Written Answers Nos. 101-120
101. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if alternative documentation will be accepted in place of documentation currently requested in relation to a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41288/24]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.
102. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding a passport application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41324/24]
View answerWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.
103. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps taken to ensure that an Irish resident (details supplied) can come home to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41358/24]
View answer104. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the engagement he has had to ensure the safe return to Ireland of an Irish resident (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41359/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together.
My Department and I take every opportunity to raise this case with Iraqi officials. We consider this person to be the innocent victim of a dispute between other parties. Most recently I discussed this issue in September in a phone call with the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and expressed to him our concerns about the case and the health of the person concerned. I will follow up that discussion with him shortly. I also met with the subject's spouse earlier this year, to receive an update on his welfare and developments in his case. Officials in my Department remain in close contact with her also.
The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have consular responsibility for this case as the person is an Australian citizen. We remain in contact with Australian officials both in Dublin and in Baghdad in relation to the case. We remain in support of the Australian consular efforts to secure his release as they are the responsible consular power. The Irish Ambassador in Amman travelled to Baghdad in September and met with the Australian Ambassador, and with Iraqi officials including the Chief of the Judiciary, to convey our concerns about the case.
105. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 48 of 11 June 2024, to provide an indicative date for when an application for foreign birth registration submitted in February 2024 (details supplied) will be processed and the applicant notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41481/24]
View answerMy Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation.
Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate.
FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents. Applications that require further supporting documents will take longer to process.
With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents were received for the application on 14 February 2024. A member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant directly should any clarification be required.
The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal with Foreign Birth Registration application queries. The contact number for urgent Foreign Birth Registration queries is +353 1 568 3331. This number is also available on the Department's website.
106. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the international events and engagements he has attended at which members of the media were also in attendance as part of the Government delegation, since the formation of the Government; the media organisation they represented; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41602/24]
View answerSince my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs on 17 December 2022, I regularly travel overseas representing the Government at a range of bilateral and multilateral meetings and events.
Accredited members of the media who also travel to these events are not part of the Government Delegation, which is comprised of Departmental officials, advisers and myself only.
In some instances, media will choose to travel to attend aspects of my programmes overseas, to report on the event in question or to conduct interviews or obtain comments on the margins of events.
Travel and hotel costs associated with media organisations choosing to cover visits and events of this nature, including commercial flight and accommodation costs, are not covered by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
In rare instances where commercial flights are not available for either the delegation or the media – due to, for example, the security situation in a specific region at a particular time - travelling media are, on occasion, accommodated on the delegation aircraft where space allows. Media organisations availing of flight seats in these rare instances are not asked to contribute towards the costs involved.
In cases where media organisations are travelling to attend events I will also be attending overseas - such as UN High Level Week in New York last month or my recent visit to Kenya and Ethiopia in July – my Department can and does offer logistical support, including advice on visa and accreditation issues where these arise.
107. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs when a passport will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing said passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41640/24]
View answerIf an adult or child’s expired passport was issued more than 15 years ago the applicant will need to apply for their next passport as a first time applicant.
All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Section 8 of the Act provides for the processing of personal data by the Passport Service as required for the issuance of passports and the maintenance of the integrity of the Passport Service system.
In order to comply with its obligations under data protection legislation, the Department will hold data which has been collected for the purposes of processing an application only as long as there is a business need to do so in line with the purposes for which it was collected.
In the case of passport issuance, the data will be held by the Passport Service for 15 years after the date of issuance, as stated in the Passport Service's Data Privacy Notice. After this time the data will be marked for destruction and will be destroyed in line with internal guidelines or guidelines for destruction received from the National Archives. A minimum amount of personal data is held beyond this period for the purpose of fraud prevention in order to maintain the integrity of the Passport Service system.
Under Section 7 of the Passports Act, the Passport Service may require the applicant to produce such documents as are considered necessary for the purposes of issuing a passport. In the case of applicants who are applying after more than 15 years since the issuance of their last passport, it is also possible that documentary requirements may have changed since the issuance of their last passport.
With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the passport has now been issued and the applicant has been contacted.
108. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to detail the consequences of non-compliances with conditions of foreshore licences; how adherence to conditions is monitored and enforced; to provide details of the number of non-compliances, with regard to foreshore licences for offshore wind development survey work, notified in recent years; to detail any actual investigations of or penalties applied to breach of foreshore licence requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41010/24]
View answerThe Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) was formally established on the 17th July 2023. On that date, as set out under Section 43 of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, as amended, MARA assumed full administrative responsibility for all consented foreshore authorisations granted under the Foreshore Act and the management of the foreshore estate, including associated compliance, enforcement, and investigation functions. MARA functions include,
• Assessing Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications for the maritime area.
• Granting marine licencing for specified activities.
• Compliance and enforcement of MACs and licences.
• Investigations and prosecutions.
• Administration of the existing Foreshore consent portfolio.
• Fostering & promoting co-operation between regulators of the maritime area.
MARA is an independent corporate entity with responsibility under law for the performance of its functions, including monitoring and enforcement, and the discharge of its governance and other responsibilities. Arrangements have been put in place by MARA to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. I refer you directly to MARA and to the email provided for Oireachtas queries: oireachtas@mara.gov.ie.
109. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are any proposals by the Government to bring in a scheme to help farmers pay for the cost of disposing of tires properly (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41302/24]
View answerIreland introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for tyres in 2017 which is operated by Circol ELT. Producers of tyres are financially responsible for the full life cycle of their products. The EPR Scheme manages tyres of passenger cars, 4x4s, van and motorcycle tyres to find sustainable solutions for managing waste tyres. Currently agricultural, truck/bus, construction and industrial tyres do not incur an Environmental Management Cost (EMC) and the compliance scheme is not responsible for arranging the end-of-life management of these tyres.
Under the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy, from early 2025, an EMC will be extended to agricultural, truck/bus, construction and industrial tyres. It is proposed that the extension of the EPR scheme will commence by the end of Quarter 1, 2025. A public consultation regarding the extension is currently live and can be accessed here www.gov.ie/en/consultation/89c10-consultation-on-extension-of-extended-producer-responsibility-scheme-for-tyres-under-the-waste-management-tyres-and-waste-tyres-regulations-2017/.
As part of the preparation for this extension, Circol ELT intends to arrange for a collection of tyres lawfully held on farms, early in 2025.
110. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the Celtic Interconnector project; the estimated timeline for completion; the amount of State funding to date towards the project; and the remaining Exchequer funding both current and capital committed over the remainder of this decade. [40923/24]
View answerThe Celtic Interconnector is a 700 MW electricity interconnector between Brittany and East Cork, developed by EirGrid and its French counterpart, Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTÉ). This project will reinstate direct connectivity to the Internal Energy Market following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
The project is on track for completion in 2027. The 2024 survey campaign for the project has been successfully completed. The installation of the HVDC cable commenced in the second quarter of 2024, while the HVAC cable route installation is projected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2024.
The offshore marine installation and submarine cable protection works are scheduled to begin in 2025, with completion anticipated in 2026. The commissioning phase for the interconnector is planned for 2026, with energization aimed for late 2026 and the trial operation period expected to conclude by the end of March 2027.
The cost of the project is shared between EirGrid and RTÉ in accordance with the Cost Benefit Cost Allocation determination. The costs are financed rather than directly funded by the State, with costs to be recovered from the operation of the Interconnector. Further detail on this regulatory framework, that aims align the interests of electricity customers and EirGrid while enabling EirGrid to progress and finance this project, is available on the website of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities[1].
The project achieved Project of Common Interest Status and was successful in securing €530 million in capital funding under the Connecting Europe Facility significantly mitigating financing requirements.
[1]cruie-live-96ca64acab2247eca8a850a7e54b-5b34f62.divio-media.com/documents/CRU202213-Celtic-Electricity-Interconnector-EirGrid-Regulatory-Framework-Request-decis.pdf.
111. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide an update on the upgrading of the national grid, including the transmission of offshore energy into the national grid; the estimated timeline for completion; the State funding both current and capital to date towards this project; and the Exchequer funding committed over the remainder of this decade. [40924/24]
View answerResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas and not me as Minister. The CRU was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation.
