Latest news with #DarraghO'Brien
Irish Times
34 minutes ago
- Business
- Irish Times
State utility firms told Minister chief executive pay limits posed ‘serious risks' to organisations
The chairs of the boards of Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), Uisce Éireann and the Land Development Agency warned last year that restrictions on pay for their chief executives posed 'real and serious risks' to the organisations. In a note to the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee, established last year, Department of Housing secretary general Graham Doyle said the boards of GNI and Uisce Éireann had also expressed 'serious concerns ... about the potential loss of the CEO at a critical time for both companies'. According to submissions sent by the department to the Government-appointed review body said the chairs of the two utility firms' boards had written to then minister for housing Darragh O'Brien about chief executive pay. This correspondence was copied to the then minister for public expenditure Paschal Donohoe , who had established the committee in March 2024 to advise on pay scales for senior public-sector jobs. READ MORE 'Attempts to improve the remuneration level have failed', the Department of Housing said in the document. It said the chief executives of Uisce Éireann and GNI had a base salary that was fixed at €225,000 with no provision for increments or indexation. [ ESB board had 'significant concern' that €318,000 salary was not sufficient for chief executive post Opens in new window ] It said within Uisce Éireann and GNI the senior management teams were entitled to performance-related awards. However, the chief executive was excluded from such payments. 'In Uisce Éireann, there are nine employees in the same band as the CEO (€225,001 to €250,000) and two employees in the final band of €250,001 to €275,000 (ie above the level of remuneration of the CEO). Currently, there are a number of executives in Uisce Éireann whose salaries are capped based on the approved headroom. This presents difficulties for key roles and for succession planning. Two executives left Uisce Éireann over the past 12 months.' It said in GNI there were also two employees paid more than the chief executive and that two executives had left the company over the previous year. Mr Doyle said when the chairs had contacted the minister 'in each case the argument has been put forward that the current constraints which exist in respect of pay pose very real and serious risks to the work of these three vitally important commercial State bodies, which are delivering critical infrastructure on behalf of the State and its citizens while, at the same time contributing to the wider economy.' He said the chairs had set out the challenges of recruiting and retaining high-calibre candidates. 'It is noted, for example, that in some cases the remuneration has remained unchanged at levels approved in early 2017, that the posts are time bound at five or seven years with no opportunity for renewal or for reappointment to any other position within the company, that taking up the position can involve the surrendering of an existing (often permanent) contract to the time-bound contract and the loss of a performance-related award, and finally, that the amount of time it can take an individual to secure employment at the end of time-bound period can, in itself, shorten the length of the actual term served.' Last month following the report of the review group, the Government signalled it would update rules to allow a 'market rate' to be paid to chief executives in commercial State companies.
The Journal
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ireland's excessive emissions mean climate goals 'are increasingly out of reach'
This is an extract from the most recent edition of Temperature Check, The Journal's monthly climate newsletter. To receive Temperature Check to your inbox, sign up in the box at the end of this article. As schools wrap up for the summer, the government has been handed a report card of its own: the Environmental Protection Agency's projections of Ireland's emissions in the coming years. The EPA analysed the climate policies and measures that the government is planning to take and how those would impact greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2055. If all of the planned measures and policies are fully implemented, they would reduce Ireland's emissions by 2030 to 23% less than what they were in 2018 – falling far short of the national 51% 2030 target. Not only is the new projection below the target, it's also a decrease on the projection made last year, when the EPA said it expected a reduction of 29% could be made by 2030. Responding to the projections , Minister for Climate Darragh O'Brien said the government has 'made real progress' but is aware that 'we need to move faster to meet our 2030 climate targets'. The projections show Ireland is at significant risk of missing both national and EU climate targets. Advertisement Manager of the Centre for Environmental Justice Clodagh Daly has said the poor progress highlighted by the projections is 'undermining Ireland's capacity to deliver a planned and inclusive transition'. Speaking to The Journal for Temperature Check, Daly said the weak performance is particularly worrying in the context of climate change impacts becoming increasingly visible in Ireland. 'We've seen increased heat extremes, heavy precipitation, storm events like Storm Éowyn, and so it's really concerning that the government is going backwards on its emission reduction obligations,' she said. Fianna Fáil's Darragh O'Brien was appointed Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport as part of the new government in January 2025. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The EPA report compares Ireland's projected emissions with the carbon budgets that were designed to set limits on how much the country emits over five-year cycles. The margins by which the carbon budgets are likely to be exceeded, particularly for the budget covering 2026 to 2030, are staggering. The first budget, which allowed 295 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) to be emitted between 2021 and 2025, is projected to be exceeded by between 8 and 12 Mt CO2eq. The second budget over the subsequent five years is projected to be exceeded by the significant margin of 77 to 114 Mt CO2eq. To put that in context, the total budget for 2026 to 2030 is 200 Mt CO2eq. That means that at the EPA's upper estimate, Ireland's emissions could be more than 50% higher across those years than what they legally should be. Related Reads UN says 70% chance average global warming will exceed 1.5C benchmark in next five years And that's before you even start to look at what it means for complying with European Union obligations. The EPA projects that Ireland will not meet its EU Effort Sharing Regulation target of a 42% reduction by 2030 (of emissions in sectors included under the ESR), instead looking more likely to reduce those emissions by only 22%. 