Results 1,181-1,200 of 4,673 for speaker:Seán Canney

Seanad: Free Education (Prohibition of Fees and Charges) Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank all the Senators for their contributions. I was asked to respond on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McHugh, who is dealing with business in the Dáil. I listened carefully to everything that has been said. I note the legitimacy of everything said. It is important that this be said first. On the face of it, the Bill is consistent with what has been the long-standing policy on...

National Broadband Plan: Statements (9 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I am proud to talk about the major investment decision we have taken this week. As chairman of the Atlantic economic corridor task force, I am very proud to be able to go to its next meeting to tell members that in the nine counties, from Donegal to Kerry, we are going to invest a sum of €938 million. We are going to empower 238,000 premises and homes along the Atlantic economic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector Funding (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: My Department's community and voluntary supports and programmes unit provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5 million is being provided in 2019 under this programme to support 21 Volunteer Centres, eight Volunteering Information Services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations such as Volunteer Ireland. Following the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I am grateful for the invitation to appear before the committee today. The decision to move ahead with the national broadband plan is of great importance. Some 1.1 million people are disenfranchised at the moment. They do not have equality of opportunity or the potential to develop. Certain small businesses and farmers cannot join the digital age. As Minister of State with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: As chairman of the mobile phone and broadband task force, I can inform the Deputy that we have been engaging in exactly what he talked about. We have made many changes. For instance, there is now single access to road-opening licences. A nationally applicable standard form may be accessed on a portal. There is also the question of the State assets. The OPW, ESB and all the relevant State...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: The price of what tender?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: On the tender, I do not know the detail of it but-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan: Discussion (14 May 2019)

Seán Canney: Most of the fibre optic cabling will be along poles. There is very little ducting going on.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Pollution (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, we are committed to publishing the national clean air strategy this year, which will provide the policy framework necessary to identify and promote integrated measures across Government that are required to reduce air pollution and promote...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Pollution (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree that it is a very serious issue. Air quality in Ireland compares favourably with more industrialised and urbanised countries but it is not without challenges. The Environmental Protection Agency's most recent annual air quality report was published in November 2018 and provides an assessment of air quality in Ireland in 2017. Values for all network sites were below the EU annual...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Pollution (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. Tackling the sources and causes of air pollution is a significant challenge and will form part of the overall climate action plan we will put in place. It involves emissions from transport, industry, agriculture and shipping and the use of solid fuels in homes....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: The action plan for online safety was published in July 2018 and was drawn up following engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including online safety experts, Government agencies, NGOs, parents, young people and industry. The plan recognises the opportunities and benefits provided by the Internet but also the importance of co-ordinated action and wide engagement in dealing with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy that education for young children and parents on how to deal with all of that is very important. As part of my role in chairing the national advisory council, we have brought in experts and stakeholders to explain what is going on at the moment. There is a rise in the incidence of people reporting to the different organisations and this is something we need to deal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Online Safety (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy. The other big problem with online safety is that this is not just confined to our country but applies right across the world, and it is a question of how we deal with the area of regulation internationally. I believe we need to start in our own country, have the regulation and have the online safety commissioner, so we show we are intent on protecting our young...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: The status of broadband in Carlow is that today 65% of premises have access to high-speed broadband, compared with 61% in 2015. Some 18,052 or 28% of Carlow premises will receive high-speed broadband under the State intervention. Since April 2017, Eir has provided high-speed broadband to 1,980 premises in Carlow. When Eir's deployment is complete, the company will have provided high-speed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: The €29 million is the overall cost for the roll-out of broadband for Carlow. Following the rigorous evaluation by the Department, a recommendation was brought to the Government, which was accepted, to confer preferred bidder status on Granahan McCourt, the remaining bidder in the national broadband plan procurement process. The Government has agreed to proceed with the preferred...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: My understanding is that the broadband officer, in conjunction with the local authority, has identified areas where these broadband connection points would be of most benefit. The broadband officer is engaging further with the owners, community centres or community groups to tie down the premises. The other part is that a body of work must be done, and it is ongoing this week and next week,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Reports (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: On 3 April, my Department received the monthly sea-lice report relating to salmon farms licenced by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. I can confirm that a response to our request was provided by that Department on 12 April. My Department communicated our observations and outlined our appropriate concerns in the context of our statutory responsibilities, and those of Inland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Planning Issues (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: Matters relating to the planning acts are a matter for the relevant local authority. Exemptions potentially available to Inland Fisheries Ireland under the under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (Statutory Instrument 600 of 2001) are very narrowly constrained and are also a matter for the relevant local authority. My Department has no function in that regard or in the making...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (21 May 2019)

Seán Canney: The principal function of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource as outlined in the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. However responsibility for instream works may also be a matter for a number of statutory authorities depending on the nature of the development proposed. I am advised that where a river forms part of a drainage...