Results 12,201-12,220 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Questions on Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy McLoughlin. We are actively working on the Bill and I hope to bring a memorandum to Government soon. The joint committee is also looking at the issue currently and held hearings on it yesterday. It is a complex area with which we are trying to deal by way of a two-strand approach. Initially, there will be some short-term measures to deal with the challenges we currently...

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Flood Prevention Measures (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising this issue. I am surprised that he has done so because he stated on local radio last week that he would raise the issue of rural broadband with me. He did not do that last week or this week in the House. Last week, while I was being attacked locally, I was trying to put mechanisms in place to support our local beef farmers in the context of the...

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Flood Prevention Measures (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: IFI emphasised that any necessary work had to be completed in advance of 30 September.

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Flood Prevention Measures (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: If the Deputy spoke to Mr. Fogarty, Mr. Evan Curran, who is the chairman of the local committee, or Roscommon County Council, he would learn that no application had been made to IFI. IFI met the council, told it the procedure to be followed and said that it was willing to assist the council in doing that. The Deputy is asking me to use discretion, but my officials and I can only use...

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Flood Prevention Measures (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The community is fully aware of the facts. On foot of the article of 8 November in the Roscommon Herald, the situation was made crystal clear. If the article's facts were corrected and IFI had denied approval, which was not the case, how could the work have been carried out? The application was never submitted. Roscommon County Council submitted an application today. It has...

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Flood Prevention Measures (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The local newspaper has been well aware of the issues because we have informed it of the facts. My officials are available at any stage to brief the Deputy on these issues and explain exactly what is happening.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants  are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband 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 a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The provision of mobile telephony services is subject to a requirement to secure access to the required radio spectrum by way of licence. The management of radio spectrum is a statutory function of the independent regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I understand that licences issued by ComReg impose terms and conditions on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (23 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. A mandatory pay-by-weight charging structure for household waste collection was due to be introduced in mid-2016. However, on 30 June 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband 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 a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (24 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 245 together. There are currently 19 vacancies on the Boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department and since 6 May 2016 there have been 26 appointments made.  All of the appointments were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards which were published by the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The provision of electronic telecommunications services, including broadband services occurs within a fully liberalised market, offered by competing services providers.  The regulation of services providers to the extent permitted by law regarding the provision and quality of such services and the investigation of complaints is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (24 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive is based upon the country of origin principle which means that TV broadcasters who obtain regulatory clearance in one Member State can make their services available in all Member States, without having to obtain separate regulatory clearances. A large number of broadcasters who have established their businesses in the UK, have obtained regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (24 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Government’s Brexit Contingency Framework sets out that all Departments should identify a senior official to oversee Brexit matters and to create a Top Management sub-committee to deal specifically with the implications of Brexit for their areas of work. My Department nominated an Assistant Secretary to take lead responsibility for Brexit matters. Under the chairmanship of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management (29 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: It is widely recognised that there are difficulties associated with the collection of household waste in bags, including: - littering caused by ripped bags; - health and safety issues for collectors, where sharp objects are placed in bags; - litter caused by fly-tipping on streets/areas, where bag collections take place; - little or no segregation of recyclable or food waste; and - inability...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (29 Nov 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 a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and through a State intervention in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (29 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland since 2007. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Act, 2007 provides the legal framework for the establishment, operation and regulation of the SEM. The market is designed to provide for the least cost source of electricity generation to meet customer demand at any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (29 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681, 682, 684 and 686 together. Appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) are made by Government, on my nomination as Minister, in accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009. There is currently one vacancy on the Authority. In addition to appointments to the BAI, the Government, on my nomination, makes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (29 Nov 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 685 together. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is an independent body established under the Broadcasting Act 2009. The activities of the Board and the statutory committees, namely the Contract Awards Committee and Compliance Committee, are operational in nature and not matters in which I, as Minister, have any function.