Written Answers Nos. 245-258
245. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide the web link to his Department’s Q4 2025 published report of purchase orders/payments over €20,000, in line with the FOI model publication scheme requirements; the date on which this report was published; and if it has not yet been published, the planned publication date. [16563/26]
View answer246. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to confirm, in respect of his Department’s published quarterly reports of procurement-related payments or purchase orders over €20,000 (details supplied), where such reports are published in PDF format but originate from an Excel or similar spreadsheet file, that the underlying data was fully expanded and validated prior to conversion so that all columns including supplier names and descriptions are fully visible and readable in the published document; to clarify whether any quality assurance process is applied to ensure that data is not truncated or partially obscured in the PDF version; and where the source file exists in machine-readable format, whether his Department will make the original Excel or CSV file available alongside the PDF in the interest of transparency, accessibility and data re-use. [16580/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
My Department is committed to promoting transparency and aligning with national and EU open data standards. Since Q2 2025 procurement-related quarterly reports of payments over €20,000 are published quarterly in arrears in both PDF and Excel formats on my Department's website.
The Q4 2025 report of payments over €20,000 is currently being prepared and it is anticipated that it will be completed and ready for publication by the end of March. As with previous reports, the underlying data will be fully expanded and validated prior to conversion to PDF format to ensure that all columns including supplier names and descriptions are fully visible and legible.
Details payments over €20,000 can be found: at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/collections/payments-over-20000/#2025
247. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the United Nations special rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment sought to visit a location (details supplied), but was refused access by the company; if his Department will engage with the company, or the special rapporteur regarding this refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16613/26]
View answerThe Government notes the end-of-mission statement issued by Astrid Puentes Riaño, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, following the conclusion of her mission to Ireland.
The Special Rapporteur over the two weeks arranged her own schedule of visits directly including the request to visit the company in question. The details of these arrangements is therefore a matter between United Nations Special Rapporteur and the company. My Department did provide support by arranging bilaterals with various policy holders across Government.
Her appreciation of the open, cooperative and constructive approach taken by the offices of Government, the judiciary, public agencies, local authorities, industry and civil society throughout the mission must be acknowledged. This reflects well on Ireland’s strong commitment to transparency, dialogue and continuous improvement in the protection of environmental human rights. The visit provided an important opportunity for open, honest and at times challenging discussions across a wide range of issues. The Government looks forward to receiving the Special Rapporteur’s final report.
248. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure; Infrastructure; Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on progressing the River Shannon Management Agency Bill 2020, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16826/26]
View answerI am advised that my Department has had no engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation on the matter referred to in the Question.
249. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the serious local concern about the proposal from IFI to replace a well-regulated catch-and-release fishery with a full closure of the River Boyne under the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regulations for 2026; if he will seek clarification from the IFI on the evidence supporting full closure rather than continued catch-and-release; the way in which poaching and pollution will be monitored without anglers present; the reason the River Boyne remained marked for closure despite changes to other rivers between draft regulations; and the way in which community, economic, and wellbeing impacts have been considered. [17065/26]
View answerIndependent scientific advice was received from the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) which assesses which rivers are likely to meet their conservation limits using probability thresholds. The TEGOS Report looked at 144 salmon rivers using a range of thresholds from 75% to 99% and sets out the status of each river at each threshold level in Table 5 of the Report, with a more detailed assessment in Appendix IV.
Overall, the classification of rivers as open, catch-and-release only, or closed is based on this probability-based scientific assessment carried out by TEGOS. Catch and release is proposed where adult forecast returns are at or are close to conservation limits. Closure is proposed where the assessment indicates a high probability that stocks will fail to meet their conservation limit, even in the absence of fishing. The TEGOS report indicates that the Boyne salmon stock is meeting only 10% of its conservation limit and the scientific advice for 2026, reflected in the proposed Regulation, is that the river is closed to fishing.
The draft Regulations published last November used an 85% probability threshold as a starting point for consultation with stakeholders. The Department received a significant response to the consultation. All responses were considered, together with the scientific advice, and some modifications were made to the draft Regulations, including the use of a 75% probability threshold.
While the status of a river can change depending on the threshold used, status of the Boyne is consistent across all threshold options assessed as shown below (from p. 25 of the TEGOS Report):
|
District |
River |
75% |
80% |
85% |
90% |
95% |
99% |
|
Drogheda |
Boyne |
Close |
Close |
Close |
Close |
Close |
Close |
I recognise that the closure of the salmon fishery on the River Boyne is disappointing for anglers and local communities, especially given the Boynes cultural and economic importance as a salmon river. I have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland that their staff will continue to exercise vigilance in patrolling the River Boyne for poaching and environmental issues in 2026.
250. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will address concerns regarding the non-medicinal use of Nitrous Oxide (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17121/26]
View answerUnder EU waste legislation, discarded pressurised containers of nitrous oxide should be classified and treated as hazardous waste. In addition, I am informed that nitrous oxide is subject to an ongoing opinion process under the regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) which may result in restrictions prohibiting its sale above certain concentration limits to the general public.
Used Nitrous Oxide cannisters should not be placed in the residual waste bin or the recycling bin due to their hazardous nature and require a specialist hazardous waste disposal service for collection and appropriate treatment.