The CRU is responsible for, inter alia, the economic regulation of the electricity system operators ESB Networks, distribution, and Eirgrid, transmission. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU. System operator spending is agreed with the CRU in five year cycles, referred to as Price Reviews. The current price review (Price Review 5) is in effect until the end of 2025 and saw the CRU sanction a €4 billion capital investment in the Grid over the period 2021-2025.
Work has commenced on Price Review 6 which will see the CRU sanction the investment in the grid for 2026 to 2030. While a decision is not expected until Q3 2025, the CRU recently published their strategy paper which sought to inform and sought comments from the public on their approach to deciding the funding for the period.
In July 2023 EirGrid published Shaping our Electricity Future 1.1, an update to their roadmap for the development of the transmission grid out to 2030 to deliver on the renewable energy targets, to include the integration of offshore wind into the electricity grid. In January 2023, ESB Networks launched its networks for Net Zero Strategy which outlines its commitment to futureproofing Ireland’s electricity network and making the country’s goal of net zero by 2050 a reality.
Eirgrid and ESB Networks are independent of the Minister in the exercise of their functions as System Operators. The matters raised in this question are operational matters for both Eirgrid and ESB Networks, in the first instance, and the CRU and therefore not a matter in which I have function. The CRU, ESB Networks and EirGrid have respective contact email address for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern or seek updates on developments to the national electricity grid.
112. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline the targets set out for increasing onshore wind, solar PV and offshore wind energy generation in GW by 2030; the estimated annual cost to Exchequer required to meet these targets, in tabular form. [40925/24]
View answerA renewables-led system is one of the core foundations of Ireland’s plan to radically reduce emissions in the electricity sector, protect our energy security, and ensure our economic competitiveness.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP 23), reaffirmed by CAP 24, sets Ireland an ambitious target of 80% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030, to be met through 9 GW of onshore wind, 8 GW of solar, and at least 5 GW of offshore wind. This will require unprecedented levels of investment in renewable electricity generation development and in the infrastructure required to expand and strengthen our electricity grid.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland's flagship support scheme for grid-scale renewable electricity generators and a key measure in supporting our ambitious renewable electricity targets. The renewable electricity projects, developed under the RESS (or through private power purchase agreements) are not directly funded by the Exchequer; rather they are financed by developers and supported by the Public Service Obligation (PSO).
The PSO is calculated by the CRU on an annual basis and may be a levy or benefit on every final electricity customer's bill depending on the level of the wholesale electricity price. When fossil fuel prices are higher than renewable prices, the PSO can go to zero/negative – meaning that consumers can benefit from a payback, which they have in recent years. When fossil fuel prices are lower, the PSO is a charge to consumers through the PSO Levy.
The CRU has calculated that a PSO Levy of €251 million is required for the ‘2024/2025 PSO Year’. Onshore wind and solar projects in the RESS will be paying out over €52 million to Irish households and businesses over 2024/2025 – helping to offset the PSO levy rise.
The Climate Action Plan 2024 provides that an estimated investment of €23 billion in wind and solar energy is required as well as significant investment in the electricity network and other supporting infrastructure.
The electricity system operators, ESB Networks and EirGrid, are responsible for the building, maintenance, and safe operation of the electricity system. This is funded through network charges on all final electricity customer's bills. The CRU oversees and agrees these charges in five-year cycles, known as price reviews. The current price review, Price Review 5, is in effect until the end of 2025 and saw the CRU sanction a €4 billion capital investment in the grid over the 2021-25 period. Work has commenced on Price Review 6 (2026-30), with the CRU recently publishing a strategy paper on PR6, seeking comments from the public on their approach to deciding the funding for this period.
113. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline long-term battery storage capacity currently in Ireland; and to outline any State funding provided on an annual basis to such projects, in tabular form. [40926/24]
View answerAt present there is over 1 GW of electricity storage operating on the national electricity grid. 292 MW of this is pumped hydro-electric storage located at Turlough Hill Co. Wicklow, with the remainder Battery Electricity Storage Systems (BESS).
These 1 GW of electricity storage systems provide both electricity capacity to the grid to meet demand and the system services required to maintain the proper functioning of the grid, for durations of between 0.5 hours to 6 hours.
