Results 28,241-28,260 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: I do not propose to comment in detail in respect of a project in another jurisdiction. I understand, however, that the aim of Project Stratum is to improve broadband connectivity by extending Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband infrastructure to premises across Northern Ireland that cannot yet access such a service. I further understand that while a budget has been identified and a public...

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

Richard Bruton: The telecoms market is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), who is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions. ComReg published a number of decisions in November 2018 governing the regulation of wholesale broadband access markets (ComReg docs 18/94, 18/95 and 18/96 – available on ComReg’s website). I understand...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 888 to 890, inclusive, together. My Department recently conducted a public consultation to close the ongoing mapping exercise, seeking submissions from operators who wish to have their existing high speed broadband networks, or who have developed plans to invest in high speed broadband networks over the next 7 years, to be included on the...

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

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) contract provides a mechanism for National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to apply for compensation for encroachment where other commercial operators have deployed a future proofed high speed broadband service in advance of NBI's own deployment in the intervention area. This subsidy is capped and can only be applied for where my Department determines a commercial...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will go through the developments since we last spoke. As Members are aware, we produced an ambitious climate action plan in June of this year. To illustrate the level of ambition, it is worth explaining to Senators that we must achieve very significant changes if this is to be developed. Over the next ten years, we need to have five times as much renewables as we have today. That will...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senators for what has been a very interesting and, in many ways, an encouraging debate. I will try to deal with some of the points. Obviously, I cannot deal with all of them. Senator Leyden raised a few issues on which I am not sure he is 100% accurate. The climate Bill was a Fianna Fáil-Green Party one and it was not blocked. The situation is unfortunate in respect of the...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The same is true in other areas. There is no doubt that regulation will be introduced for the use of nitrates and the management of different parts of the environment. I have no doubt that in time BusConnects will be pushed through, not by some big subsidy but because we are giving priority to buses and accepting that no matter how many cars there are, the space in which to drive them is...

Seanad: Climate Action: Statements (5 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: These are controversial measures, but if we want to be serious about tackling this issue, we will have to make these decisions. It is not about assuming the taxpayer's pockets are ever deeper. Some of it is about intelligent policymaking and putting a price on things. Congestion pricing has been introduced successfully. However, these are not popular measures. That is why Senator Lombard...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is important to put this contract in context. Without the project, 25% of our population in rural Ireland will be without access to broadband.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I can see no prospect of rural prosperity being delivered without access to high-speed broadband.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: That is not what I said. I will answer the Deputy if he stops interrupting and gives me a chance to do so. We have entered into a 25-year contract to design, build and operate this service, which will cost €2.1 billion, plus a contingency of €480 million and a VAT payment which will be recouped by the State. The Labour Party's Minister considered the options at the time and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The gap-funded model was left on the table, as was a model which would grant a 25-year contract with reversion to the State. According to best financial and operating advice, a choice was made that the gap-funded model was the preferable option.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Northern Ireland is now commencing a broadband bidding process. No bids have been entered by any tenderer. Northern Ireland has simply indicated the approximate scale of the-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----operation it intends to develop. No bids have been made by any of the bodies or prospective contractors concerned.

Early Exit from Peat for Electricity Generation: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I intend to share time with Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy. I welcome the decision of the Business Committee to allocate time to allow us to discuss this very important issue. As Members are aware, the position in respect of Bord na Móna has been threatened by a number of decisions. This is a very worrying time for workers, their families and the entire midlands region. We have...

Early Exit from Peat for Electricity Generation: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputies for participating in the debate. Many points were raised that I will not have the opportunity to answer in great detail. However, I wish to reassure the workers, the House and the region that I am working intensely to develop a just transition strategy. As Deputies know, in the budget I secured an allocation for just transition from the carbon transition fund. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Climate Action Plan, which set a target of 936,000 electric vehicles to be on the road in Ireland by 2030, includes a range of actions to support the uptake of electric vehicles. These actions include developing the charging network to stay sufficiently ahead of demand. There are currently over 650 standard public charge points and 96 fast chargers (the majority of which are operated...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 174 together. The two engagements with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment referenced by the Deputy reflect the position set out in the National Broadband Plan procurement documents, most notably the Project Information Memorandum (PIM) published by my Department. The PIM states clearly that there is no...

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

Richard Bruton: The roll out of 5G services across Ireland will be important to meeting the country’s future connectivity needs; 5G will offer improvements in services and unlock new opportunities to businesses, communities and citizens across the State. Ireland is a front runner in supporting the adoption of 5G services and exploring its potential capabilities. The State’s early allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In order to deliver on the ambition set out in the Climate Action Plan, my Department is developing the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The RESS has been designed within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework and the scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of 70% by 2030. The draft National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (NECP) sets out...