I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to address the House on the Second Stage of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023. As Deputies are aware, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 led to exceptionally high energy prices. The wholesale price of natural gas increased significantly from a long-term average of circa 50 pence per therm to over ten times this level in August 2022. The price level has since reduced and is now appr…

The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has asked me to answer his questions relating to the OPW this evening. In response to the Deputy’s question and previous questions with respect to the status of the Coirib go Cósta project, I am happy to provide an update. As the Deputy is aware, major flood relief schemes involve complex engineering and construction operations that can impact on people's living, built and natural environment and therefore require lengthy planning and decision lead-in times. The process foll…

In response to Deputy Connolly regarding dates, the only date I have available is that the scoping of the revised works should be agreed in the third quarter of 2023 between Galway City Council, the OPW and the scheme consultants. I am happy to take any additional questions that she wants to refer to me or to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. Deputy Conway-Walsh asked whether the Crossmolina flood relief scheme is waiting to be signed off in the Department. I will have to check on the status of that scheme. …

I am advised that the project is delayed due to the review and update of the design flow and water level data. This review, since the completion of the western CFRAM study, resulted in several years of additional flow and water level recordings being used. Together with detailed wave overtopping analysis, this has resulted in a potentially significant increase in flood risk to several areas of Galway city. In other words, the scope of the original project was not sufficiently broad and the environment changed in th…

Tógfaidh mé an cheist seo ar son an Aire Stáit, an Teachta O'Donovan. The Office of Public Works is committed to protecting, promoting and enhancing biodiversity across its operations. The OPW biodiversity action strategy 2022-26 identifies strategic actions to help deliver Government policy. As part of that strategy, the knowledge, creativity, commitment and innovation of OPW staff will be utilised to enhance the organisation's contribution to biodiversity. The OPW cares for 780 national monuments and buildings an…

Under action 1.1, the OPW is currently in the process of recruiting an OPW biodiversity manager at assistant principal level. Interviews for this post are due to take place in early July and once appointed, the biodiversity manager role will be supported by a team of two ecologists and a clerical officer. The ecologists will be recruited following the appointment of the biodiversity manager and the clerical officer has been requested from the Public Appointments Service. With regard to gap analysis and the availabi…

Deputy Ó Cathasaigh refers to two recommendations from the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. Nos. 100 and 101 relate to the revision of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945 and consideration of schemes such as room for the river. The OPW has been co-operating with its Dutch counterparts and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, has spoken enthusiastically about the work it has done there. I will have to refer the question on hydromorphology to the Minister of State's office for a reply. Similarly, Deputy Conway…

I thank the Deputy. My Department has made significant progress on incorporating environmental, economic and social considerations into public procurement which must be undertaken in accordance with the EU directives. In 2018, the OGP within my Department published an information note entitled Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement. The OGP subsequently issued Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. This instructed Departments to con…

Specifically, the programme for Government includes a target of updating all procurement frameworks for green procurement within the first three years of Government, so in other words within this week. The Deputy is absolutely right. I believe we are on target to meet that. Throughout that time I have convened a committee that covers not just our central procurement arrangements that come from the OGP, but also those that come from the Department of Defence, the Department of Education, the Department with responsi…

I agree it is unfortunate if we produce guidelines that do not produce the correct outcomes. However, the OGP's function and powers are not to direct Departments in how to do things. It provides the information and the guidance, but the decision that something must be done in a Department is one taken by Government. If the Government wants to direct that every Department must buy electric vehicles from now on that decision must come from Cabinet, and that particular decision has done. Many of those decisions are ap…

I thank the Chair, Senator Davitt and those in the Gallery. During the pandemic, there was an acceleration in the pace of digitisation in Ireland. Because people could not travel around and many facilities, businesses and Government facilities were shut down, they were forced to go online. As people were worried about becoming infected, they were doing things like visiting their doctors online. Many facilities that were not previously available were opened up to be accessed online and, therefore, the pace of digiti…

Senator Seery Kearney asked the question "Who owns your image?" It is a good question. The Senator will remember that this Government passed a law some years ago in respect of intimate images. This legislation had previously been introduced by Deputy Brendan Howlin. It is an important law and I believe it was generally widely welcomed. It prevents people from using intimate images to influence or to attack their former girlfriend or boyfriend, which was generally what was going on there. The Senator has asked a bro…

I thank the Acting Chair and Senators and welcome the visitors in the Gallery. On behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, I welcome this opportunity to seek the support of Senators for these long-term Government commitments on the development of offshore renewable energy in this State. With a sea area that is seven times its landmass, the realisation of Ireland's offshore renewable energy potential can have a transformational impact on the future of this State. It is the intention of…

I thank the Senators for their input. I will address the points that were made in the order I heard them. I will start with Senator Garvey, who pointed out that Moneypoint is facing a future transformation. Moneypoint has huge grid connection and is clearly an ideal location for future renewable energy development and hydrogen development. It will be a location for innovation, investment and employment in Clare. It will transform from being a place where coal was burned to a place for clean energy. I am sure Senato…

I thank the Deputies. I first want to welcome members of the Naval Service, who are in the Public Gallery. All of us who are here, as well as all Irish people, owe them a debt of gratitude for their service. It is a difficult job to go to sea. It is strenuous, arduous and tiring and they are confined, and yet it is vitally important for a nation like ours. This debate is about our maritime economy, our future maritime economy, our clean renewable energy resources that will be in the sea, and the ships that go out a…

I thank Senators. The students from Kells, County Meath, are very welcome. I thank Senator Sherlock for raising this important issue and for the timely opportunity to give an update on the Government’s supports for home retrofit. In order to hit our climate targets, we will need to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a BER B2 cost optimal or carbon equivalent and install 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes to replace older and less efficient heating systems by the end of 2030. Older homes, that is, general…

The Senator is correct to raise this matter. How will we upgrade stone or thatched cottages, particularly when lived in by people who are in energy poverty, cannot afford to move home and need the upgrades more than anyone else? She mentioned how difficult it was to reach the B2 standard, but it is possible to get grants that do not require people to do so. For example, it is possible to get a grant for attic insulation or solar panels. The grant for attic insulation is at 80%. There are a range of reasons to go fo…

I thank the Senator Currie for this matter. I am answering on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan. He cannot be here today. The Phoenix Park is an historic landscape of international importance. It is one of the largest designed landscapes in any European city. The park extends to 1,752 acres and represents a unique natural and cultural landsca…

It is difficult to install toilets in the Phoenix Park, not just because one needs wastewater facilities, but also because one needs freshwater facilities. I take Senator Currie's point on the requirement for composting, or the possibility of using composting toilets, and I will bring that to the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan. Senator Currie can tell me if she thinks there is a way one can run a toilet without fresh water, through rainwater harvesting or through drilling a well. What would her suggestion be?

Okay. I will bring that to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and also the Senator's question about the draft parking strategy consultation, which includes a question on a proposal which has already been ruled out, which is the large expansion of the Lord's Walk car parking area to over 1,000 spaces. This is an item which has been previously ruled out as a possibility.