Thurles Information

Ireland’s 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Show Welcome Decrease.

Ireland’s 2022 Greenhouse Gas Emissions show a welcome decrease, but much work remains to be done

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.9% (1.19 Mt CO2eq) in 2022, driven by higher fuel prices, increased renewable energy, behavioural change and regulation.
Power generation emissions decreased by 1.9% due to a reduction in coal, oil and peat use and more renewable energy.
Agriculture emissions decreased by 1.2% driven by reduced fertiliser use which offset the impact of an increase in livestock numbers.
Residential emissions decreased by 12.7% with the impact of higher fuel prices, new regulations that ban the use of smoky fuel and milder weather evident.
Transport emissions increased by 6% in 2022 as the COVID rebound continues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its provisional greenhouse gas emissions for Ireland for 2022. The figures show a reduction of 1.9% compared to 2021, with emission reductions in all key sectors, except Transport.

In total, 60.76 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) were emitted excluding emissions from Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).

The report highlights that 47% of Ireland’s Carbon Budget for 2021-2025 has been used in the first 2 years. An extremely challenging annual reduction of 12.4% is required for each of the remaining years if Ireland is to stay within the Budget.

The figures also show that Ireland exceeded its 2022 annual limit under the European Union’s Effort Sharing Regulation (EU 2018/842). These annual limits have been reduced further from 2023 onwards as Ireland’s Effort Sharing commitment increased from a 30% reduction on the 2005 level by 2030 to a 42% reduction.

Commenting on the figures Ms Laura Burke, Director General, EPA said: “An overall emissions reduction is welcome, and it is encouraging to see the impact of action across key economic sectors. Drivers for this reduction were higher fossil fuel prices and associated behavioural change, more renewable energy, and the impact of regulation such as the nationwide ban on smoky fuels in home heating.

She added “While welcome, this decrease in emissions needs to be significantly ramped up. We need faster progress on the actions set out in national climate action plans to decarbonise and transform all sectors of Ireland’s economy, to stay within National Carbon Budgets and reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions by 51 per cent by 2030.”

A summary of the trends from key sectors:

Energy Industries: Emissions decreased by 1.8% despite a 2.1% increase in overall electricity demand. The reductions were driven by reductions in coal, oil and peat used in electricity generation (-16.1, -29.1 and -24.8% respectively). These reductions, however, were largely offset by the highest gas usage since 2010 (up 12.6% compared to 2021). The emissions intensity of electricity generation declined to 331g CO2/kWh in 2022 (from 348g CO2/kWh in 2021) due to increased renewable energy, but remained above 2020 levels.

Agriculture: Emissions overall decreased by 1.2% or 0.29 Mt CO2eq in 2022. A welcome decrease of 14% in nitrogen fertiliser use, to 343,000 tonnes, made significant progress towards the 330,000 tonne target for 2025 in the Climate Action Plan and resulted in 0.44 Mt CO2eq less emissions from agriculture. These reductions offset the impact of higher dairy cow numbers which increased for the 12th successive year. Total milk production increased by 0.7% in 2022, with milk output per cow decreasing slightly (-0.2 per cent).

Residential: Emissions decreased significantly by 12.7 per cent to 6.1 Mt CO2 eq. The main drivers for the decrease included a large rise in fossil fuel prices, warmer weather and new nationwide solid fuel regulations that ban the use of smoky fuel in home heating.

Transport: Emissions increased by 6% (to 11.63 Mt CO2 eq), following a similar increase in 2021. Overall higher transport activity – both private cars and freight transport – is eroding the impact of electric vehicles. In 2022, there were 72,000 battery electric (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEVs) which is approximately 37% of the Climate Action Plan target for 2025. Emissions in this sector in 2022 were 4.6% below the pre-pandemic level seen in 2019.

Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULULCF): This sector accounted for 10.7% of the total emissions in 2022 (including LULUCF) and decreased by 0.5%. The main source of emissions is from grasslands on organic soils that have been drained for agricultural production. Net grassland emissions were 6.8 Mt CO2 eq in 2022 while Forest land became a net source in 2022 (0.4 Mt CO2 eq) as more trees reached harvesting age.

Commenting, Ms Mary Frances Rochford, Programme Manager, EPA said: “Current decarbonisation actions are being outpaced by increased energy demand across the economy and dependence on fossil fuels for energy generation. A significant increase in Transport emissions in 2022 highlights the fact that a growing economy, with high employment, will continue to produce emissions if we do not break the link and decouple emissions from increased activity by using cleaner and alternatives sources of energy.”

The Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory 1990 to 2022 is available on the EPA website and the EPA Greenhouse Gas web resource is also available online HERE.

Further information: Emily Williamson, EPA Media Relations Office Tel: 053-9170770 (24 hours) or media@epa.ie

Visa-Free Travel Further Suspended For People With Refugee Status.

Government extends temporary suspension of the operation of the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees (Council of Europe).
Visa-free travel arrangements for Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war unaffected.

The Government has decided to extend the temporary suspension on the operation of the Council of Europe Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, to be reviewed in 12 months. The suspension, which in effect means that people with refugee status require a visa to travel to Ireland rather than travelling visa-free with their Convention Travel Document, was originally introduced in July 2022.

The decision to introduce visa requirements for those with refugee status was taken in light of evidence of people applying for asylum in Ireland, who had already received refugee status in another European country. The Government agreed last year to review the suspension in 12 months.

The visa-waiver arrangements for people fleeing the war in Ukraine remains unaffected.

