Results 7,441-7,460 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Rehiring (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I can confirm that four persons in receipt of civil or public service pensions were employed in my Department during 2012; five during 2013 and five during 2014. The abatement principle was applied in all cases and all were employed in a temporary capacity.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: How much time do I have?

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Budget 2015 is the first recovery budget. The era of tax rises affecting low and middle-income earners and cuts in public services is now over. Budget 2015 will help secure employment and a sustainable economic and social recovery for Ireland and our people. Its reliefs are targeted at low and middle-income earners, especially families who have borne such a heavy financial burden over the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Irish Water is a subsidiary of BGÉ, a State-owned company which has developed a telecommunications business through the laying of ducting alongside its gas pipeline network. Drawing on the considerable experience of BGÉ, it is a matter for Irish Water to decide, in the first instance, whether there is a commercial case for entering the liberalised telecommunications market. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: There were no performance related payments made to any staff of my Department during the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains 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. The Board of An Post is required to approve rolling five-year business and financial plans each year in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (16 Oct 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 to 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: Radio Broadcasting Issues (16 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital radio in Ireland. This Act gives RTÉ the power to establish and operate a multiplex for the purposes of providing a digital sound broadcasting service and gives the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) responsibility for licensing spectrum in respect of digital sound broadcasting services. In addition, it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (21 Oct 2014)

Alex White: While this is a matter for the management and staff of the ESB, and not a matter in which I have a function, I welcome the opportunity to address the matter. The ESB General Employees’ Superannuation Scheme is the scheme through which pensions for the majority of employees in the electricity business are funded. The fund is vested in trustees nominated by ESB and its members for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Redeployment (21 Oct 2014)

Alex White: My Department has no record of any employees who have designated County Mayo as their preference for a transfer. No member of staff in my Department has transferred to Mayo since 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: All post primary schools in Ireland, including those in County Waterford, will have a 100 Mbps broadband connection installed by the end of 2014, through a project funded jointly by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. I have set out in the following table a list of the 14 schools in County Waterford which have had their broadband connection installed and are actively...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This will be achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial investment in areas where there is a commercial case to do so and the development of a State-led intervention for non-commercial areas. As I explained in responding to the previous question, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: 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. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects such as the Shannon LNG project. I and my Government colleagues have consistently been supportive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of Ireland's 2.3m premises are expected to have access to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 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 to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Through the national broadband plan, NBP, the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and at least 1.6 million of the 2.3 million...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I did not say I would make any particular announcement this week. I said we would publish the results of the consultation and the various submissions we received on the website this week. In respect of the map I said it would available shortly. I expect that to be during the month of November. The state aids aspect could not be new to the Deputy. The state aids rules are well known and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Unfortunately, it is not the kind of initiative that simply passing a law will make happen. While I agree with the Deputy that this is urgent and important - we can all agree with that - I am aware that the passing of legislation, of itself, will not make this happen. The Deputy knows it is more complex than that. I am not sure what precisely he is proposing when he suggests there should...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Absolutely. We have made very good progress in the secondary school system.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Absolutely. Broadband is a critically important requirement for communities, citizens and businesses right across the board. We will deliver it. People are probably looking for fewer announcements from me and more delivery