Under the Waste Framework Directive, since 1 January 2025, hazardous waste from households has to be collected separately. The Department is currently engaging with the local authority sector to ensure that there is an effective system in place to allow households to appropriately dispose of their hazardous waste in line with EU Waste Framework Directive requirements. Effective implementation of this measure, supported by EU Commission guidance, should contribute to reducing the presence of pressurised nitrous oxide containers in mixed municipal waste.
The Commission has stated that, if necessary, following Member State implementation of this separate collection obligation, they may consider additional measures to support the removal of nitrous oxide canisters from the mixed municipal waste stream.
Individuals and voluntary organisations should contact their local authority regarding disposal options for problematic waste materials encountered while engaged in community clean-ups or litter picks in the first instance. The Department is currently engaging with the local authority sector and other relevant stakeholders, under the auspices of the National Hazardous Waste Management Plan, to prioritise the development of a system which will assist local authorities in managing this material as a matter of urgency.
251. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if the State Claims Agency Risk Management Liaison Group still carries out annual audits of the Air Corps Health and Safety procedures and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16300/26]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) is a delegated authority under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000, which provides for the management of personal injury and property damage claims against the State and State authorities by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), as delegated to it by Government. The NTMA is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
I am informed by the SCA that the Risk Management Liaison Group to which the Deputy refers does not carry out annual audits of Air Corps Health and Safety procedures and it did not previously carry out annual audits during the period 2006 to 2016.
252. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of cases for involving the Air Corps each year are recorded with the State Claims Agency for each of the past ten years; and the number that were contested, settled, lost or withdrawn in the same period. [16301/26]
View answer253. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the number of cases involving the Air Corps each year were recorded with the State Claims Agency for each of years between 2006 and 2016; and the number of them that were contested, settled, lost or withdrawn in the same period. [16291/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.
The State Claims Agency (SCA) is a delegated authority under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000, which provides for the management of personal injury and property damage claims against the State and State authorities by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), as delegated to it by Government. The NTMA is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
I am informed by the SCA that, as of 01/03/2026, they have recorded a total of 6 Air Corps claims relating to alleged exposure to toxic chemicals being received for the period 2006–2016.
One of these cases was the subject of an agreed settlement between the parties in 2025.
I am further informed by the SCA that, as at 01/02/2026, it has received 14 Air Corps claims relating to alleged exposure to toxic chemicals for the period 2016–2025. The SCA further informs me that one of these claims has been discontinued/statute barred, and the remaining claims are still active.
254. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if an occupational cohort study into mortality in the Air Corps was ever carried out, as was recommended to the Air Corps two years ago by public health expert (details supplied) given that between 1980 and 2026, there have been around 700-800 deaths of serving and retired personnel, of whom it has been suggested that 115 of them died prematurely. [16293/26]
View answer255. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to carry out a follow-up occupational cohort study into mortality in the Air Corps given that the previous one carried out by public health expert (details supplied) two years ago would seem to suggest that the need for a further, more in depth study be carried out. [16294/26]
View answer256. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence when the occupational cohort study into mortality in the Air Corps will be carried out over two years ago by public health expert (details supplied) will be published; and if not, the reason. [16295/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 255 and 256 together.
I have been advised by the Air Corps that it has no record of ever been advised or directed to carry out any cohort mortality study. A recent preliminary study conducted by the public health expert referred to by the Deputy in details supplied, has been provided to my officials.
As I indicated in the Dáil on 16 December 2025, I have received an initial brief from my officials on the matter of Health and Safety in the Air Corps. I have requested a detailed report to be completed in Q1 of this year. I will take the time necessary to consider this detailed report and determine the most appropriate next steps, potentially including additional engagement with the State Claims Agency and the Office of the Attorney General.
Given that there is litigation currently before the courts, where there are historic allegations of personal injury in the Air Corps, it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further.
257. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence her views on whether a major conflict of interest existed between 2006-2016 with the State Claims Agency being centrally involved in both assessing the health and safety regime in the Air Corps through its Risk Management Liaison Group and being the lead in deciding on behalf of the State to fight claims against in which failings in that same health and safety regime were being questioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16296/26]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) operates independently of the Minister for Defence under specific legislative provisions over which the Minister for Defence has no statutory or administrative oversight.
The SCA is a delegated authority under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000, and the NTMA is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
The SCA has two statutory mandates, (1) the management of personal injury and third-party property damage claims against State authorities and (2) a risk advisory role to such State authorities.
It would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Defence, to comment on the operation or organisational structure of the SCA as it was established by an Act of the Oireachtas.
258. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence if she will publish the annual reports for each year, 2006 to 2016, of the State Claims Agency Risk Management Liaison Group which carried out audits of the Air Corps Health and Safety procedures and so on, and commended them annually for being best in class and being leaders in the H+S field; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16298/26]
View answerThe State Claims Agency (SCA) is a delegated authority under the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000, which provides for the management of personal injury and property damage claims against the State and State authorities by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), as delegated to it by Government. The NTMA is a body under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
I am informed by the SCA that the Risk Management Liaison Group to which the Deputy refers, is a joint group formed between the Defence Forces and the State Claims Agency and that the group does not prepare annual reports. I am further informed by the SCA that the group did not prepare annual reports for the years 2006-2016.
