Results 7,361-7,380 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

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

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 1 of 17 July 2014. While I am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by many families at the current time, I have no statutory function in the monitoring or setting of electricity prices. Responsibility for the regulation of these markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body....

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

Alex White: Interconnector trading is an operational matter for EirGrid and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function. Information in relation to the East West Interconnector, including the current electricity transfer in MW, is available on Eirgrid's website at . The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated jointly by the...

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

Alex White: The information requested is set out in the following table. Year No. of staff departures Total annual salaries associated with departing staff 2013 – July to Dec inc 7 €531,000 2014 16 €1,582,000 2015 1 €27,000 2016 3 €115,000 Figures for 2013 and 2014 are based on departures to date and include expected departures to end of 2014. It is not...

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

Alex White: The tables below set out the number of new staff employed in 2013 and 2014 in my Department and the annual cumulative costs arising from these hires: Number of new staff Annual salary cost 1/7/13 – 31/12/13 3* €281,173 1/1/14 to date 12** €471,840 *Two of which were to replace existing staff. ** Four of which were to replace existing staff and a further four of...

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

Alex White: The consultation process on the Green Paper on Energy Policy has given rise to a wide range of contributions on energy policy which my Department is currently considering. These will form a valuable input to the development of an Energy White Paper which will be published next year. In terms of electricity infrastructure, I should highlight that the Grid25 project is EirGrid’s plan...

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

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Developments in the broadband market over recent years means that there is now a choice of commercial operators offering broadband services over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: 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 (NBP) aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: 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. Through the implementation of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) we aim to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland, ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved...

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

Alex White: Since market liberalisation in 1999, the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The market has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a...

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

Alex White: I refer to the paper from the Oireachtas Library Service, which the Deputy forwarded to me, setting out a distinction between an 'administrative arrangement' and a 'contract for services' and I can confirm that there are two such administrative arrangements in the case of my Department. Details are as follows: Name of Company Details Duration of administrative arrangement Cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: Since market liberalisation in 1999, broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services and issues surrounding speeds, is primarily a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bioenergy Strategy Publication (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: I will shortly be publishing the Bioenergy Plan in draft form pending the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the conditions to underpin the...

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

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources by 2020. At the end of 2012, 19.6% of Ireland’s electricity requirements came from renewable sources with 5.2%...

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

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Coal has played a larger part in our energy mix in recent years, with the predominant increase coming in power generation, primarily due to its competitiveness. Coal's enhanced competitiveness as an energy source is caused by its low price...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: 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. through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

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

Alex White: The State will only intervene in the telecommunications market in cases of clear market failure. Any State intervention requires the prior approval of the European Commission (DG Competition) to ensure that such investment does not distort competition and displace commercial investment. In the case of the proposed intervention under the National Broadband Plan, the clear intention of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Alex White: The TV licence fee is distributed in accordance with Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, to both RTÉ and TG4 in order to facilitate the pursuit of their public service objectvies which are also set out in the 2009 Act. An Post pays the Department all TV licence revenues collected from sales and the Department of Social Protection currently pays a sum of €52m in respect of...

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

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1651 and 1652 together. The objects of the national public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In pursuit of those objects, RTÉ and TG4 are statutorily charged with the provision of a comprehensive range of programmes in the Irish and English languages, including programmes that provide coverage of sporting,...

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

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1653, 1654 and 1656 together. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some...

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

Alex White: A consultation process on a Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was launched in May this year, inviting written views, observations and suggestions on the shape of Ireland’s future energy policy. Over 1,200 submissions were received by the closing date in July, including a submission on behalf of BW Energy. Each of the submissions will be considered as part of the process of...