Results 11,721-11,740 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: UK Referendum on EU Membership (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: While the result of the UK referendum is not the one that we hoped for, we fully accept and respect the outcome of the democratic process in the UK. The all-island Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive and secure market for customers since its establishment in 2007. The governance framework that applies to the all-island Single Electricity Market remains in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and they operate within national and European regulatory regimes.  I have no statutory function in the monitoring or setting of gas or electricity prices. Responsibility for the regulation of the gas or electricity markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers.  A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers as we make the transition to a low carbon energy system. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Mergers (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Under the revised Competition Act 2002 proposed mergers or acquisitions that meet 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, as defined in the Act, which have received the CCPC’s determination must also be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Pluralism (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2014 gives the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the responsibility for assessing proposed media mergers, and empowers the Minister to prevent any merger that is deemed likely to be contrary to the public interest in maintaining the plurality of media in the State. This process is additional to the Competition and Consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Emergency Call Answering Service, which takes emergency calls made to 112 and 999 numbers, has integrated Eircodes into their systems and updated their processes to enable the use of Eircodes when presented by callers. The National Ambulance Service have also integrated Eircodes into their Computer Aided Dispatch System and this went live in February 2016. The National Ambulance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Though Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels, the increasing use of electric vehicles will also make a small contribution. Responsibility for the regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (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 (PV) also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. It is widely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: While I cannot comment on an individual Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) application, I can confirm that my Department is still working to assess the viability of a number of REFIT applications received up to the closing date of the REFIT scheme on 31 December 2015. It is normal practice that a REFIT applicant would liaise directly with officials in my Department to receive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sports Events (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air in this jurisdiction. Under the 2009 Act, I as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together. The National Broadband Plan is a priority for 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 in the High Speed Broadband Map, atbroadband.gov.ie. The areas marked...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The European Commission’s Europe's Digital Progress Report 2016ranks Ireland 15th of the EU 28 and ahead of the EU average. In the mobile market the EU Commission ranks Ireland 9th highest within the EU and ahead of the EU average. In wider international comparisons, the OECD ranks Ireland 25th of 34 countries for fixed broadband connections per 100 inhabitants. In the mobile...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Chairman and committee members for facilitating this meeting. We are anxious to get the legislation through. I gave a commitment at the North-South Ministerial Council last Monday week that we would try to facilitate its passage. The objective behind it relates to having an integrated single electricity market on the island of Ireland. The integrated market was established in...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 1:In page 5, line 27, after "Act" to insert ", other than section 7,". This is a technical amendment that provides that section 7 in regard to the single electricity market will be commenced on the enactment of this Bill.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for tabling this amendment. We have had quite a degree of discussion on this particular amendment. As the Deputy is aware, the primary focus in the legislation is to provide the commission with the power to impose financial sanctions for improper conduct. Improper conduct will be the failure of a licenceholder to comply with such standards of performance to be developed...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Keeping work away from the courts is the objective of this legislation. That is what we are trying to do. We are trying not to go down the criminal sanction route. This has nothing to do with the EU. In respect of legislation for civil sanctions, the threshold across the regulators has been up to a maximum of 10%. If we go over that threshold, we are very likely to find ourselves in a...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Would Deputy Stanley make that advice available to us on foot of what I have said today?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: If he could make it available to us, we will read it in the context of Report Stage next week. That is the advice I have got via the Office of the Attorney General. It is the best legal advice available to me but if the Deputy has a contrary view, I am happy to read it. We have considered this amendment in detail.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: With all due respect to the Deputy I have said that on foot of his furnishing me with his advice we will consider it. I wonder why he is pressing the amendment if I am prepared to consider it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will examine the advice provided to Deputy Stanley on foot of my comments today.