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Mr Micheál Martin TD, said “This decision has been taken by Government in the context of unprecedented pressures on our international protection system. It is not a decision taken lightly but it is the right one for Ireland at this time to ensure the integrity of our immigration system, to avoid any undue pressure on systems that are already under strain and to make sure that those who need protection in Ireland can get it and get it quickly.”

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee said: “This is a carefully considered decision that we believe is necessary to protect the integrity of Ireland’s immigration system in the context of continued pressures on our international protection and accommodation systems. The visa waiver I introduced for people fleeing to Ireland from Ukraine remains unaffected. Ireland’s commitment to protecting and assisting those in need remains steadfast. We are committed to upholding our international and EU obligations towards international protection applicants and refugees.”

Ireland continues to see high levels of applications for international protection when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Before the suspension of visa free travel arrangements was introduced in July 2022, there was a 191% increase in applications by the end of June 2022 compared to the same period in 2019.

Notwithstanding the increase in applications, the International Protection Office has made significant progress in increasing the numbers of decisions made and significantly reducing processing times.

Minister McEntee also recently updated Cabinet on the modernisation programme and also on the accelerated procedure for applicants from safe countries of origin.

Last November, new accelerated procedures for those who arrive in Ireland from safe countries seeking International Protection were introduced.
The changes have ensured that a first instance decision is made within three months in such cases, a significant reduction from a norm of 17 to 24 months last year. The numbers arriving from these countries has significantly decreased.

Since last November, the numbers arriving from these countries have decreased from 210 applications in November to 64 in May this year – a drop of almost 70%. It should be emphasised that the continued imposition of a visa requirement will not prevent travel to Ireland by 1951 Convention document holders. Genuine travel plans will be facilitated through standard visa arrangements.

Since the introduction of the suspension, there have been 803 Convention Travel Document visa applications, of which 697 were granted and 105 refused.

It Must Have Been Love.

Songwriter: Per Hakan Gessle.
Vocals: Roxette singer, sadly the late Gun-Marie Fredriksson (1958–2019)

“Must have been love,
But it’s over now.“

Lay a whisper on my pillow.
Leave the winter on the ground.
I wake up lonely, this air of silence,
In the bedroom and all around.
Touch me now, I close my eyes,
And dream away.
It must have been love, but it’s over now.
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love, but it’s over now,
From the moment we touched, ’til the time had run out
Make-believing we’re together,
That I’m sheltered by your heart,
But in and outside I turn to water,
Like a teardrop in your palm.
And it’s a hard winter’s day,
I dream away.
It must have been love, but it’s over now.
It was all that I wanted, now I’m living without.
It must have been love, but it’s over now.
It’s where the water flows.
It’s where the wind blows.
It must have been love, but it’s over now.
It must have been good, but I lost it somehow.
It must have been love, but it’s over now,
From the moment we touched, ’til the time had run out.
Yeah, it must have been love, but it’s over now.
It was all that I wanted, now I’m living without.
It must have been love, but it’s over now.
It’s where the water flows.
It’s where the wind blows,
but it’s over now,
No, no, no
(It must have been love)
(But it’s over now) but it’s over now
No, no, no

End.

Death Of Jim Quigley, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today 13th July 2023, of Mr Jim Quigley [Late of Brooks Thomas], Kilminchy, Dublin Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois and formerly of Killenaule, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Quigley passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, while in the loving care of the staff at Kilminchy Lodge Nursing Home.

Pre-deceased by his sisters Joan, Mary, Eileen and Claire, his brother Martin; the passing of Mr Quigley is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife Maude, daughters Michelle and Anne, grandchildren Emma and David, son-in-law Seamus, brother Michael, sisters-in-law Joan and Eileen, brothers-in-law John and Eddie, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and friends. .

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Quigley will repose at his place of residence on Friday afternoon from 5:00pm with Rosary at 8:00pm same evening.
On Saturday afternoon his remains will be received into the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Portlaoise, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 1:00pm, followed by interment in nearby St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cemetery. Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Quigley, same can be viewed, streamed live online HERE.

The extended Quigley family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: House private on Saturday.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Limerick Killer Wayne Dundon Attacks Tipperary Jailed Inmate.

Limerick murderer and drug dealer Mr Wayne Dundon has been detained on the punishment landing of Portlaoise Prison. Mr Dundon was transferred from Mountjoy jail following a fight with fellow 27 year old Tipperary prison inmate Mr Stephen Coveney Ryan on Monday morning, July 10th last.

The fight we understand, which turned into a mass brawl, saw a blade being produced; forcing prison staff to immediately intervene. The brawl ended with four prison staff being hospitalised with non serous slash wounds, while Mr Coveney Ryan, is understood to have sustained a slash wound to his neck, requiring some 20 stitches.

An Garda Síochana were notified following the event, which prevents the Irish Prison Service from further commenting on their ongoing investigation.

Mr Dundon is regarded as one of the most volatile prisoners ever, within the current prison system, and is serving a life sentence since 2014, for the murder of innocent Limerick business man and arcade owner Mr Roy Collins, back in 2009. Mr Dundon is regularly caught in posession of mobile phones, using same reportedly to mastermind plans, from behind bars, to regain his control of the drugs trade on the south side of Limerick City. On arrival at Portlaoise prison, not surprisingly, he failed a high security metal test and is suspected to be carrying a mobile phone internally.

Tipperary man Mr Coveney Ryan is currently serving a four year sentence, having pleaded guilty to trying to choke his pregnant girlfriend and threatening to chop her up, after she refused to eat a meal he had cooked.