Results 4,461-4,480 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: There was a difficulty, and it was expressed on both sides of the House. The social welfare contract is the kernel of the matter and is critical to post offices at the moment. We have to look at the broad spectrum, including services that are available in other departments within counties. Let us consider the consultation process. Deputies can see all the submissions on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, is clear on this. A communiqué went out in the aftermath of the sending of the letters. She has been clear in saying that no further letters will go out. That answers the first question. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy White, will be looking at all legislation that comes before him in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: The 2009 EU renewable energy directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. To meet this target, Ireland is committed to providing 40% of its electricity energy, 12% of its heating energy and 10% of its transport power from renewable sources. Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I share Deputy Colreavy's concerns on the need for joined-up thinking and the need to put a plan in place. My predecessor, the former Minister, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, worked very hard on a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom that did not come to fruition. It is off the agenda now. A good deal of focus went into that at the time. Anyway, the White Paper is an opportunity to pursue...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: On possible new schemes in 2016, following consultation, there will be the possibility of funding schemes for SMEs and households for things such as renewable heat incentives. Once those proposals and policies come to the fore, we will be in a position to elaborate further on them. On tensions between Departments, I do not see what happened as a tension. There is ongoing engagement and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy. The national broadband plan draft intervention strategy which was published on 15 July 2015 sets out a series of detailed proposals by Government in respect of the proposed State intervention. It sets out the key elements of the intervention, what services are proposed and how they will be delivered. It outlines various aspects of the proposed intervention, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I do not disagree with any of the Deputy's points on ensuring that we provide mobile phone or broadband coverage on the islands. This debate is important because the national broadband plan will go to public procurement by the end of this year. As part of that intervention, it will target the 30% of Ireland, including the islands, that is not commercially viable. The winning bidder or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy again for raising this matter. It is important to point out that 85% of the 30% intervention area will be completed by 2018, but this work will start next year. In the Deputy's contribution she spoke about the potential on the islands and those living on the islands. To give a particular example, I met a person last week who works in Scotland and on Arranmore Island, who...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: The provision of mobile telephony services is subject to a requirement to secure access to the required radio spectrum by way of licence. The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. Licences issued by ComReg apply terms and conditions on mobile network operators, such...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy. There is no point saying there are no problems because it is a difficulty. One hears many reasons. When the Deputy made the point yesterday on the radio, he heard technical reasons it is not happening, but the texts coming in from the public were in support of the Deputy's point that coverage has deteriorated. There are all sorts of reasons and I will not waste the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I will certainly pass on the Deputy's sentiments to the Minister, Deputy White. There is a critical mix of stakeholders, be it the industry or local authorities. We can look at what did not go right in the past, when we built new motorways, and if there was enough engagement between the Government and the National Roads Authority, NRA, in the building of antennae beside motorways. We can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Emergency Services Personnel (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I am aware of these concerns and I have received documentation from individuals. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I fully appreciate the fact that the emergency call answering service, ECAS, has been operating to an extremely high standard, with the dedication of the operators and the quality of the service they provide being a major contributor to this. The ECAS operators handle...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Emergency Services Personnel (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy again for raising this important issue. In the correspondence I have seen, as the Deputy has correctly alluded to, people use the two words, "dignity" and "respect". I am hopeful that the ongoing conversation between Conduit and BT Ireland will lead to a conclusion to this that will be favourable. I am not in a position to say whether this will happen or what will be the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Emergency Services Personnel (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I am in danger of repeating myself. I am clearly not involved in negotiations or conversations between BT Ireland and Conduit but I am led to believe that conversations are ongoing. I am hopeful there will be a successful outcome. The Deputy asked if the Minister can intervene if that is not the case. At this stage we must focus on a successful outcome, which is important from the...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: A similar question was asked before this one. I could read the prepared reply into the record for the Deputy's benefit or speak to the issue in general.

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I sat on the business development group and Mr. Bobby Kerr was very sincere and genuine in his approach to pulling together all the various stakeholders. The Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, and I are on the group so there is political input. There are other representative groups and stakeholders as well. From day one, Mr. Kerr was consistent in saying that he wanted outcomes and...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I share Deputy Mulherin's concern and that of all the Deputies. Whether one is on Tory Island, where the postmaster has told me that is where people meet on pension day, where they talk and congregate, or in Letterkenny, Castlebar or Westport, one will be meeting people in the post office and that must be the focus. The bread and butter issue in respect of the service providers, the...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: I will take the Deputy's first point about the tourism. I must say, I admire that, as a Clare man, he is looking to spread the tourism outwards.

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: Hopefully he will send a few upwards, because I heard a projected figure of 1.2 million tourists visiting the Cliffs of Moher this year, so they are doing well. I compliment everyone in the tourism sector in County Clare in that regard. He is right that there are opportunities. I am glad he made that submission as well. That is a proactive way of doing that. I do not think there are any...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (22 Sep 2015)

Joe McHugh: Sorry, on tourism?