Results 9,141-9,160 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: As soon as it is approved by the Government, which I hope will be next week, we will be in a position to share it. I should point out that I have taken careful note of what has been said not just at this meeting but also in previous meetings and Deputy Colreavy and others in the committee have contributed more than they might think to what is in the White Paper.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I agree with Deputy Fitzmaurice on the point about energy efficiency and energy savings. We have increased our support in the budget cycle and the capital plan to ramp up our energy efficiency strategy. This will happen by way of direct Exchequer support. However, the White Paper makes clear that we will explore innovative ways of leveraging finance, whether European money or private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I realise the Deputy is making a broader point in terms of the wider community. However, it is not true to say that the economics of wind generation are negative. We can have a debate in this committee and we can bring forward the data we have. We have data from the 2015 report of the Council of European Energy Regulators. The report demonstrates that the per-unit supports for renewable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I thank Senator Terry Brennan for his observations. We are certainly addressing all of the developments taking place and taking account of new technologies, particularly in the production of tidal, wave and ocean energy. Of all the developments of interest for the future, offshore production of renewable energy seems to be the most exciting. It is important to note that there is a long...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I do not accept that allegation, which is a political charge. I am not aware of precisely what is involved, but I will write to the Senator tomorrow to clarify the matter. In addition, I will make a public statement if it seems necessary to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable to energy poverty. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge. In 2012 the eligibility criteria for the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme were broadened in an attempt to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 to 604, inclusive, together. The Government’s National Digital Strategy (NDS) recognises the importance of enabling all citizens and businesses to realise the full social and economic potential of the digital world. My Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which was launched nationally on 1 July 2014, is a key initiative under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Product Labelling (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: My Department currently has Market Surveillance responsibilities for Energy Labelling and Ecodesign. We have become aware of potential issues relating to allegedly non-compliant LED lamps. My officials have liaised with market players to elicit more information on this matter and they have discussed it with counterparts in other Market Surveillance Authorities. We have, on foot of this,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies. Since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 11 July 2014 I have attended some 892...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The information requested in the question is set out in the following table: Company Event Date Event Cost Maxwell Photography 13/06/2011 Government convenes Next Generation Broadband Taskforce 340.92 Maxwell Photography 27/07/2011 Age Action Silver Surfer Launch (pre shoot) 274.97 Maxwell Photography 23/09/2011 Minister Rabbitte stock photos available for widespread media use 409.58...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 250 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Advisers Data (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Minister No of Advisors Total Salary paid including employers PRSI (2011-2015 to date) 2011 Mr Eamonn Ryan TD(1/1/11-23/1/11) Mr Conor Lenihan TD(1/1/11-9/3/11) Mr Pat Rabbitte TD (10/3/11 -31/12/11) 2 1 2 28,682.30 28,363.52 131,547.10 2012 Mr Pat Rabbitte TD 2 200,181.22 2013 Mr Pat Rabbitte TD 2...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: In the last 18 months, the Department has received enquiries from a variety of owners and operators of small, medium and large scale (existing and proposed) leisure and other facilities. The nature of the enquiries has focussed mainly on the likely impact of roll-out of the Intervention Strategy on specific areas in Ireland. Officials from the Department facilitated a meeting request from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy. Figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) show that, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy, which is a charge on all electricity customers, is determined by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Details of the levy in the CER PSO Decisions papers at This PSO levy has two very...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out Government policy in relation to the sustainable development of Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy resource. The Strategic Environmental Assessment carried out for the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind and 1,500 MW of wave and tidal generation could be sustainably developed in Irish waters, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the bodies in question to supply the information directly to the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (9 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter and I thank Deputy Stanton for raising it. Ireland has a single refinery, at Whitegate in Cork, which is owned and operated by Phillips 66, a private company. As the Deputy stated, Phillips 66 supplies approximately 40% of the main products on the market, excluding jet fuel. Under the 2001 sale and purchase agreement, when the...

Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (9 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy again for his observation and insights. I remind him I have had occasion to visit the refinery and met management and workers to understand the value of the facility in the greater region where it is located. I have no doubt the Deputy is absolutely right in what he says about the refinery being a good neighbour and an important part of the economy and the fabric of Cork...