Results 4,061-4,080 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Other Questions: Post Office Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I completely agree. Prior to the local elections, a debate was raging throughout the country about post offices. The overarching message from people within the communities we both serve was that the post office was an important one-stop-shop where people could meet. This must be the ultimate focus of any debate with An Post as technology improves. We spoke earlier about broadband and that...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I will certainly ensure that proposal will feed into the business development group. The Deputy asked where is the process now, with the conversation having started in March or April. At an October meeting of the Cabinet committee on social policy, approval was conveyed for the establishment of a business development group to examine potential opportunities for both government and...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Grid Link project will facilitate the integration of renewable energy onto the transmission system, reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and facilitate further electricity interconnection with Europe, providing a more secure electricity system. Despite the recent recession and drop in electricity demand, there remains a concern about the...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: There was public pressure and it is important that there is engagement and consultation in response to that pressure. The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Rabbitte, set up the panel to consider the options of overhead pylons versus underground lines. I encourage the Deputy to feed into the process, and his contribution today will I hope form part of that. It is a fairly tight timeframe but...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: Having found out who exactly is on the panel, I would be confident of its composition in terms of independence. Obviously, it has terms of reference. The panel is chaired by Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness and includes Professor John FitzGerald; the economist, Mr. Colm McCarthy; engineering professor, Keith Bell, from the University of Strathclyde; and Dr. Karen Foley, head of the school...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for the questions. Is it okay with the Ceann Comhairle if we take the two questions together?

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I will respond to the first question but will keep the other question in the back of my mind. The national broadband plan, NBP, aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State-led intervention in areas where commercial...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: I will take the two questions in the short time available. It is a complex process because we must adhere to EU competition guidelines. The Department is not in a position to say whether it will be fibre, copper or wireless or a combination. I agree with Deputy Moynihan that fibre is where it is at in terms of business, whether the MANs network or Project Kelvin in the north west. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: It is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The network stands well positioned to become the front-office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: A key objective of this Government is to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. The National Broadband Plan commits to a range of actions to facilitate and maximise commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure. It also commits to a State intervention to make high speed broadband accessible in areas where the commercial sector...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: It is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The network stands well positioned to become the front-office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: It is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The network stands well positioned to become the front-office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Expenditure (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: The proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State. The Minister has undertaken to complete a detailed intervention strategy that will be submitted to Government in mid-2015.This process is complex and will include close examination of issues such as: - The appropriate ownership model for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: Economic analysis conducted by the Department clearly indicated that, under agreed policy and regulatory conditions, renewable energy trading could deliver significant economic benefits to Ireland and the UK, as well as being attractive to developers. However, given the economic, policy and regulatory complexities involved, and some key decisions that the UK are not yet in a position to take,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation with the UK Government in January 2013, a joint programme of work was undertaken to consider how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both Ireland and the UK. Economic analysis conducted on the Irish side clearly indicated that, under agreed policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: Ireland's energy policy seeks to facilitate the harnessing of our abundant, indigenous, clean energy resources, including offshore renewable energy, and the economic benefits of any such development whilst also protecting our environment. The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), published in February 2014, provides the mechanism through which action across Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: The Grid Link project will facilitate the integration of renewable energy onto the transmission system, reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and facilitate further electricity interconnection with the European grid, providing a more secure electricity system. It will also provide a platform for job creation in the south and east of Ireland. EirGrid estimates that, if left unchecked,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Production (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is independent in the performance of its functions. The Minister has no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects such as the Shannon LNG project. The Minister and Government colleagues have consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: The Building Energy Rating (BER) scheme was established under the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations 2006. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is designated as the issuing authority with responsibility for registering BER assessors, logging BER assessments and managing the BER scheme. The BER was introduced for new dwellings in January 2007 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (11 Dec 2014)

Joe McHugh: EirGrid’s Grid25 strategy is a major initiative that proposed significant new build of transmission capacity and the upgrading of around 2,000km of existing lines. It comprises over 100 projects ranging from large projects such as the North-South transmission line, to smaller projects involving upgrades. Grid25 will facilitate regional economic development, together with job creation...