'The problem is that if we continue to overshoot our legislative carbon budgets, the goals of the Paris Agreement and Ireland's Climate Act are increasingly out of reach,' Daly said. 'As the Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly warned, any overshoots of the budgets will have to be compensated for in subsequent carbon budgets, and that makes it really difficult to achieve.' The Centre for Environmental Justice, which is based out of the Community Law and Mediation legal centre, already has two active court cases against the State over what it argues are shortfalls in previous iterations of the annual Climate Action Plan. 'The State already is facing the legal consequences of not staying within the carbon budget,' Daly said. 'One case is challenging the Climate Action Plan 2023's failure to sufficiently detail how it will reduce emissions in line with the carbon budget program,' she said. The other case sees the legal centre joined by a grandfather, a youth climate activist and a child to challenge the 2024 plan for 'failure to reduce emissions in line with our carbon budget programme, and that, as a result, we claim that there are fundamental rights breaches under the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights'. 'We're not asking the court to impose any kind of sanction in terms of financial penalties. What we're asking the court to do is to strike down the plans as they are and for the government just to go back, review the plan, and develop a new one that actually is aligned with the law.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Dublin Live
2 days ago
- Dublin Live
Gardai to conduct spot checks on Dublin buses this bank holiday weekend to support 'safety of customers'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Gardai will conduct spot checks on Dublin buses this bank holiday weekend in order to support the "safety of our customers and employees". Officers will board board Dublin Bus services as part of a new series of 'Days of Action' across the fleet which will start this weekend and continue over the coming weeks. The new plan is part of a joint commitment by Dublin Bus, An Garda Síochána, and the Department of Transport to improve safety on public transport. This includes a dedicated public transport wide day on June 10, which will involve increased Garda presence across key routes and areas of the city. The Garda Days of Action are planned to continue throughout 2025, with the dates, times, and loations to be decided by feedback on the ground. Reported incidents of anti-social behaviour aboard Dublin Bus services have more than doubled from 494 to 1053 per year in the last five years. The initiative, Dublin Bus say, aims to "deter anti-social behaviour, support drivers and enhance the experience for people using public transport across the city and Greater Dublin Area". Chief Executive of Dublin Bus Billy Hann said: 'At Dublin Bus, the safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. The Garda Days of Action reflect our strong and ongoing partnership with An Garda Síochána, and we welcome their continued support in ensuring a safe and respectful environment on board our services. "Our Safer Journeys Team is a key part of this safety focus, and we remain committed to working with Government and the Gardaí to enhance safety and security across the public transport network." Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien added: "A reliable and safe public transport network is fundamental to a functioning city. "That means visibility, presence and cooperation. I fully support these Garda-led Days of Action and commend Dublin Bus for the proactive way it has approached safety through initiatives like the Safer Journeys Team. "This is what joined-up public service delivery looks like — practical, responsive and focused on people." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Developing a new national plan for offshore wind energy
At the start of May, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien TD announced that work has started on a new national map to identify locations where future offshore wind farms can be developed. The national Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for offshore wind will be developed by the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy, and will involve extensive data-gathering and public consultation. It is due to be completed by the end of 2027. Ireland's first DMAP was approved by the Oireachtas late last year and identified four sites off the coast of Waterford for new offshore wind farms. The map was produced following an extensive public consultation with coastal communities in Waterford, Cork, and Wexford and was informed by detailed environmental, scientific and engineering expertise. The fishing community on the south coast was heavily involved in the process, working with the Government to ensure that, as much as possible, the impact on fishing activity from the development of offshore wind energy within the DMAP was minimised. Four areas off the south coast of Ireland have been identified for offshore wind in the Government's draft "DMAP". An auction for the first of those four sites, known as Tonn Nua — the Irish for 'New Wave' — will be held before the end of the year to build a 900 MW wind farm at that location though there continues to be uncertainty over the Government's plans for the three other sites. Managed and sustainable 'The use of strategically planned DMAPs will ensure that developments in Ireland's maritime area take place in a managed and sustainable way,' said Minister O'Brien. 'An integrated, national approach will ensure that strategic forward planning for skills, enterprise and the industry-wide supply chain development can take place. 