Capacity contracts for electricity storage are funded in a similar manner as other generators via the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism (CRM). Electricity storage assets may also receive funding via the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) once they are co-located with renewable generators (wind or solar) behind the same meter point. Electricity storage system services contracts are funded via the DS3 programme operated by the Transmission System operators and funded through the 5 year Price Review programme under the remit of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
As per Action #6 of the recently published Electricity storage policy framework for Ireland, a further 1 GW of electricity storage is expected to be incorporated to the grid through two, first of kind, Route to Market products. These products are under development by ESB Networks (Distribution System Operator) and EirGrid (Transmission system operator), in line with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. It is expected that these Route to Market products will be in place by Q4 2025 (ESB Networks) and Q2 2026 (EirGrid) respectively. Both System operators will publish a public consultation on their respective Route to Market products in Q4 2024 and both products are expected to be funded through the 5 year price review programme under the remit of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).
114. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline any analysis carried out by his Department, consultancy or State body, relating to repowering windfarms in Ireland that will reach their end of life in 2030 and associated annual Exchequer costs; to outline any State funding both current and capital allocated to date in 2024; and the funding committed over the remainder of this decade to repowering such windfarms. [40927/24]
View answerThe Renewable Energy Directive requires Member States to introduce accelerated and simplified permitting procedures for the repowering of renewable energy projects. Planning matters fall under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the decision to repower individual projects is a matter for developers.
Through the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, officials in my department are working closely with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a range of policy measures to ensure that there is a supportive policy framework in place that facilitates the accelerated deployment of onshore wind and solar farm developments and supports a streamlined process for repowering of renewable electricity generation projects.
Ireland is a world leader in onshore wind and the continued operation of Ireland's fleet of onshore wind farms is critical to ensuring a secure and affordable energy supply to 2030 and beyond.
Repowering of existing wind farms has potential to deliver an increase in generation capacity, usually by replacing older, less efficient turbines with newer models with higher capacities, with limited additional environmental impact while maintaining electricity system security of supply.
Continued operation of existing renewable energy through permitting and other means as well as repowering will be critical to underpin the delivery of Ireland's 80% by 2030 renewable electricity target, that emissions reductions are delivered at least cost to households and businesses and security of electricity supply is maintained.
While the repowering of windfarms in Ireland is an important future policy consideration, no specific analysis has been carried out or funding provided by my Department to date.
115. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost of holding an annual renewable electricity support scheme auction. [40928/24]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is Ireland’s flagship support scheme for grid-scale renewable electricity generators and a key measure in supporting Ireland's ambitious renewable electricity targets under the Climate Action Plan. The RESS is comprised of a series of regular competitive auctions. The results of the most recent and very successful fourth RESS auction were published on 27 September 2024.
The RESS auction is designed and developed in-house by my Department and the auction is operated by EirGrid under auction operator license from the CRU at no cost to the Department. The administration and enduring contract management of the scheme is carried out internally by officials in my Department.
As part of the design and administration of the scheme, my Department procures consultancy support for legal and economic advice to aid in the development of the terms and conditions of each RESS auction and the associated documentation, as well as to assist with the handling of any queries or challenges relating to same.
For 2023 and year to date 2024, during which time two RESS auctions have been developed, the cost of legal consultancy associated with the development and operation of the schemes was €100,000. The cost of economic advice in the same period was just over €74,000.
116. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to outline current policy towards community-led renewable energy projects as well as local renewable energy trusts. [40950/24]
View answerThrough the first two Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions, my Department provided pathways and supports for Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category. Community renewable energy trusts is a term generally used in the UK to refer to entities similar to RECs.
My Department’s continued engagement with RECs, has identified evidence of significant challenges that they projects may face with the auction based nature of RESS, along with other barriers to project delivery. Therefore, support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS).
In May I announced the tariffs for the export tariff phase of SRESS, which will support small-scale and community renewable projects. In the largest SRESS category, communities will receive a guaranteed tariff 20% higher than the average community price in the most recent RESS auction for community projects in 2022.
A set of technical and financial supports for community projects are currently available to communities through the Community Enabling Framework under the RESS. Similar supports will be available under the SRESS.
In addition, in 2023 and 2024 SEAI also undertook seven county level grid studies to support communities in identifying sites that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection.
