Results 8,061-8,080 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned fibre networks which are located in 94 regional cities and towns. These networks are managed, maintained, operated and marketed on behalf of the State by a private company, enet. enet is required to provide services on a wholesale, carrier neutral and open access basis to licensed telecommunications operators who connect to the MANs and in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (31 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: In February, I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group to explore potential commercial opportunities for post offices. The Terms of Reference for the Group are to: - examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network; - identify the new business opportunities for the post office...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (1 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Senator for his remarks.  I understand he framed his question prior to last Friday.  He will understand, therefore, that in my initial remarks I will respond to his question, as framed, and that we may have an opportunity for a further exchange thereafter.  

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (1 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The first point concerns how the new EirGrid draft strategy will fit with the work of the expert panel. The review identifies three potential options for Grid Link and four possible solutions for Grid West. It is a draft document for public consultation and, as I said, there are three potential options for Grid Link, one of which the Senator regards as preferable. The consultation process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: EirGrid published its latest review of its Grid25 programme in the form of a new draft grid development strategy entitled “Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow”on the 27th March 2015. The draft is shaped by three key pillars: open engagement with communities; making the most of new technologies; and a commitment to make the existing grid work harder before building new...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (2 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: An Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established in January 2014 to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link and Grid West projects. The studies and reports are to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, and 261 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The regulation of retail charges for roaming services is implemented by way of EU Regulations. The first such EU Regulation commenced in 2007, followed by amending Regulations adopted in 2010 and 2012 to further reduce the maximum permitted wholesale and retail roaming charges within the EU. The Regulations also introduced measures to protect users from bill shocks when roaming. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link (GL) and Grid West (GW) projects. While the North South Transmission Line project (N/S) is outside the IEP's Terms of Reference, the Independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the statutory Committee were made by the Government in accordance with Section 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.The appointment of members to the Compliance Committee does not come within the new arrangements on Appointments to State Boards. With regard to the appointments to the BAI, I issued a press release last October...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (15 Apr 2015)

Alex White: An Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established in January 2014 to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link (GL) and Grid West (GW) projects. The IEP published the Terms of Reference for those studies in May 2014. While the North South Transmission Line...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (15 Apr 2015)

Alex White: 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. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (15 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector (15 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The objects of the public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In pursuit of these objects, which include the need to establish and maintain non-linear or ‘online’ audio-visual services, the broadcasters are charged, inter-alia, with ensuring that programmes reflect the varied elements which make up the culture of the people of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Language (15 Apr 2015)

Alex White: My Department has an Irish language officer available to oversee the translation of documents into Irish. The Department's website has Irish and English versions including bilingual Frequently Asked Questions in relation to each section of the Department.All guidelines, information leaflets and application forms in relation to the Department's schemes, programmes and processes are made...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (15 Apr 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...