Results 2,061-2,080 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Minister's role in this matter is very clearly delineated in law, as is the role of the Commission for Energy Regulation. That is as it should be in terms of the configuration of the different responsibilities residing in different entities. However, I note the Deputy's point in regard to prices generally. This issue is the subject of ongoing debate in a context where electricity...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: To reiterate, there is no basis for the Minister in any way directing the CER. However, the Minister does, of course, have a responsibility in these matters in the public interest. On 6 June, the regulator published the proposed decision paper on the PSO levy for 2014-2015. That levy is of critical importance in the context of the issues the Deputy has raised. My predecessor wrote to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for his kind words and I look forward to a fruitful relationship with him, the Opposition spokespersons and all Members of the House. I also join him in paying tribute to my predecessor, Deputy Rabbitte, for his stewardship in this role, and the former Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd. I am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families and businesses as a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Ireland's electricity and gas markets are commercial, competitive, liberalised and regulated in accordance with frameworks set out in EU and national legislation. The regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including the retail segments of these markets, is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 provided for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Rural Broadband Scheme (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this overall target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government recently approved the publication of the Bioenergy Plan in draft form pending the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government's policy on energy affordability is founded on the fundamental principle that everyone should be able to afford to light and heat their home. The Government’s affordable energy strategy “Warmer Homes” identified three key interlinking factors which determine whether a person falls into energy poverty, namely energy costs, incomes and thermal efficiency. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Section 84 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the terms of Board members of the Public Service Broadcasting Corporations, RTÉ and TG4. In accordance with section 84(2), Board members may be paid such remuneration (if any) as is determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, out of monies at the disposal of the corporation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The ocean energy sector in Ireland, as in other countries, is at the pre-commercial stage. As identified in the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which was published earlier this year, the ocean energy sector holds real potential for growth in the green economy and jobs in our coastal communities. The OREDP sets out policy actions and enablers to realise this ambition. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Last week, the Government approved the publication, in draft form, of a Bioenergy Plan, which was prepared by my Department with input from a number of government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Plan identifies the opportunity for the sustainable development of Ireland's bioenergy resources and will be implemented through a number of policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. Proposals for a whole-of-government review of the scope for providing additional public services through local post offices were presented to the Cabinet Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s National Broadband Plan to accelerate commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure and to launch a Government led market intervention to make high speed broadband services accessible in areas the commercial market will not serve, was preceded by a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report and a public consultation process. The NGBT report...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low-income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and are vulnerable to energy poverty. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Data Protection (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: As you will be aware, the Government gave approval to my Department to prepare legislation to enable the TV Licence Collecting Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers, including Sky and UPC. The legislation will be designed to allow the Collecting Agent to have access to the information solely for its statutory functions in relation to licence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Security of energy supply is crucial to every society and economy. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs, and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers and businesses. The SEAI publication, Renewable Energy in Ireland 2012, noted the that oil and gas are a critical component of our energy mix, providing 76% of...