'Ports will have the ability to forward plan for the necessary large-scale offshore infrastructure build-outs required to support ORE development, while forward planning for grid and interconnection can occur within the framework of a long-term holistic view. By focusing on a single DMAP, we will be able to maximise our resources.' The Irish wind energy industry welcomed the announcement as providing greater certainty and ambition for Ireland's offshore wind energy future while highlighting concerns about the timeline for completion. Industry response 'This will take time,' said Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe, 'and our members will do everything they can to help speed things up, but once complete this will provide enough sites to accelerate the development of offshore renewable energy and to put Ireland firmly at the heart of Europe's response to the energy and climate crises. 'But it won't be done in 2027 if the resources, the personnel and the expertise isn't in place to ensure we hit that target. The offshore wind industry has struggled with missed deadlines from Government in the past and we can't afford more slippages.' The industry sees the budget later this year as, effectively, the Government's only opportunity to allocate enough funding if the 2027 deadline is to be hit. Resources will be needed to collect and buy data on Ireland's maritime area, to commission marine surveys and to ensure a thorough and transparent public consultation. It will also be critical to ensure that the development of the new national DMAP aligns with plans for new Marine Protected Areas. Legislation has long been promised to help Ireland meet its international obligation to designate 30 per cent of Irish waters as Marine Protected Areas by 2030. Marine protection While the Bill is listed as a priority in the Government's legislative calendar it is unlikely it will be enacted before work on the national DMAP is, at a minimum, significantly advanced. It is a challenge of which Minister for State at the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy with special responsibility for the Marine, Timmy Dooley TD, is very conscious. 'As an island nation with an extensive maritime territory, Ireland has one of the best offshore wind resources in the world,' he said. 'The development of offshore wind projects, including floating offshore wind and other innovative technologies throughout our coastal areas, offers enormous economic opportunities for coastal communities, in terms of jobs growth and local community development. 'It also provides the opportunity to align with future Marine Protected Areas. The DMAP development process will be inclusive and will provide comprehensive consultation opportunities.' The development of the new national map has the potential to boost confidence in Ireland as a place to invest within the wider offshore wind energy industry and to produce a strong pipeline of new projects. But doubts persist over whether the Government will be able to meet the timeline it has set itself. And while work on the national DMAP must start immediately the greater priority is the remaining five offshore projects already in the planning system. With the likely loss of the Sceirde Rocks project off the coast of Galway the risks to the other projects must be minimised and this has to be at the top of Minister O'Brien's to-do list.
Agriland
5 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
‘We need to move faster' on emissions targets
The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien has said that the latest projections from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published today (Wednesday, May 28) are a clear signal that, while there has been progress, we need to move faster to meet 2030 climate targets. Total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agriculture sector 'will range from a 1% increase to a 16% decrease over the period of 2018 to 2030', according to the EPA. Minister O'Brien commented: 'The government is fully aware of the scale of the climate challenge and the importance for Ireland to be a leader in accelerating climate action. '… We are undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation. Coal is on the way out, and renewables are now the backbone of our power mix; electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since 2005. 'It is estimated that renewables provided 40% of our electricity demand in 2024. 'We are continuing to support the delivery of renewable energy in Ireland through the transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive II and III, providing important permitting and legal reforms, and further RESS and ORESS auctions to support additional onshore and offshore renewable energy,' the minister added. He explained that Ireland is also delivering new interconnectors; the Greenlink interconnector to the UK is now operational, doubling Ireland's interconnector capacity. Construction of the Celtic interconnector to France is on track to be completed by 2026/2027 and the North-South project is advancing. Minister O'Brien said that these projects boost energy security and allow greater import/export of clean power. 'This is backed by concrete action; emissions fell by 6.8% in 2023. GDP has seen a six-fold increase and the population has increased by nearly 50% since 1990,' he added. 'Yet, emissions are lower today than they were then. That's real decoupling of emissions from economic activity – and few countries in Europe have achieved it under similar pressure. 'We're also seeing progress in other areas. Electric vehicle sales are up – by 23% in April alone – and not just in cities. 'Rural counties like Carlow are showing real momentum with a 42% increase in EV sales for the first four months of the year compared to last year,' he added. The minister also referenced the uptake of solar, the Renewable Heat Obligation and schools education and awareness as other drivers of the positive climate trend in Ireland. He continued: 'We know that the EPA projections are not absolute forecasts; they reflect delivery to date. 'The first Climate Action Plan of this government was delivered last month. Cross-departmental taskforces are in place. 'Governance arrangements have been strengthened, with the first meeting of the new Climate Action Programme Board held last week, involving senior officials from all the main sectors – including energy, transport and agriculture. 'Its remit is clear: to focus on accelerated delivery of the actions needed to close the emissions gap,' Minister O'Brien concluded.
