Parliamentary questions

Energy Production

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

116. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with the ESB on opening up grid access to more households and businesses with microgeneration capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10859/24]

North-South Interconnector

Matt Carthy

117. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on his engagements with Eirgrid at which he has raised the North-South Interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10436/24]

Just Transition

Robert Troy

118. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications how he is supporting the Just Transition process; the funding being allocated for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11124/24]

North-South Interconnector

Matt Carthy

119. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the meetings he has had and the briefings he has received in respect of the North South Interconnector; and if he has had any meetings in this regard with local communities or landowners that are directly affected by this project. [11120/24]

Recycling Policy

Aindrias Moynihan

120. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to contact all local authorities to ensure their involvement in installing reverse vending machines at civic amenity sites or equivalent sites nationally in the next planned phase of the deposit return scheme development and roll out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11112/24]

Energy Production

Richard Bruton

121. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the prospective generation capacity needs under each category of generation and storage over the next two years to achieve 2025 targets; if he has identified the critical barriers to be overcome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11128/24]

Recycling Policy

Ruairí Ó Murchú

122. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the first month of the operation of the deposit return scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11189/24]

Energy Production

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

123. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has had discussions with the ESB on the rollout of three-phase smart metres for wind turbines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10860/24]

Energy Prices

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

124. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to address the challenges that rural communities are facing in relation to increased costs with household energy and fuel. [10553/24]

Energy Conservation

Alan Dillon

125. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans that are in place to reduce waiting times for the SEAI's warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11142/24]

Constitutional Amendments

Paul Murphy

126. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he supports holding a referendum on the rights of the nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11042/24]

Energy Policy

Michael Moynihan

127. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department is investigating the use of new technology which has been developed for energy storage capacity on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10858/24]

Energy Production

James O'Connor

128. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if farms producing wind-powered microgeneration can sell on to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11115/24]

Nuclear Waste

Ruairí Ó Murchú

129. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if any efforts are being made to commission an independent or third-party assessment of Sellafield’s operations as a response to media reports, in order to avoid bias or investigative limitations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11113/24]

Foreign Conflicts

Bernard Durkan

130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to indicate whether against the background of numerous wars, invasions, aggressions, in the course of any recent discussions he has had with other prime ministers/heads of state at European or the wider level, the possibility was explored as to how these situations might be diffused in the early stages rather than ongoing possibilities for warfare. [4297/24]

Good Friday Agreement

Bernard Durkan

131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which ongoing discussions with the parties in Northern Ireland are afoot, with particular reference to the need to ensure the ongoing workability of the Good Friday Agreement. [7790/24]

United Nations

Brendan Howlin

132. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will set out his views on the escalating security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo; the reason for the withdrawal after a 25-year presence of UN Peacekeepers, MONUSCO, from the DRC; if adequate protection will remain in place for the civilian population of the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11214/24]

Media Pluralism

Brendan Howlin

133. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the campaign by more than 50 journalists calling on Israel and Egypt to provide free and unfettered access to Gaza for all foreign media; the steps he will take to achieve this important objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11216/24]

Foreign Policy

Brendan Howlin

134. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to set out the actions he has taken to protest to Russia on foot of the death in custody of Alexei Navalny; if he believes that the number of persons accredited to the Russian Embassy in Dublin are appropriate for a country of Ireland's size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11217/24]

Departmental Projects

Frankie Feighan

135. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when funding applications under the global Irish festival series will be made available to local authorities and other relevant bodies (details supplied). [11242/24]

International Bodies

Paul Murphy

136. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support that an allegation made by a person (details supplied), the Attorney-General of the Irish State, in his presentation to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, is withdrawn or a statement of correction issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11252/24]

