Eddie O’Connor

In Blog, Energy by Denis Naughten

Eddie O’Connor was always at the cutting edge of energy in Ireland and a renewable energy innovator.   Born in Elphin, Co. Roscommon, he understood the local economic importance of Bord Na Mona when he became its Chief Executive in a move from the other big semi-State energy company, ESB.   After leaving Bord na Móna, he moved into the …

Retrofitting homes would reduce demand on hospitals – Naughten

In Disability, Energy, Health, News, Posts by Topic, Science by Denis Naughten

Prioritising the retrofitting of homes for those with chronic medical conditions would reduce demand on health services and hospital beds, helping to ease pressure particularly during the winter months as we are currently witnessing in our emergency departments across the country, claims Denis Naughten TD.   New research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, commissioned by the Government, …

Families buying generators: ban threat to cut electricity off to homes – Naughten

In Energy, Environment, Families, News, Posts by Topic by Denis Naughten

Denis Naughten TD is calling on the Government to give a categoric commitment that electricity supplies will not be turned off to homes across the country following reports of older people forking out €1,800 to purchase backup diesel generators. “The Government and the regulator, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, have caused panic across the country particularly among older …

Clear pathway urgently needed to achieve 51% reduction in emissions – Naughten

In Agriculture, Business & Jobs, Energy, Environment, Families, Infrastructure, Jobs, Local Issues, News, Posts by Topic by Denis Naughten

It is imperative we now have a clear roadmap on how we can practically achieve the 51% national emissions reduction target for 2030 across each sector, says Denis Naughten TD. “Across each of the sectors we are now seeking monumental change over the next 89 months, a rate of change that has not been achieved anywhere on our planet. This …

As oil hits $120/barrel we need to look again at how we construct carbon taxes which are failing both families and our environment

In Blog, Energy, Environment, Families by Denis Naughten

     A carbon tax is supposed to be an environmentally-focused tax to drive behavioural change in the use of fossil fuels. In such circumstances, the most effective tax is the one that brings in little revenue because it is doing what it should, which is to drive behavioural change. The focus of an environmentally focused tax should never be on revenue but rather on motivating …

Carbon taxes are penalising families not driving climate change

In Blog, Business & Jobs, Energy, Environment, Families, Health, Jobs by Denis Naughten

The carbon tax is supposed to be an environmental tax to drive behavioural change when it comes to the use of fossil fuels. In such circumstances the most effective tax is the one that brings in little revenue because it is doing what it should do, namely, driving behavioural change. Today, a carbon tax has no impact on behaviour because …

Pensioner receives €3,262 hike in electricity bill due to estimations – Naughten

In Energy, Families, Local Issues, News, Older People, Posts by Topic by Denis Naughten

A pensioner living on her own has received a shocking electricity bill which has gone from €123 to €3,385 because her supplier has failed to read her meter for the past 24 months, Denis Naughten told the Dáil this afternoon. “To add to her shock, she is being charged all of these arrears at the current electricity rate compounding the …

Why Ireland won’t benefit from US natural gas deal

In Blog, Business & Jobs, Energy by Denis Naughten

Last Friday, the European Council accepted an offer from the US for deliveries of natural gas to reduce our dependence on Russian gas and to help address energy costs. Because natural gas is a key element of electricity generation in Ireland, it has to the potential to reduce costs here. But as we have no way of storing the gas, …

Data centres pushing up electricity costs for families – Naughten

In Business & Jobs, Energy, Families, Jobs, News, Posts by Topic by Denis Naughten

  Irish families are paying for some of the most expensive electricity in Europe in part due to the fact that they are subsidising the supply of electricity to data centres, a practice which must be stopped by the Government, says Denis Naughten TD. Addressing the issue in the Dáil last Thursday he told the Minister for Finance that Irish …

Government has to stop families being charged for data centre electricity

In Blog, Energy, Environment, Families, Infrastructure by Denis Naughten

  Our electricity prices are among the most expensive in Europe, with Irish families paying, on average, €180 extra for electricity annually. This is partly as a result of Irish families being forced to subsidise the cost of electricity, grid connections and backup supplies for existing and already planned speculative data centres. The Government decided in 2018 to stop the …