Results 8,101-8,120 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (22 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 680 of 21 April 2015. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Apr 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. The technologies supported include onshore wind energy, hydroelectricity, landfill gas, waste-to-energy and biomass...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Apr 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. These are national targets and are not disaggregated on a county basis. The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid at the start of March...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consumer Protection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: There are statutory provisions in place in both general consumer law and sector specific legislation to protect retail users of electronic communication services from incurring arbitrary charges for the provision of electronic communications services, including charges for receiving unsolicited texts which do not form part of a contracted service.Under current European regulations, electronic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational one for Bord na Móna. Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the electricity market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas. I understand that in order to ensure its continued success, the company is implementing a programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: In accordance with Section 142 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, any premises at which a television is located requires a TV Licence regardless of its use. Therefore, owners and controlling management companies of all holiday home accommodation premises, which include a television set, are required to purchase a separate TV Licence for each accommodation unit.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 196 of 16 April 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Through the National Broadband Plan, the Government 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...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Neither I nor my Department was represented at the conference to which the Senator referred. I did not receive an invitation to the event. I examined the organisers' publicity materials after receiving notice of this matter and I now understand that the objective of the conference was to discuss problems and solutions associated with wind turbine noise. The House will be aware that the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I was asked who represented my Department or the Government at a certain conference in Glasgow which we first learned about when the Senator raised this issue. My answer to that question was that nobody represented the Department and, therefore, I was unable to answer the Senator's other question on the extent to which it would inform public policy. I answered the question I was asked. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: On 27 March EirGrid published, for public comment, a discussion paper on Ireland's grid development strategy, entitled "Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow". The paper, which reviews, inter alia, the grid link, Grid West, and North-South transmission line projects, confirms that Ireland’s energy transmission needs may be met with reduced new infrastructure build because of new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: As I am unfortunately not familiar with EirGrid's precise testimony to the committee, I cannot comment on it. I outlined in my initial reply the process undertaken in respect of all of these projects. The process involves EirGrid initially setting out its position and the independent expert panel then assesses the position and reports to me. That is the process we have undertaken in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I am not in a position to comment on what was said at the committee. However, I know from my knowledge of the project and the requirements in respect of the grid that technical feasibility is not the only aspect to be considered. All of us are aware that cost represents another dimension. The issue is one for EirGrid to address. It has brought forward its proposals and the independent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Production (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Analysis undertaken by the Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, EirGrid and the Commission for Energy Regulation has assessed the costs and value of choosing the path towards 40% renewable electricity generation in 2020, compared to a scenario where renewable electricity remained at 2013 levels. This analysis has informed a report which will be published shortly. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Production (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: As I mentioned, a number of reports and analyses have examined the effect of renewables on issues such as electricity prices. The Deputy is correct there is a cost involved. There is a cost associated with any of the technologies in terms of the supports and incentives we need to put in place. This issue is about accessibility of technology, the state of development of technology and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Production (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: People make assertions about the level of investment involved and sometimes they think other technologies are cheaper, but when we delve into the issue and examine and analyse it, that is not always the case. However, we must keep these issues in mind in the context of the White Paper and the decision we will make later in the year. If we were to consider taking the biomass approach at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 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. In tandem with commercial developments, intensive work is under way in my Department to progress a State-led investment to secure the countrywide introduction of next-generation broadband access. As the Deputy is aware, there was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: With respect to the Deputy, if he read the monthly reports that I publish on the progress of the national broadband plan, which I undertook to do in this House last autumn, he would see a considerable amount of work ongoing with the national broadband plan. There is hardly a day in the Department when we do not have consultation or work proceeding on the plan. I would be very happy to brief...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: State aid notification is a two-stage process. There is pre-notification and formal notification. Currently we are in the pre-notification stage. We have external advisers testing the proposed strategy against the principles of state aid guidelines to ensure compliance. The first draft of this compliance report is due at the end of this month and, thereafter, ministerial approval will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Efficiency (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Energy efficiency is crucially important to each of three pillars of energy policy, which are sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness. My Department is continuing to develop and enhance policy in this area and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is continuing to implement policy with the roll-out of efficiency measures in homes and businesses throughout the country....