Results 7,321-7,340 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government's policy on energy affordability is founded on the fundamental principle that everyone should be able to afford to light and heat their home. The Government’s affordable energy strategy “Warmer Homes” identified three key interlinking factors which determine whether a person falls into energy poverty, namely energy costs, incomes and thermal efficiency. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Section 84 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the terms of Board members of the Public Service Broadcasting Corporations, RTÉ and TG4. In accordance with section 84(2), Board members may be paid such remuneration (if any) as is determined by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, out of monies at the disposal of the corporation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The ocean energy sector in Ireland, as in other countries, is at the pre-commercial stage. As identified in the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), which was published earlier this year, the ocean energy sector holds real potential for growth in the green economy and jobs in our coastal communities. The OREDP sets out policy actions and enablers to realise this ambition. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Last week, the Government approved the publication, in draft form, of a Bioenergy Plan, which was prepared by my Department with input from a number of government departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Plan identifies the opportunity for the sustainable development of Ireland's bioenergy resources and will be implemented through a number of policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. Proposals for a whole-of-government review of the scope for providing additional public services through local post offices were presented to the Cabinet Committee on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s National Broadband Plan to accelerate commercial investment in high speed broadband infrastructure and to launch a Government led market intervention to make high speed broadband services accessible in areas the commercial market will not serve, was preceded by a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report and a public consultation process. The NGBT report...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low-income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and are vulnerable to energy poverty. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Data Protection (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: As you will be aware, the Government gave approval to my Department to prepare legislation to enable the TV Licence Collecting Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers, including Sky and UPC. The legislation will be designed to allow the Collecting Agent to have access to the information solely for its statutory functions in relation to licence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Security of energy supply is crucial to every society and economy. A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs, and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers and businesses. The SEAI publication, Renewable Energy in Ireland 2012, noted the that oil and gas are a critical component of our energy mix, providing 76% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: On June 24th last, the Government approved the streamlining and refocusing of the commercial operations of Bord na Móna and Coillte, primarily in the bio energy and wind energy sectors. The decision will see the establishment of a Joint Venture (JV) between the two companies, with subsidiaries or SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) as necessary, to focus on the identified areas of greatest...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Ireland's progress to date in transitioning to renewable energy was underlined by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) in its publication, in February 2014, of "Renewable Energy in Ireland 2012". That publication noted that the contribution of renewable energy to meeting overall energy demand rose from 2.3% to 7.1% between 1990 and 2012, with renewable electricity contributing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. The primary support mechanisms for renewable electricity, including electricity generated from wind, are the Renewable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 424 together. The Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) handles all emergency calls in the State and forwards calls to the relevant Emergency Service. ECAS introduced a text messaging service since 2012 to enable deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the Republic of Ireland send an SMS text message to ECAS where it will be passed to An...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425, 426 and 452 together. The Government's Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together. The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in November 2012. In relation to my Department, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) will be merged with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office which will, this year, see it transfer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in 2013 or to date in 2014. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of staff in Semi State Companies have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies. The information sought by the Deputy regarding payments to staff by Semi State Companies is an operational matter for each Company. I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the Government Decision of 12 April 2011, each year, on my Department's website, Expressions of Interest have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Rehiring (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: My Department does not fill term-time vacancies. The former Minister at my Department employed a retired member of an Garda Síochána as a Civilian Driver from 2 May 2011 to 11 July 2014.