production is projected to decrease to 50% of its initial levels by 2025.
Taking this into account, successful exploration in Ireland’s Offshore has the potential to deliver benefits to Irish society and the economy, particularly in terms of enhanced security of supply and reduced fossil fuel imports, as we transition to a low-carbon future.
84. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his plans for Seanad reform. [41721/17]
View answerIn the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government stated its commitment to pursuing the implementation of the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform (the Manning Report).
That report was published in 2015, and it is available on my Department's website.
One of the recommendations of the report was the establishment of an Implementation Group to oversee implementation of the reforms contained in the report.
As my predecessor previously said in the House, he agreed with a suggestion made here some time ago by Deputy Martin that this Group should be based in the Oireachtas and should comprise members of the Dáil and Seanad from all parties and groups, with access to independent expert advice as required. He wrote to Party Leaders in September last year seeking their agreement to this approach and their intention to participate. Contacts are continuing with parties to finalise nominations with a view to having the Group up and running as soon as possible.
