Results 11,661-11,680 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (12 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: ESB’s statutory responsibilities in relation to the matters referred to by the Deputy are set out in the Shannon Electricity Act 1925, the Electricity Supply Act 1927 and the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1934. That legislation establishes the Shannon Scheme which consists of a power station and associated dam and headrace at Ardnacrusha, along the Parteen weir and associated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (12 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Funding (12 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 745 and 746 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State and aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland.  The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Data (13 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (13 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I have overall responsibility for the postal sector, including governance of An Post to ensure the company is fully compliant with the  Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and  the governance functions included in the statutory framework underpinning An Post. Operational matters and the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Data (13 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for energy exported to the grid. The REFIT support schemes are underpinned by detailed economic analysis to ensure long-term certainty for investors and overall value for money for consumers.  The REFIT schemes assure a minimum price for each unit of electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (13 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The revised estimates for 2016 for my Department provide for a total of €65.34m in funding for sustainable energy programmes. This is an increase of €12.5m compared with 2015. This funding is split between a number of programmes that are designed to encourage energy efficiency activity and assist householders living in energy poverty, along with grants for electric...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Very efficient.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his election and look forward to working with him over this Dáil term. The national broadband plan is a priority for the Government. The plan is being delivered through a combination of investment by telecommunications operators and a State intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. This is reflected...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy's initial question relates to the amending of the blue areas on the map. We announced last week that we would include another 170,000 homes and premises in this. We were given a commitment by the commercial operators which, in fairness, have put a significant amount of money - approximately €2 billion over the past four years - into rolling out the network. Nevertheless,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The European Commission target of delivering 30 Mbps by 2020 is non-binding. Nevertheless, I hear what the Deputy is saying and he is making a strong point. In fairness, there is unanimity in this House. We might disagree on some minor aspects regarding it but there is unanimity in the House that we need to get this rolled out quickly and that it is future-proofed in terms of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Stanley for the question. The programme for Government contains a specific commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects. The White Paper on energy policy published in December 2015 also includes a commitment to introduce a new renewable electricity support scheme designed to encourage the development of Ireland's abundant, diverse and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I understand the point being made by Deputy Stanley. As he is aware, a large part of the fossil fuel PSO is close to my heart, namely, peat fired energy generation in our three midland power stations. In fairness, I believe it is only because a predecessor of mine, Mary O'Rourke, happened to be in this job, we would not have those three peat fired power stations in the State. The intention...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I do not disagree with the Deputy. I am glad to note that Sinn Féin is now using examples in London. He is right in saying there are good examples from elsewhere.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The difficulty with the UK model is that the level of subsidy involved has been significant. As a result the UK has dramatically reduced the level of subsidy for renewable energy so it is not actually a good model. I think there are good models abroad and we need to be open to those. I am open-minded to all of the technologies. The Deputy is correct when he says there will be a range...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Media Mergers (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Under the amended Competition Act 2002, proposed mergers or acquisitions meeting certain criteria must be notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC. The CCPC must then examine the notification and decide if the merger may proceed on competition grounds. Media mergers which have received the CCPC's determination to proceed must also be notified to me...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Telecommunications service providers operate in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by ComReg. The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg. Notwithstanding the independence of ComReg, I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is establishing two regional action groups. These new structures at both national and local levels are designed to address, as far as possible, immediate frustrations about the quality of mobile phone and broadband coverage as well as the roll out of the national broadband plan over the next 12 months. My Department is liaising closely with the industry and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy is right. It is my intention to deal with the mobile phone, wireless and broadband issues in the short term. As soon as we get recommendations from this group, I intend to start acting on them. It will not be a case of waiting until December to do it. However, an issue that cannot be ignored is that some local authorities take a very different approach to the issue of antennae...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects. This commitment builds on the energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar photo voltaic also has the potential to provide a community dividend thereby enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. It is widely...