Parliamentary questions

159. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when the proposed forestry legislation that he is intending to introduce on forestry corridors along overhead electricity infrastructure will be ready; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21010/26]

160. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment how wholesale electricity market transactions in Ireland are monitored for potential market manipulation under a regulation (details supplied) on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT); the role of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulato…

161. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the extent to which wholesale electricity market prices influence retail electricity prices paid by households and businesses in Ireland; the measures in place to ensure transparency and fair competition in the wholesale electricity market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21017/26]

162. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding any engagement he has had with environmental groups in relation to the drafting of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21031/26]

163. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions he will take to ensure that the concerns of environmental groups are considered as the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025 progresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21032/26]

164. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to criticisms of plans related to the progression of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025 (details supplied); the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21033/26]

165. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details on the planned public event on the draft Social Climate Plan to be co-hosted by his Department and the European Commission. [21071/26]

166. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the plans in place to expand the solar PV scheme for medically vulnerable customers to additional energy suppliers, ensuring that all eligible customers can access the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/26]

167. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of islanded data centres contracted to connect to the gas network; the number connected to the gas network of those contracted; the number awaiting connection to the gas network of those contracted; the number of formal enquiries that have been received but which are not contracted, for each category; th…

168. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details in relating to any engagements or involvement Ireland has had with the Princess Elisabeth Energy Island project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21258/26]

169. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the reports in relation to the export of peat (details supplied); if he can outline how this happened in the context of Ireland's restriction on commercial extraction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21297/26]

170. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he intends to take to tackle the illegal large-scale extraction of peat in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21300/26]

171. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding any engagement he has had with the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to its claim that there is illegal large-scale extraction of peat in Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21301/26]

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when a clear directive will provide for both installers and homeowners alike in relation to change over switches for solar installations, in order to allow homeowners to continue to power their homes during electricity outages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21351/26]

68. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will address the concerns raised by charter boat operators regarding the proposed three fish bag limit for recreational pollock fishing; the assessment his Department has carried out on the economic impact of this measure on small, tourism dependent charter operators and coastal communities who catch an annua…

69. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline plans to ensure that 3% of publicly owned buildings with a total useful floor area of more than 250m2 are retrofitted each year in line with the revised Energy Efficiency Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17643/26]

70. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the EU-wide digital recreational fisheries reporting system, RecFishing, which was launched on 9 January 2026, pursuant to the revised EU Fisheries Control Regulation, will be rolled out in Ireland; and whether it will be compulsory for all recreational anglers in Ireland to register and record their ca…

71. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason that the replacement heat pump grant was announced by the SEAI as allowable from 3 February 2026, only for a later announcement to say that this was not the case. [18338/26]

72. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to request from Inland Fisheries Ireland the rationale for the proposed full closure of the River Boyne to salmon anglers, including for catch and release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18339/26]

73. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether applicants must complete BER assessments pre and post works following applications for SEAI warmer home grant; the change that is required in the BER rating to ensure that the grant application is successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18468/26]

74. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the new construction waste levy which is leading to significantly increased costs for construction projects at a time of housing shortage and house price inflation; his plans to review this levy or assist the sector in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the …

75. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to protect consumers from immediate increases in the price of oil by companies using current world events as an excuse to increase their prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18551/26]

76. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of staff from his Department seconded to other Departments or agencies in the Civil Service, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the Department or agency, in tabular form. [18587/26]

77. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of staff from his Department seconded to a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18605/26]

78. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of staff from his Department seconded from a firm in the private sector, per annum from 2022 to date in 2026; and the details of the company, in tabular form. [18623/26]