Results 11,941-11,960 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (28 Sep 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 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 where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telephone Call Charges (28 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: In 2015, the European Council and Parliament adopted Regulation 2015/2120, which requires retail roaming surcharges to be abolished in the European Union from June 2017, subject to fair usage.  Ireland played an active part in negotiating the Regulation and fully supports the implementation of the principle of “Roam like at Home” (RLAH). The concept of fair usage was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (29 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 to 256, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (29 Sep 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 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 where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection Agency Governance (29 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: Sections 27 and 28 of the Environmental Protection Act 1992, as amended, provide for the establishment of an Advisory Committee to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is chaired by the Director General of the EPA and includes eleven other members.  The Advisory Committee has a range of advisory functions under the EPA Act, including making recommendations to the EPA, or the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (29 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of energy efficiency schemes under the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme makes a range of grants available to home-owners who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy efficiency upgrades to those in energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (29 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates a number of energy efficiency schemes under the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes Scheme makes a range of grants available to home-owners who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy efficiency upgrades to those in energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (4 Oct 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 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 where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Mergers (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: While I am aware of the proposed purchase of Celtic Media, including the Anglo Celt newspaper, by Independent News & Media (INM), this matter is currently being considered by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and, until the CCPC has made its determination in this case, I have no role in relation to the proposed transaction. Should the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Records (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I can inform the Deputy that my Department holds the records relevant to this case and the matter will be dealt with directly with the person in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Strategy Statements (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department is currently preparing a new Statement of Strategy which will set out the key objectives, outputs and related strategies for the period 2017 to 2019. As part of this process my Department is assessing and identifying the human rights and equality issues that are relevant to its functions as an employer, policy maker and service provider. This assessment will include details of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The North-South Interconnector will provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland and will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of electricity supply and also allow greater levels of renewable energy be connected to the grid. I envisage no impact from Brexit on the North-South...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am not proposing to make any change to the current status of the Six Nations Rugby competition in terms of those events listed for free-to-air broadcasting. The current review was launched in June 2014 and involved a public consultation seeking submissions from interested parties on the current list and their views on the possible designation of the Ladies Football and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Eircode is compatible with Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality, as each Eircode provides a GPS location for each postal address. This allows Eircodes to be used with GPS enabled devices to accurately give directions and locate properties. Google and Eircode are working together to fully embed the Eircode in Google products as soon as possible. TomTom are currently integrating...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have no plans to replace the current Television Licence fee with a broadcasting charge. I recognise the important part that public service broadcasters play in our democratic society. The provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring the continued delivery of their role in this regard. I am very much aware, however, of the challenges that face the existing TV...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to staff numbers in the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is set out in the table. The numbers relate to Full Time Equivalent Staff (FTE). Year Number of FTE staff 2013 30 2014 30 2015 35 2016 (to end June) 31 In February 2014 the BAI wrote to the Department seeking approval to recruit additional staff. In March 2015 delegated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 and 571 together. I am acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families, businesses, charitable and voluntary organisations in dealing with energy costs. However, it is important to note that the electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and that they operate within national and European regulatory regimes. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The commitments in the Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, include facilitating access to the national grid for designated renewable electricity projects. The regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in the matter. Any party that wishes to connect to the national grid must apply to the system...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department currently employs two people who are also in receipt of a public service pension, one on a part time basis. Both are contracted to provide specialist expertise to the Department. The public service pension abatement principles are applied in all cases where persons are re-employed by my Department in accordance with Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (4 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: My Department currently employs a total of 324 staff. There are a further 16 staff on secondment to the Department from other Government Departments and public service bodies.