Results 7,781-7,800 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The question was to ask me my input to this Bill. It is under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and not mine, but my Department participates fully in the whole of Government approach to addressing the challenges of climate change and the transition to a low carbon energy system and, in this regard, had an input to the climate action and low carbon...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: As the Deputy is aware, we have binding 2020 targets, which require us to act. My Department is critically involved with those targets. I have given information to the House before - in fact, earlier in my contribution this morning - on this. They are very exacting targets and they require an enormous amount of work. That work is continuing. It is not a question of there not being...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Work can be done on the advisory council in the course of the passage of this legislation. I do not think the Deputy intended to do so, but I would not dismiss representatives of State agencies, for example, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Teagasc and the ESRI. These bodies are all involved in energy policy. They have really excellent...

Other Questions: Energy Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The May 2014 Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland covers a broad range of energy issues, including an exploration of all possible fuel options for securing a balanced, sustainable and secure energy mix. It is in this context that any current discussions on nuclear energy policy are taking place. It is important to note that there are currently no plans to introduce nuclear power in...

Other Questions: Energy Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: That is the point of the consultation process in which we are engaged. That is the point of our having debate and discussions in this House and elsewhere on what we need to do in terms of addressing these huge challenges for the future. I do not disagree with much of what has been said regarding the huge potential of renewable energy production. The Deputy is absolutely right in that...

Other Questions: Energy Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Deputy cannot seriously say that the private sector will not have a significant role, particularly in an area such as offshore energy. The amount of money that is required - and I ask the Deputy to take this from me on trust - in terms of the investment base needed for these offshore projects is not in the millions; it is in the billions. I do not disagree with what the Deputy says at...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Grid25 comprises more than 100 projects, ranging from large projects such as Grid West, Grid Link and the North-South interconnector to smaller projects such as station works or upgrades of existing transmission lines around Ireland. EirGrid reviews all projects at regular intervals and is currently undertaking such a review. The overall Grid25 strategy was forecast to cost up to €4...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Regarding the expert panel's report, I expect to have an opinion on the Grid West and Grid Link projects at some time in the first and third quarters, respectively, of this year. I am expecting a report on EirGrid's ongoing review of the Grid25 programme in a matter of weeks. I cannot give the Deputy an exact date, but I would say weeks and not months.

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: That is what the report will tell us. It involves a needs analysis. The question of what capacity needs to be developed has arisen many times during the discussions on and controversies surrounding the grid. As the Deputy is aware, the level outlined in the 2007 analysis was reduced in 2010. EirGrid is projecting future need in the context of 2015. The Deputy is right in that as soon as...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The national broadband plan will deal conclusively with rural connectivity issues so that current and future generations will have guaranteed access to high-quality, high-speed broadband. The network we wish to see built will, therefore, have to be scalable and capable of meeting future anticipated traffic growth. Whatever the technology used, it must ensure that users have a minimum...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I did not quite pick up the Deputy's last comment. Be it in Donegal or any other county, broadband has been and is provided by the private sector, not the State. However, the State will intervene to fill the gap in those areas that the commercial sector will not service. This is an important role for the State. Regarding the timeline, we launched a mapping consultation process in...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I want to assure both Deputies that this is a priority for me and the Government. We are expediting this matter, but as I have already told colleagues, if anybody has an idea how we can do it more quickly, I am all ears. We are pressing this literally on a daily basis in my Department where I am consulting with my officials. This is a huge priority for me and we will deliver it. In...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: In December 2013, a ten year contract was signed with Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited to develop, roll-out and operate the national postcode system, following a public procurement process. The design for the national postcode system was approved by Government in April 2014. The Eircode brand was launched for the national postcode system on 28 April 2014. The project is...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Just in case there is any doubt arising from what the Deputy said in respect of emergency services - we can also talk about other services and interested groups - my Department has briefed all the emergency services on this project. The code will be available to all emergency services at whatever stage their systems are ready to exploit it. The national ambulance service is already...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I repeat what I said about the emergency services. The national ambulance service has welcomed the introduction of Eircodes and is fully geared up to use them. I am not sure what the issue was concerning a cross-over that the Deputy raised. However, if he wishes to raise it with me after this morning's session I will be happy to address it for him. This will be a huge advance for the...

Topical Issue Debate (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Minister for Education and Skills will be here next Tuesday.

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: We all want to see the benefits of international oil price reductions translated into cheaper prices for Irish consumers. Our transport sector is almost completely reliant on oil, which is the most prominent heating method for Irish homes. All our oil is currently imported, and this dependency makes Ireland particularly vulnerable to global price volatility. Ensuring a balanced and secure...

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I emphasise that I as Minister have no role whatever in the setting of prices, the determination of prices, or instructing or otherwise requiring companies to change their prices. We all have our views about the legal framework that has been put in place, but this is a fully liberalised market in which the energy companies to which Deputy Maloney referred are in competition with one another....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: While I agree with the Deputy that insulation and retrofitting are vital to conserving energy and boosting domestic employment, I do not accept that Ireland is underperforming in this area. Under the range of Better Energy Schemes administered on behalf of my Department by SEAI, energy efficiency retrofitting has been supported in over 163,000 homes, while almost 112,000 homes in energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure 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 approximately...