Results 7,881-7,900 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: That is in relation to research. The support systems and the REFIT systems are one thing. This is the research provision. Take ocean energy as an example.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: We put a great deal of money into it in recent years, and rightly so. There are huge opportunities there and potential for the future. As a relatively small island country, the best contribution we can make to that sector at the moment is through research. We have excellent people in IMERC in Cork and we are trying to fund that as best we can. We want to bring on bioenergy. Everybody is...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: If I am not mistaken, by the end of the target period to 2020. We expect half the renewable target to be attributable to bioenergy. That is important. The Deputy is pressing that agenda and he is right. Wind has been cost-effective. It has not been without controversy. Bioenergy must feature.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: When we look at the cost-benefit figures for all of the different energy sources - wind, biomass, solar, etc. - we include in our analysis everything the Deputy has mentioned, including the cost of infrastructure. We do not just look at the cost to the State of the support mechanisms, the REFIT system and the incentives. Even when we factor in the grid and all of the infrastructure - the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: We are not always comparing like with like. The Deputy may look at another country that has moved beyond the position here and has decided it has gone far enough. We must look at what stage other countries have reached. Wind cannot be their sole energy source. I expect we will reach a stage where we decide we have reached the maximum we can get from wind and must look at other sources....

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: That is right. We have targets in terms of renewable energy to achieve by 2020 and we have made commitments as a country. We must decarbonise our economy. We have come through a traumatic economic crisis which has had an impact on what we have been able to do, but we are back on our feet. I believe the country should contribute to the broader global agenda on combating climate change. I...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: We want to encourage micro generation. We also want to encourage the involvement of individuals and communities in improving the way we manage our energy and develop energy projects. The Deputy will agree with me that one of the advantages of micro generation and community energy projects is that people in local areas see energy, energy production, energy use and efficiency as something...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: That is what we want to do. I will try to answer some of the other questions. The Deputy asked a good question in respect of expertise. He asked whether the Department and the CER have a sufficient number of technical experts. I do not believe we have had enough, but in this year's provision we have clearance to employ new experts in the area of energy and energy economics and all of the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: It is quite considerable. In 2011 it was €14.50 per tonne, while in 2013 it was €4.50 per tonne. That is a substantial reduction. I think that would account for the figures the Deputy raised.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I may have missed some other points, but if the Deputy tells me I will try to assist him.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: There has been a fall this year in the provision for works under the better energy programmes. Last year, under the Government stimulus programme, we got additional funding of the order of €30 million for 2014, which we put to very good use. That one-off stimulus of €30 million is gone, and even though we got an additional €10 million, if I am not mistaken, the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: My first point will not endear me to the Deputy, but to achieve the targets that we regard as important, in order to decarbonise our economy, irrespective of which energy sources we use to replace it, there will be a cost. It will not be possible to do it for nothing. The approach we have taken is to do it through refit incentives and support schemes. The Deputy is correct if he is saying...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I will take note of the Deputy's point and revert to him on it.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I will ask my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, to address those issues.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: We have done a lot of work arising from Corrib. If there are particular towns, villages or cities which the Deputy would like to raise with us in terms of the flow to them, I am happy to speak with him. It might be easier if we did it off-line, but I will make myself available to speak to the Deputy about this.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: It is accounted for in two different areas. One relates to Corrib, where there is a drop of €51,000, and the other relates to the petroleum affairs division, PAD, data sales, essentially the surveys, which is down by €451,000.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (11 Feb 2015)

Alex White: There are. The Deputy is correct to raise it. I am very keen on ensuring it happens, and we have clearance to do it. For example, there is a need for petroleum exploration specialists and for senior telecommunications analysts and engineers in respect of the broadband roll-out we discussed. We need a head of cyber security to lead in the protection of critical national infrastructure, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mental Health Awareness (12 Feb 2015)

Alex White: My Department is fully supportive of the promotion of positive mental health. However this Department currently confines itself to flying the National and EU flags in line with current protocols. Any change to this protocol from the Protocol and General Division of the Department of the Taoiseach will be followed by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Tax Reliefs Availability (12 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. The schemes operate by guaranteeing a minimum price for renewable energy generation over a 15 year period.There have been two REFIT schemes that provide support to onshore wind: the REFIT 1 scheme for which state aid...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mining Industry (12 Feb 2015)

Alex White: As the term “natural resources” covers a wide range of activity, the question is too broad in scope to allow a complete response from me. I propose therefore to reply only in relation to hydrocarbons and mining which are in my remit. Profits from Ireland’s three producing gas fields are taxed at a corporation rate of 25% (double the standard rate of corporation tax for...