Tag Archives: Eamon Ryan

THERE’S no need to worry that the transition to wind energy is happening too slowly in west Clare, according to Minister Eamon Ryan. The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications was at Moneypoint to officially open its new €50 million synchronous compensator, which will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system, and provide greater grid stability. The Moneypoint synchronous compensator is one of the largest in the world, and he said it is at the forefront of a huge shift in how energy is produced. “This is historic and it’s in line with that Ardnacrusha tradition,” said Minister Ryan. “Then they built the leading example of hydro in the world and this is at the forefront of a new green revolution in energy. “When you have a lot of renewables on the system, a lot of wind, this supports it to make sure the system stays stable. This is the biggest one of these in the world, it’s the …

THERE is no prospect of the second phase of the Northern Distributor Road going ahead, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has said. The minister emphatically ruled out the prospect of the contentious relief road going ahead on a visit to Moneypoint last Friday. “The road isn’t in the Metropolitan area strategy. It has no Government funding and no prospect of it any time in the future,” he said. Subsequently, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Tony O’Brien said that the Minister’s attitude to the proposal will have a terrible impact, not just on Clare, but on surrounding counties also. “What I’d say is that this NDR has gone through every feasibility study, every phase of planning, it is included in the Mid-West Area Strategic Plan 2012-2030, it’s an integral part of that,” Councillor O’Brien pointed out. “It was in the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area Strategy, it was an integral part of that, to provide an orbital route around Limerick City and to improve …

WHILE Eamon Ryan wanted to stress how aware he is of the importance of farmers in preserving the environment, he would have been left with few illusions about how suspicious farmers are of his party after last week’s meeting. Councillor Pat Burke left little room for doubt where he stood when he addressed the meeting. “I’m a full time farmer and I’m not a fan of the Green Party” He claimed that the party is “very anti-rural” while he stressed the care that himself and many other rural dwellers have taken good care of their environment for many years. Councillor Burke said that he had contacted the office of Minister of State for Land Use & Biodiversity about ash dye back, but hadn’t heard anything at all in return. He also told the Minister that his department has been able to find money for cycle lanes and the likes around Ennis, but hasn’t been able to do anything for a …

ALMOST a year after Rose Hynes’ tenure concluded, there is still no chairperson of the board of Shannon Group, but a shortlist for the position has been finalised. In a statement this week the Department of Transport said that the Public Appointments Service has carried out its work, and that Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is considering the names that it has given him. “The Public Appointments Service (PAS) recently concluded the selection process for the position of Chairperson of the Board of Shannon Group. The Minister is conscious that this is an important and challenging time for Shannon Group. Accordingly, the Minister intends to appoint a new Chairperson to this key position as soon as possible, following due consideration of the candidate shortlist.” Local politicians had expected that the vacancy would be filled a month ago, before the Dáil concluded for the summer, but that never happened. It is almost six months since the appointment of businessman Aaron Forde …

ON Tuesday Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that a taskforce looking at the Shannon region’s economic potential and challenges will be set up. However, it now seems that the taskforce will be related to Shannon Estuary rather than Shannon Airport and the adjacent industires, which had seemed to be the case when he was speaking on Morning Irleand. While being interviewed, the Minister was asked about the setbacks at Shannon and the jobs at Lufthansa Technik, and he said, “I have been in contact with people in the area who are very concerned, and this has been an ongoing concern. “We are going to have to do a whole range of different projects in Shannon particularly, it’s the wider industrial estate, it’s not just the airport, it’s the jobs that come with it. “The Government are going to be setting up a Shannon taskforce, looking at the whole wider region, looking at the whole Shannon area. I believe that’ll be …

By Dan Danaher TRANSPORT Minister Eamon Ryan has bowed to considerable political pressure to finally approve the completion of the final phase of a €58 million major road linking Coonagh with Meelick. Questioned several times by Clare and Limerick Dáil deputies from all parties, Minister Ryan had stated he was continuing to consider the recommendation from Limerick County Council regarding the award of the main construction contract for the scheme. This had prompted stinging criticism locally that it meant the final phase of Coonagh to Meelick Distributor road was being effectively shelved. However, Deputy Cathal Crowe has now welcomed Minister Ryan’s confirmation on Limerick’s Live 95 FM that “Phase One of this long-awaited project can finally go ahead”. Deputy Crowe said this news on Wednesday brought an end to a significant amount of doubt over the future of the entire project in recent weeks, which has been 12 years in the making. “I’m grateful that Minister Ryan has taken time …

KEEPING Broadford Post Office will be a “real challenge”, according to Communications Minister Eamon Ryan. A new campaign has started to re-open Broadford Post Office, which has been in operation in the village for almost 190 years. A case for the retention of Broadford Post Office was presented during a Zoom meeting between representatives of An Post, Clare’s Oireachtas members and councillors in the Killaloe Municipal District on Thursday. This meeting, which was organised by Senator Timmy Dooley, is part of a new lobbying campaign to ensure the post office remains in the village. Broadford Post Office closed a few weeks before Christmas temporarily on compassionate grounds. However, fears have been expressed that it may not re-open as the current operator is retiring. Communications Minister Eamon Ryan didn’t give any commitment Broadford Post Office would re-open when questioned by Deputy Cathal Crowe in the Dáil. Deputy Crowe claimed An Post is taking advantage of the retirement of the postmaster, James …

THE government has been urged to put a strategic plan in place to support the development of Shannon Airport and tourism attractions this year. This issue was raised by Deputy Michael McNamara in the Dáil recently when he reminded An Taoiseach Micheál Martin that he highlighted the Shannon Group, Shannon Airport and their pivotal role for the economic well being of the Mid-West following his elevation six months ago. Deputy McNamara asked what plan is in place to support aviation and tourism across the Mid-West in 2020. “What is the plan for Shannon Heritage? The two sites that have opened are closing on January 3. It is planned to open the sites again in April, but Shannon Heritage remains in the Shannon Group with a commercial mandate and the sites ill fit a commercial mandate because while they generate money, they generate money more broadly in the economy than they do within the group itself. The Taoiseach acknowledged this “serious” …