Results 28,261-28,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168, 175 and 176 together. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of the State aid rules on broadband. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 171, 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: Broadband Service Provision (6 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. According to my Department’s high speed broadband map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, the premises referred to by the Deputy are ones which are in the BLUE area. BLUE areas are parts of the country where commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The installation of an anaerobic digester must comply with relevant planning and permitting legislation. This can vary by the type of installation and feedstock that is planned to be used. For instance, an anaerobic digester may require a waste permit or licence from a Local Authority or the Environmental Protection Agency. Approval from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine may...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 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 (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since the Government decision in May, work has continued on the due diligence necessary to conclude the NBP contract. This process is progressing towards contract award, which is expected before the end of the year. The Bidder will commence the deployment of the network shortly after that. In parallel to the work of finalising the contract, I am considering the recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of the State aid rules on broadband. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government appointed National Broadband Ireland (NBI) as the Preferred Bidder for the NBP in May 2019. This followed a tender process designed to ensure that every home and business throughout the country will have access to future proofed high speed broadband and will cater specifically to an estimated 1.1 million people, representing almost 25% of the population of rural Ireland who...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I congratulate the committee members and other parliamentarians on this initiative. The background to the regulatory environment in Ireland is very much set in our broad plan on online safety. It involves several Departments, including the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Justice and Equality, Health, Taoiseach, Children and Youth Affairs, and Education and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: In developing Government legislation on an online safety commissioner, we will adopt the principles set out in some of the Private Members' Bills, particularly provisions defining harmful content which listed issues such as cyberbullying, creating suicidal intent and so on. We will look at how we accommodate those. Nonetheless, getting legislation through the Office of the Parliamentary...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017 will be handled by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. It is part of the electoral legislation. I am sure the Minister will seek to adopt the principles set out in the Bill. The Department has articulated clearly what its definition of political purpose is and it has started to list what the informational...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is no doubt there was an attempt to interfere in some of the referenda and in those instances it was a voluntary take-down policy that was adopted by platforms rather than a legal provision. I spelled out earlier that aside from the requirement to have transparency around political advertising, the reporting of targeting and so on, much broader legislation will cover the funding of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: We have not encountered that but I am interested to hear about those. We have been working on a narrower definition of creating legislation that would require companies to have codes and an online commissioner to vet those codes. There would be a power to serve notice on platforms where a code is deficient in some respects. The crime would be created if there was a failure to comply with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: By its nature, regulation always tends to be catching up with developments that have moved ahead of it. As for, artificial intelligence, I read a book by Mr. Jamie Susskind, a US writer who has written about the processes embedded in artificial intelligence that will determine things like our right to get insurance and jobs. The political and governance system, in Ireland and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Session 3: The State of Play in Regulation (7 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government is absolutely aware of that. That is why a lot of work has gone into this and it is being led from the Taoiseach's office. There is no doubt that the importance of this is recognised. Equally, we recognise that what we do is interdependent with what colleague nations are doing. We need to work together in designing systems that will be enforceable, robust and consistent...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: The House will be aware that it was the intention of the Government to have a phased withdrawal from peat. This involved a proposal to co-fire peat with biomass. Unfortunately, An Bord Pleanála rejected that planning application. The ESB carefully evaluated whether it would be possible to secure a successful counter-application to overcome the refusal but, as the Deputy is aware, it...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Power Plant Closures (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I appreciate how intensely people feel about this matter. It was for this reason I spent time yesterday meeting unions, workers and public representatives and some community representatives. There is no doubt that this is a really difficult time. The anger and frustration was very evident. The Government is determined to deliver a just transition. For me, a just transition is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Power Plant Closures (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I will not be able to answer everything, but I will answer to the best of my ability. I recognise that one of the issues is the pressure on the rates base of local authorities. That issue was discussed yesterday and it is something at which we are going to have to look. On retrofitting, we have committed hard cash to it. There is a sum of €20 million available and we will be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 449 together. As a State intervention, the NBP must comply with the requirements of the European Commission’s Guidelines on the application of the State aid rules on broadband. The Guidelines require, amongst other things, that Member States carry out a detailed mapping exercise to identify as far as reasonably possible those areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (12 Nov 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No 530 of 15 October 2019. The position is unchanged.