Results 12,241-12,260 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (1 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (1 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations.  The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target by 2020. In 2015, 6.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (1 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030', published in December 2015, sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this aim. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (1 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The management of the radio spectrum (including the allocation of radio spectrum, the award of spectrum licences and the associated application of terms and conditions and obligations) is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. ComReg is independent in the exercise of this spectrum management...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector (1 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: This is an operational matter for RTÉ and I have asked the company to respond directly to the Deputy.

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for the question. The Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low-Carbon Energy Future, published in December last, sets out a vision for transforming Ireland's fossil fuel-based energy sector into a clean, low-carbon system by 2050. The EU renewable energy directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by...

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: I disagree that there has been paltry growth across the sector. In fairness, the Deputy has acknowledged that, on the electricity side, significant progress has been made. I accept that a lot more can be done with regard to both transport and heat. Transport falls within the competency of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and heat falls within my remit. I...

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: I confirm that the SEAI has estimated that the cost to Ireland may be in the range of €100 million to €150 million for every percentage point by which we fall short. This does not relate to fines but to having to buy off the shortfall. Whether there will be fines is a completely separate matter. On the burden on transport, policy responsibility lies with the Department of...

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: Following approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, notification of the proposed merger referenced in the question was received by me as Minister on 21 November 2016. I have 30 working days from the notification deadline of 24 November 2016 to conduct an initial, or phase 1, assessment of the case on media plurality grounds. This examination is guided by the relevant...

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy is right, in that there is a great deal of talk about plurality. There is also a great deal of commentary as to my views on it. I have not made my views known and I am not going to. I have a decision to make and I will make it in line with the legislation. It must be emphasised that the media mergers process is a statutory, regulatory process that I, as Minister, am responsible...

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will make my decision as set out in the legislation and I am not going to take anyone else's opinion other than the advice that I am given based on the assessments, including legal and statutory, as set out in respect of this matter. That is the approach that I am going to-----

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The approach that I will be taking is on my website in black and white for people to read. Based on the advice that is presented to me, I will consider the three options that are open to me. I will take the most appropriate option in that regard based on the evidence that is presented to me. I have had the opportunity to read Ms Boylan's report. It is a pity that I did not have a copy...

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The national broadband plan aims to deliver high-speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the delivery of the national broadband plan as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where...

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The three consortia involved in the tender process have said that it is their intention to use the fibre-to-the-home solution predominantly. This will mean that homes and premises will receive up to 1,000 Mbps, well in advance of 30 Mbps. That is the challenge facing us with the national broadband plan and was one of the mistakes that was made, in that, at the time of the initial...

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The fact is that there are services on the way for the vast majority of customers across the country in advance of the roll-out of the national broadband plan. That is why we are focusing immediately on implementation of the task force's report on mobile phone and broadband services. We will publish the results in the next couple of weeks. The contract based on EU state aid rules must be...

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: If people are experiencing difficulty with mobile phone coverage, they should, please, first, go to the company involved and, second, to ComReg to express their frustration. That is vitally important. From talking to many Deputies and colleagues in west Cork and throughout the country, it appears that in areas where there had been excellent reception people are now experiencing decreased or...

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have accepted the challenge the Deputy put to me. That is why, during the talks on the programme for Government, I proposed the establishment of a task force to deal with the problems with mobile phone coverage and wireless and mobile broadband services. The task force was established in July and will publish its recommendations in the coming weeks. However, I have not waited for it to...

Priority Questions: Mobile Telephony Services (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: Everybody has a right to the same service, no matter where he or she lives. That is why I ensured the task force would include representatives of rural communities across the country who were experiencing at first hand problems with mobile phone coverage. I have raised concerns about Three coverage in west Cork and my Department has spoken on numerous occasions with Three about the issue....

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 gives the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment 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. There is no retrospective element to this legislation....

Priority Questions: Media Mergers (6 Dec 2016)

Denis Naughten: From the notification deadline on 24 November in respect of the proposed merger referenced by the Deputy, I have 30 working days to conduct a phase one assessment of the case. I will only make my assessment on media plurality guidelines. What I will consider in that context is set out on my Department's website. I have not received the report from my officials yet. When I do receive that...