Results 7,961-7,980 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Order of Business (19 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The Act was enacted by the Oireachtas on 4 December last. The Deputy is referring to the need for commencement orders in respect of various aspects of that legislation. I will have to check that with the Tánaiste and the Department of Social Protection and I will respond to the Deputy when I do so.

Assaults on Elderly Persons Bill 2015: First Stage (19 Feb 2015)

Alex White: No.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Exploration Revenue (19 Feb 2015)

Alex White: Ireland has three producing gas fields namely the Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads fields off the coast of Cork. There is no commercial production of oil in the Irish offshore. The revenue generated for the State from the production from these gas fields is received in the form of acreage rental fees, royalty payments (with the exception of the Seven Heads Gas field) and corporation tax....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (24 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is the support mechanism used for two very important objectives. Firstly, it supports electricity generation which was constructed for security of supply purposes, including peat generation. Secondly, it supports the development of renewable electricity which is important for both security of supply and for reducing carbon emissions from electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunication services, including broadband, are a matter in the first instance, for the many commercial players who operate in the Irish market. Therefore, decisions on when and where to locate investment are always taken on commercial grounds, having regard to the likely return on investment. As Eircom is a private company, I have no role in relation to directing them...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (25 Feb 2015)

Alex White: Energy competitiveness is one of the three main pillars of energy policy, the other two being sustainability and security of supply. One of the main ways that competitiveness is addressed at a European level is through ensuring that the EU has well-functioning, liberalised energy markets. This is seen as the most effective means to deliver energy to consumers at lowest cost. The fall in oil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (25 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (25 Feb 2015)

Alex White: This is an operational matter for Ervia and not one in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I will, however, ask the company to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Feb 2015)

Alex White: This is an operational matter for Ervia and not one in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I will, however, ask the company to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (26 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. Currently the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff schemes are the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland. These...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (26 Feb 2015)

Alex White: In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland’s overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. Energy from biomass is expected to contribute up to half of the 2020 renewable energy targets, both here and in the EU as a whole. I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan in October 2014 which will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (26 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (26 Feb 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together. The recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the Compliance Committee were made by the Government in accordance with Section 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The appointment of members to the Compliance Committee (a statutory Committee) does not come within the new arrangements on Appointments to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (3 Mar 2015)

Alex White: As I indicated in reply to the Question referred to, the development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gaslink, which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. I understand that the company has recently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Implementation (3 Mar 2015)

Alex White: In my reply to the Deputy’s previous Question in this matter dated 27 January last, I had outlined the situation in relation to funding and digital skills training opportunities and had indicated that my Department would respond directly to the organisation referred to in the Question. Since then, my officials have written to the organisation and provided information on internet...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (3 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive, which repealed the 2001 Directive, set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. The Directive requires that Member States set out, in a National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), their trajectories towards meeting these targets and the measures to be taken to achieve them. Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (3 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...