North-South Implementation Bodies

Ruairí Ó Murchú

137. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline his recent engagement with the British government in relation to the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive. [5277/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which positive steps continue to be taken to influence the future of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11507/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the international community continues to monitor the activities of Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab with reference to the areas they continue to be most active; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11508/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland’s overseas aid continues to respond to the needs of the most serious situations globally whether by bilateral or multilateral provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11509/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which ongoing efforts continue to establish a peace process in the Middle East, with particular reference to the need for a legally recognised centre to investigate complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11510/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Irish trade missions abroad continue to make successful conclusion in respect of the promotion of Irish exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11511/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the European Union continues to address threats to the rule of law in all European member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11512/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Ireland, directly or through the aegis of the EU or UN, can promote the prosecution of those engaged in war crimes with a view to referral to the European criminal courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11513/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which Ireland encourages a greater more rapid response to emerging global emergencies arising from starvation, crop failure, war, ethnic cleansing arising from deliberations at the United Nations Security Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11514/24]

Foreign Policy

Bernard Durkan

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which Irish aid goes directly to those for whom it was intended in a smooth and seamless transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11515/24]

Energy Conservation

Denis Naughten

147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address curtailment of renewable energy on the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10137/24]

Energy Policy

Patrick Costello

148. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the eligibility rules will be published for the home energy upgrade loan scheme, and the expected timeline from submitting the application to drawing down the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11196/24]

Recycling Policy

Alan Dillon

149. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will review the terms of the DRS given its effects on small and medium businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5731/24]

Building Energy Rating

Alan Dillon

150. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when a person will receive an appointment for a BER assessment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11267/24]

Waterways Issues

Seán Sherlock

151. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will address a matter regarding the remediation of the weir in Fermoy (details supplied). [11451/24]

Waste Management

Robert Troy

152. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if private waste providers are permitted to charge a lifting fee for picking up compost bins from householders and his views that such a fee is justifiable in trying to encourage households to dispose of waste in the correct manner. [11452/24]

Environmental Policy

Bernard Durkan

153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which he has studied the basis on which other EU countries and non-EU countries propose to meet their carbon reduction targets while minimising the impact on industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11494/24]

Environmental Policy

Bernard Durkan

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which his Department continues to evaluate the potential negative impact of meeting carbon reduction targets; the degree to which amelioration measures can be utilised to assist in meeting such targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11495/24]

Departmental Projects

Bernard Durkan

155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which projects that fall within the aegis of his Department and are within the revised National Development Plan are at an advanced stage at present or are in course thereof; the extent to which preliminary work has taken place or on-site works are in hand or proposed; the expected delivery date of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11496/24]

Environmental Policy

Bernard Durkan

156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which progress is being made towards achieving climate action targets as set out; the degree to which efforts continue to be made to encourage full participation in achieving such targets while at the same time ensuring the continuation of the agrifood sector which in the past has proven to be the main stay of the economy; if efforts continue to be made to ensure that hedgerows, boglands and Ireland’s existing natural sequesters of carbons are fully included in climate change alleviation calculations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11497/24]

Renewable Energy Generation

Bernard Durkan

157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the percentage of Ireland’s electricity produced from renewable sources; if this is in line with expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11498/24]

Telecommunications Services

Bernard Durkan

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the quality of mobile telephone services can be improved nationwide in both urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11499/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the provision of broadband throughout the country can attain the speed necessary to meet the added requirements of the country’s population, with particular reference to changes to working habits post-Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11500/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the provision of broadband is progressing, and in such a way as to enhance the competitiveness of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11501/24]

Environmental Policy

Bernard Durkan

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the main areas of environmental protection requirements deemed at present to be urgent; the action to date in hand or proposed to deal with any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11502/24]

Electricity Generation

Bernard Durkan

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent of the shift away from fossil fuels for the generation of electricity; if this is in line with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11503/24]

Broadband Infrastructure

Bernard Durkan

163. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of broadband connection points installed in County Kildare to date in 2024; the number of points expected to be installed over the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11504/24]

Electricity Grid

Bernard Durkan

164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the extent to which the national grid currently relies and draws on renewable energy as a percentage of total requirement; if he has in mind specific proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11505/24]

Defence Forces

Patrick Costello

165. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of individuals in the last five years who have purchased their way out of the Defence Forces, in tabular form; the cost of this by individual, presented in bands of €5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/24]