Results 7,601-7,620 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Reference has been made to the plebiscite and parliament democracy. Let us consider what is democratic and what constitutes democracy. I believe protests, including street protests, are part of our democracy. No one has any right to criticise people's absolute entitlement to demonstrate on the streets. However, to suggest we are attempting to demonise people when we criticise the...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: This brings me to the issue of the plebiscite and a referendum. This is a parliament. With all of its flaws and drawbacks it is a parliament in which each of us has been elected. By the way, I heard Deputy Murphy referring to people being scared and that the Government was scared. I put it to him that no matter what he does or says I am not scared. The worst thing that can happen to a...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: So be it.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I believe Deputy Murphy is engaged in the language of trying to ensure that someone is scared. To try to introduce a level of fear and intimidation into a protest and then talk about Government members being scared is despicable.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Deputy Joe Higgins - who, in fairness, I have never witnessed in a similar situation over 30 years - now finds himself having to defend and support Deputy Paul Murphy. Why would we not include in legislation a provision to give people comfort in relation to privatisation, even though there is not a single Member of the House who supports privatisation, apparently?

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Why would we not accept that the Irish people understand that a provision in legislation which is effectively a lock on any change in relation to Irish Water would be effective? It would be extremely effective. For people to say it lacks impact, effect or legality is wrong. While it is a new approach to have ministerial decisions contingent on the people's choice, what is wrong with that?...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Is it not a democratic act? If the Members opposite do not trust Parliament, they think that legislation is akin to a promise. They put the two things on the same level.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: They reduce legislation passed solemnly in the House to the idea of a promise. Their notion of democracy and democratic activity is a strange one. However, the Members opposite make one or two points with which no one could disagree. At one point Deputy Murphy said - he might not have intended to say it - that there is no free money. Indeed there is not; nor is there any possibility of...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: That is the sort of economy, democracy and society we should build.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: It is on the way, Dessie.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: 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: Broadband Service Speeds (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that 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 services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: While this is not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland had been offering a micro-generation feed-in tariff since February 2009. No other electricity supplier had chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they have been invited to do so by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I am not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that 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 services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together. In January 2014, an independent panel of experts, chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuiness, was established to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The Panel met on several occasions since then to consider and approve the terms of reference for comprehensive, route specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Grid25 Strategy focusses on major transmission system investment in order to meet Ireland’s long term energy needs and aligns with the Government’s target of having 40% of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2020. EirGrid has a statutory obligation to explore and develop opportunities for interconnection with other transmission systems. Enhanced security of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: My Department has one whole-time equivalent Data Protection Officer who is responsible for handling data protection requests.  In accordance with the Data Protection Acts, my Department has registered as a Data Controllor with the Office of the Data Protection Commission and has accordingly fulfilled the obligations required under the Data Protection Registration process.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Under Section 20(4) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927, as amended by Regulation 8 of S.I. 445/2000, EirGrid is empowered to enter lands to undertake appropriate investigations, inquiries, and examinations. This access is intended to support the function set out in Regulation 8(1) whereby EirGrid is required to "operate and ensure the maintenance of, and if necessary, develop a secure,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (25 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a smaller contribution. The Electric Vehicle...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (25 Nov 2014)

Alex White: A contract was signed by Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited in December 2013 to develop and roll out the National Postcode System over a 10 year period. Total spend to date on that contract is €3.22m. Aside from the contract with Capita, the table below includes all consultancy costs from 2010 to date associated with the National Postcode System. Company Duration of...