Results 26,601-26,620 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Public sector Energy Efficiency Strategy mandates the public sector to improve its energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. Progress is monitored and publicly reported annually for each organisation. Lighting upgrades are an effective way to achieve improved energy efficiency. SEAI operate several schemes with funding from my Department which support energy efficiency, including LED lighting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management Regulations (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged, including any service charges, are a contract matter between those companies and their customers. My role as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment is to ensure that the waste management market is operating in compliance with relevant environmental legislation. With regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: As part of "A Resource Opportunity", there was a proposal to strengthen the collection permitting system further by changing the permit fee structures. Consideration was given to amending secondary legislation around the level of permit fees payable by a waste operator, which are currently €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000 depending on whether the application to collect waste is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of their domestic waste. I am informed that this process has taken longer than envisaged, due to a number of issues, including data protection issues that have arisen...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: In its original proposal the Commission envisaged Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) being in place for the following wastes by 2023: 1. Food Containers 2. Cups for Beverages 3. Beverage Containers 4. Beverage Bottles 5. Tobacco products with plastic filters 6. Balloons 7. Wet wipes 8. Plastic carrier bags and 9. Fishing Gear In relation to items 1-4 above, Ireland already has EPR in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Ireland supported a high level of ambition throughout the negotiations on a proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. This reflects Ireland's position as one of the leading countries in the EU for packaging recycling and recovery. The latest statistics for packaging recycling for 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 505, 507 and 508 of 19 February 2019. In order to meet Ireland’s target for 2030 that we will reduce emissions in the non-ETS sector by 30%, and building on the framework put in place by both the National Mitigation Plan and the National Development Plan, I am currently developing an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The procurement process to appoint...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate. It is truly an historic debate we are having in this Parliament. It is important to remind the House of the value of the withdrawal agreement that has been put in place. It has the capacity to provide stability economically, socially and politically on these islands. It is, as it states itself, an opportunity for the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: That is grand. There is no denying that Brexit has disturbed the balance of politics right across the island, and it is understandable that it provokes suspicions, as any separation will always do on different sides. The art of our calling, however, the art of politics, is the art of resolving conflict. This is more thoroughly tested by the kind of adversarial politics we have seen in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radon Control Strategy (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Currently there are no grants available to households specifically in relation to radon remediation. While the Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 provides a legislative structure for radon remediation, no scheme was ever commenced under its provisions. In light of lessons learned in the delivery of similar schemes in other jurisdictions, the provisions under the 2002 Act are no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No 198 on 19 February 2019. The position is unchanged. Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will provide the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since 2012, greenhouse gas emissions associated with flights operating in the European Economic Area (EEA), including domestic flights as well as those to and from third countries, are covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Airlines are required to monitor, report and verify their emissions, and to surrender allowances against those emissions. Airlines receive tradeable allowances...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Charge (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 187, inclusive, together. A number of Deputies have raised this issue with my Department and replies are in the process of being issued to all. The position is that the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill which includes proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Levy provisions is currently at an advanced drafting stage by Parliamentary Counsel and is expected...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Heat Incentive (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) has been developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System. Under Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan published earlier this year sets out an allocation of €300...

Independent Radio Stations: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Dooley for tabling this motion. It is our first debate on broadcasting in my time in this Ministry. It is timely. I recognise the strong endorsement of the role of local radio stations given by all speakers from the Fianna Fáil benches. That will undoubtedly be reflected in other contributions. Local radio stations are the information lifeline for audiences and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No. 497 of 26 February 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The proposed amendment to the Broadcasting, Act 2009 is currently at an advanced drafting stage. My Department continues to work closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in order to progress this work with a view to having the Broadcasting Bill published in Q2 this year.