Results 26,841-26,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: Maybe it is. The Oireachtas will have to consider whether we want to change that. I fully understand the argument Deputy Dooley is making concerning the importance of local radio. From my experience, it is an important forum where it is possible to get the time and space to discuss issues and make a case in an environment less prone to fake news. State aid rules do, however, constrain...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: I should have mentioned that the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, will be taking the two programmes that follow. The key element in programme C is support for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. Much work regarding energy does not appear in the Estimates, however. Examples include work done in setting a new goal for renewable energy on our grid or supporting the...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: Programme F deals with resource management, waste management and the circular economy. The big item here involves funding of €36.9 million for the Environmental Protection Agency. There is also a significant allocation for the remediation of landfill sites. The other major item is the climate action fund. Members will see that €15 million is scheduled to be drawn down from...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: The Deputy makes a really important point about how we are going to move the dial. He has acknowledged, as I have often said before, that Government cannot fund the level of change that we need. Much of the change that we need is good in itself. It pays for itself and produces a better, healthier environment and a more sustainable relationship with nature. We will definitely have to think...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: There is a provision for purchasing carbon credits. I think it is at something like €4.5 million. We anticipate that we will be well short of the end-year target which we were to be at in 2020 so even though there was a bit of a surplus early in the period of 2013 to 2020, when we were below our line and therefore earning credits, we will end up with a significant deficit and...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Eamon Ryan and the committee for the work that they have done. It is right, as we have done in this case, to have the Citizens' Assembly followed by the Oireachtas committee and then a Government plan. That approach has helped us to undertake significant change in other spheres of Government. I agree with the Deputy when he says that our Department will need to considerably...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: The Deputy might say that. I could not comment.
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: Mr. Manley may correct me on this if I am wrong. The position is that there are two processes through which solar energy can evolve. One is the renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, which is the successor to these refits. We are now working intensively to develop the capacity to have an auction for that, to be scheduled for about the end of this year. That will be a...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: Just to confirm, we will seek to have a road map for offshore wind to come on board. As Deputy Eamon Ryan said, we need to upgrade the Foreshore Act. The Taoiseach is taking a particular interest in driving that forward and there is a cross-Government team working on it. We also recognise that offshore wind could be lumpy in terms of the units so we will have to look at it differently from...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: These are the income receipts of my Department. The vast majority relate to the TV licence, €227 million, as I said. The balance comprises mining and petroleum income amounting to €8.8 million; some €4.3 million in pension levy and pension contributions; and some €2.5 million in other miscellaneous items.
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: That was established by the waste management fund in 2001. In excess of €830 million has been raised by the fund through the plastic bag levy and the landfill levy. These environmental levies achieved their objectives in reducing usage of plastic bags and tonnage of waste going to landfill. Revenue into the fund has fallen in recent years. The number of plastic bags subject to the...
- Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Further Revised) (2 Apr 2019) Richard Bruton: I thank Mr. Michael Manley, Mr. Matt Collins, Ms Finola Rossi, Mr. Robert Deegan and Mr. Jim Whelan, as well as the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, for supporting the presentation of the Further Revised Estimate. I also thank Deputy Lowry for chairing part of the meeting in the absence of the Chairman. I thank Deputy Naughton for the work she did in putting together the recently published...
- Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (3 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: Through the 2012 Schools 100Mbps Project all 780+ post primary schools in Ireland now have access to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) high speed broadband. The aim of this project was to ensure that all second level students can enhance their learning experience through digital. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland,...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: I assure this House and the people of Thurles that An Post has very ambitious plans. It is not seeking to close its post office service-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----but to extend and improve its service. It has gone through a restructuring plan-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----and it now has very ambitious programmes in place to develop the scale of its business. It will take on new business, including in the areas of financial services, parcel services and other new services that have not been available. Thurles will be one of the flagship services. The existing premises does not allow it to deliver those services.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: I am aware that Deputies and the community are concerned about this, but this is entirely an An Post decision.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: It has responsibility, and it has its own board. In light of what was expressed last week, I asked An Post to meet with public representatives so that the fears expressed could be dealt with.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: I hope that such a meeting will occur.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Apr 2019)
Richard Bruton: I have been categorically clear throughout this that the responsibility for this decision will be taken by An Post and its board. I have no power, contrary to what the Deputy requests-----