In September, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities published the new Electricity Connection Policy – Generation and System Services policy. The new policy provides greater opportunities for connection to the electricity network for community renewable energy projects through provisions such as the reduction in the first stage grid payment fees; the removal of upper and lower capacity limits; the size of projects not required to pay a capacity bond increasing from 5MW to 6MW; and the removal of caps on the number of projects per processing batch.
117. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the annual Exchequer funding provided to incentivise tradespeople to register for the one stop shop retrofitting programme; and the allocation for 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [40953/24]
View answerThe National Retrofit Plan sets out the Government's approach to achieving the Climate Action Plan targets of upgrading the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and installing 400,000 heat pumps to replace older, less efficient heating systems by 2030.
In February 2022, Government announced an enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades. This included the introduction of a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme and the establishment of a network of privately owned companies to register as a One Stop Shop (OSS) to offer a start-to-finish project management service for home energy upgrades.
A capital allocation of €45 million has been provided for the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme this year to support domestic retrofit projects for homeowners who apply through OSSs. There is no annual Exchequer funding provided to incentivise tradespeople to register as a One Stop Shop. However, organisations are incentivised to register due to the business opportunities that arise from operating under the Scheme.
There are currently 20 OSSs registered with SEAI. The SEAI is continuing to actively engage with the construction sector, with the aim of getting more companies registered as a OSS.
118. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to change the way waste is collected in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40995/24]
View answerNotwithstanding the significant progress made in improving Ireland’s waste performance over recent years, the targets we face at EU level are challenging, including targets for municipal waste recycling in 2025. In that context, I now asked my officials to commission a comprehensive study to explore the feasibility, potential benefits and risks associated with transitioning our waste collection system from its current competitive licensing system to a franchise tendering system for local authority areas or regions.
Such a system, where exclusive contracts are awarded to waste collectors in specified areas, is generally used in other EU member states and could have the potential to streamline operations, enhance recycling efforts, and improve overall waste management efficiency. On the other hand, a transition away from our current system could cause significant disruption to existing services if not managed carefully. The proposed study will therefore assess the economic, social, environmental, and regulatory implications of such a transition and, as appropriate, offer recommendations for implementation.
119. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if, under the environmental liability Directive and its iterations, environmental liability insurance exists; if there is published guidance on the financial provision for environmental liability; and if so, whether such guidance is published. [41014/24]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) manages a Financial Provision regime whereby some priority EPA licensees are required to put in place financial provision to cover potential environmental liabilities that could arise in the event of the licensee not being in a position to meet them.
The list of obligated licensees is at the link below. The link also contains the instrument or instruments put in place by each licensee and the value of those instruments.
EPA Facilities/Installations with Financial Provision Requirements 31/03/24 | Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/epa-facilitiesinstallations-with-financial-provision-requirements-310324.php)
The EPA has published several guidance documents for licensees who are obligated for putting financial provisions in place. The guidance covers such topics as:
• The EPA’s approach to Financial Provision, setting out the seven priority sectors that should be covered. EPA_-Approach_to_Environmental_Liabilities_and_Financial_Provision.pdf (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/EPA_-Approach_to_Environmental_Liabilities_and_Financial_Provision.pdf)
• Guidance on the kind of instruments available and what they can be used for: financiaprovisionsreport.pdf (epa.ie) (www.epa.ie/publications/compliance--enforcement/licensees/reporting/financial-provisions/financiaprovisionsreport.pdf)
These, and other guidance documents may be found here: Financial provision for environmental liabilities | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) (www.epa.ie/our-services/compliance--enforcement/industry-and-waste-management/financial-provision-for-environmental-liabilities/)
Environmental liability insurance is just one type of instrument used by licensees. Others instruments include bonds, secured funds and parent company guarantees. Several licensees use insurance to cover the risk of environmental damage occurring in the event of incidents or accidents.
120. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the Environmental Protection Agency, as the competent authority that enforces the environmental liability Directive (ELD), has a register of so-called ELD cases; and whether that register is a matter of public record. [41015/24]
View answerUnder Article 21 of the European Communities (Environmental Liability) Regulations S.I. 547/2008), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a register of Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) cases. This is called an Article 18 register (under the ELD Directive).
In accordance with article 18 of the ELD Directive, the European Commission collects data on ELD cases from Member States and the EPA provides this data to the European Commission. The register has not been made publicly available by the EPA.
