Results 26,641-26,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Commission document published on 28 May 2018 contained a 90% collection rate for plastic bottles by 2025, as pointed out by the Deputy. However, this changed very early on during negotiations between Member States in the Council to 2030, which became the de facto working date for negotiations. The Deputy will be well aware that negotiations such as these can be both difficult and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Repak were not the only experts consulted in relation to the proposed EU directive on single use plastics. In consideration of the above proposal, relevant experts were consulted as the need arose. For the purpose of developing negotiating positions and ensuring we had all the relevant knowledge, short, relevant extracts were forwarded to necessary experts. I believe this is common practice...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am conscious that Ireland remains substantially short of the targets which have been set previously. I have secured government approval to develop an all of government plan, which will set out the actions which need to be taken in order for us to step up our level of ambition. The plan will focus on implementation, the actions which need to be taken, with strict timelines for implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Data (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the official source of energy data for Ireland. They develop and maintain comprehensive National and sectoral statistics for energy production, transformation and end-use. According to their 'Energy in Ireland 2018 Report', the 2017 energy mix for Ireland was: TPER Fuels 2017 - ktoe 2017- % share Coal 1,099 7.6 Peat 695 4.8 Oil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am leading on the development of an All of Government Plan, which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. This involves working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives which will allow Ireland to set a clear pathway to reducing our dependency on fossil fuels across the economy and to meet our targets, under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Waste Framework Directive was amended in 2018 and introduced a new requirement for EPR schemes to modulate the financial contributions paid by producers by 2023. The objective of this new provision is to provide an incentive to producers to design products that contribute to waste prevention and facilitate recycling by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I am currently preparing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives across electricity, transport and heat, as well as a range of other sectors. The All of Government Plan will build on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Clean Air Strategy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With that in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first national Clean Air Strategy. The strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will include a range of specific actions to reduce the health and environmental impacts of air pollution, and will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Faithlegg National School 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 a bidder...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: ESB is a commercial State body with its own Board. Investment projects by ESB and its subsidiaries are an operational matter for ESB.In terms of oversight, my role, as Minister, is to ensure that ESB is compliant with the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the statutory framework underpinning ESB. I have asked ESB to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radio Broadcasting (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: National and local radio makes an enormous contribution to the lives of individuals and communities in this country. I fully appreciate the difficulties faced by the independent broadcasting sector and my Department is working to ensure that positive changes are put in place. To date, independent radio stations have benefited from the Sound and Vision Scheme, funded from the licence fee,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Poverty (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: While supermarkets are directly responsible for the disposal of only 2% of food waste, their influence across the supply chain makes them central actors in combatting our national food waste problem. Recognising this, my Department and the EPA have sought to involve major supermarkets in reducing food waste. Aldi, BWG, Lidl, Musgrave and Tesco have all participated in my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting was set up by government decision in July 2018 to examine options for the reform of TV licence collection, taking account of recommendations set out in the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The Group's work is ongoing and it is scheduled to report to me at the end of this month. As I noted in the Debate on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cyber Security Policy (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, 244 and 245 together. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of my Department, has a number of roles, including leading in the management of major cyber security incidents, providing guidance and advice to citizens and businesses, and to manage cyber security related risks to critical infrastructure and services....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: This is an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high speed broadband. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across the country, and a State intervention in those areas where commercial operators acting alone are unlikely to invest. Since December...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Prior to the launch of the National Broadband Plan procurement process, my Department undertook a public consultation on the NBP State Intervention Strategy. A preliminary cost benefit analysis (CBA) was completed at that stage, in line with the Public Spending Code. The CBA has been updated at key points during the procurement process. The level of State subsidy for the National Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 251 together. My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic sectors such as climate action, waste management, energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (6 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. Government waste management policy is set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012. European, national and regional waste management policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in Article 4 of the 2008 Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), whereby the prevention, preparing for...