Results 8,321-8,340 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I thank Senator Whelan for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to address Senators on the topic. The Senator referred to Ireland's national renewable energy action plan, NREAP, which states that we aim to meet our overall 16% renewable energy target by 2020 by achieving 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, as well as 10% in transport and 12% in heating. I agree...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I reassure the Senator that the scheme will be introduced as soon as possible. We must put together relatively complex elements of a new scheme in terms of how to incentivise and how to fund it.We have to apply for state aid approval in respect of many of these types of measures, as the Senator will be aware, but there has been no delay in bringing the scheme forward. I appreciate his...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (27 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. Following a public procurement process, my Department appointed Environ UK Ltd to assist the Department in monitoring compliance by the developers of the Corrib gas project with the conditions of the consents granted in February 2011 to construct the Corrib gas pipeline and an addendum of modifications to the already approved Corrib Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 May 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 is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (28 May 2015)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. I am advised by SEAI that the provision of appropriate heating controls is an integral part of any heating system upgrade and that such controls are essential to realising the energy efficiency features of efficient boilers. Accordingly, the supports available under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (28 May 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. Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicate that at the end of 2014 some 6.6% of heat demand was met by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (28 May 2015)

Alex White: The generation of electricity from renewable sources is an important element of Ireland’s transition to a lower carbon energy system. Hydro electricity makes a significant contribution to our renewable electricity. In April 2015 there was 2,576MW of renewable electricity connected to the Irish Grid, 238MW of which was from hydro. Onshore wind contributed 2256MW, and biomass contributed...

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Acting Chairman for this opportunity to urge the House to support the Minister for Finance's proposal and to approve the order, including the terms of reference set out for the commission of investigation. I listened to a number of contributions, including that of Deputy Creighton. It does not seem that the commission of investigation under the Act will be anything remotely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: EU Regulation 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation) lays down rules for the timely development of energy networks in Member States. The Regulation gives priority to twelve strategic trans-European energy corridors and areas (for electricity, gas, oil or thematic areas, such as smart grids or a carbon dioxide network) and provides criteria to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: This Government remains committed to the principle of renewed and strengthened co-operation between Great Britain and Ireland, as set out in the March 2012 Statement referred to by the Deputy. On 27 March 2015 EirGrid published a new independently peer reviewed draft Strategy ‘Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow’, which allows for the achievement of an optimal balance between...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (9 Jun 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: Seirbhísi trí Ghaeilge (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Tá oifigeach Gaeilge ag mo Roinn atá ar fáil le maoirsiú a dhéanamh ar aistriúchán cháipéisí go Gaeilge. Tá leaganacha Gaeilge agus Béarla ag an Roinn dá suíomh gréasáin le Ceisteanna Coitianta sa dá theanga maidir le gach rannóg de chuid na Roinne. Cuirtear na treoirlínte, na bileoga eolais agus...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1114 and 1115 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 commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Television Licence revenue is distributed in accordance with Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to both RTÉ and TG4 in order to facilitate the pursuit of their public service objectives, which are also set out in the 2009 Act. An Post pays the Department all revenues collected from Television Licence sales and the Department of Social Protection currently pays an annual sum of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Expenditure (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: On the 8th October 2013, the Government approved the appointment of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System following the conclusion of the public procurement process. This company will operate Eircode, the National Postcode System, under licence for an initial ten year period extendable at the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Ireland has a single refinery at Whitegate, Cork that is owned and operated by Phillips 66. My Department is in regular contact with the company and I have met with Irish and US executives of Phillips 66 as well as with union representatives. I visited the refinery in November 2014. My Department has been engaging with Phillips 66 on the future of refining in Ireland. In early 2014, both...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1121, 1122 and 1145 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 commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1123 and 1124 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 commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), published in February 2014, sets out the Government’s policy in relation to the sustainable development of our offshore energy potential. It provides the mechanism through which action across Government Departments and Agencies to support the development of offshore renewable electricity generation can be fully coordinated in...