Results 8,701-8,720 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (30 Sep 2015)

Alex White: Current supports for renewable heat technologies include tariffs for combined heat and power under REFIT 3 and grants for the installation of solar heating under the Better Energy Homes scheme. In addition, Part L of the Building Regulations requires that, for new dwellings, a reasonable proportion of the energy consumption to meet the energy performance of a dwelling is provided by...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Service Obligation Services (1 Oct 2015)

Alex White: Government policy is to encourage and support a diverse media that serves all the people. Public service broadcasting is provided for by Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act sets out the principal objects of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTE and TG4. These statutory objects and requirements encapsulate national policy in terms of public service broadcasting. ...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Service Obligation Services (1 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I would be very much in favour of having that conversation. One of the difficulties with the notion of what constitutes public service broadcasting, in terms of a programme, is that when one analyses practically any programme or programme strand, there are very few that could not be defined as a public service programme. For example, sport, which attracts very high commercial interest and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Programmes (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: As I stated in my response to the Deputy's question of 22 September, contractors are registered to provide construction services for the Better Energy Homes scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on the basis of a commitment to: undertake all works in accordance with the Technical Specification of the scheme; demonstrate their tax compliance and insurance cover;...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: My Department has no supernumerary staff at present.In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the relevant bodies to supply the information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1537 of 22 September 2015. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 744 and 745 together. The proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State. Section 7.5 of the draft intervention strategy which I published for public consultation in July last deals in some detail with issues related to project costs. As I have previously stated,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: A proportion of the television licence fee monies is already being made available to commercial and community broadcasters through the Broadcasting Funding Scheme, which is administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) under the Broadcasting Act 2009. The purpose of this Scheme, which covers both radio and television, is to encourage the inclusion of additional programming of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 748 to 750, inclusive, together. The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational one for the Board and management of Bord na Móna, and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function. However, my predecessor previously enquired into concerns raised in relation to workplace matters in Bord na Móna. He was assured by the Board of Bord na...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Correspondence (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I can confirm that I have not received representations on the issue since my appointment to this Department. In the absence of specific details in the Deputy's Question, I am not in a position to comment further on this matter, which appears to date back to the mid-1990s. If the Deputy provides me with further specific information, I will have the matter followed up.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: All second-level schools in Ireland have received 100Mbps broadband connectivity under a programme funded jointly by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. The national rollout of services commenced in 2012, following a successful pilot project, and was completed in 2014. Services were rolled out incrementally, as follows:- 2012 - 14 Western and Midlands Counties ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Networks Ireland (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: This is an operational matter for Gas Networks Ireland and not one in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. I understand however from the company that there was no disruption to emergency cover for the maintenance of the gas network in the past six months. If there was a specific incident the Deputy wishes to discuss, he can contact Gas Networks Ireland directly. Gas Networks...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Living Wage (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The Minister of State for Business and Employment at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation recently hosted a forum on the Living Wage in Dublin Castle. At the forum, the Tánaiste signalled that her Department would fund the next stage of examining the process which involves setting up a working group. Neither I, nor my Department, have had any discussions with suppliers or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. Since 2009, the programme has supported the renovation of nearly 300,000 homes in Ireland. The upgrade of windows is not currently supported under the Better Energy Programme due to the need to balance the limited budgetary resources available with the demands for the...

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Seanad for the invitation to address the House. Public service broadcasting is provided for in Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act sets out the principal objects of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTE and TG4. These objects provide the companies' statutory mandates and reflect national policy on public service broadcasting. They include the specific...

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: In the time left.

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: An bhfuil TG4 nó Raidió na Gaeltachta i gceist ag an Seanadóir?

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: I have listened carefully to what my colleagues have said. There have been some extremely interesting insights which will be very helpful to me in terms of surveying the legislative environment that exists and considering what type of changes it would be appropriate to make. In the first instance, there is a philosophical debate about public service broadcasting. Although all of the...