Results 12,601-12,620 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bioenergy Strategy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Draft Bioenergy Plan sets out the policy areas that must be coordinated to support the development of biomass sector in Ireland.  It also identifies 19 measures to support the sustainable development of the sector.  There are a wide range of Government departments, agencies and state bodies that are critical enablers for bioenergy development by virtue of their responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Market Regulation (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The regulation of electronic communications services providers, including premium rate services providers, occurs within a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is statutorily independent in the exercise of its regulatory functions. I therefore have no statutory authority to regulate premium rate services providers....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held its 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris in 2015.  The major outcome of COP 21 was the agreement by over 180 countries to restrict the impact of emissions on global warming and to limit the temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5°C.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Recycling Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. Under the Regulations at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled.  The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Environment Fund (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Environment Fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001, to be managed and controlled by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. In 2016, this function transferred to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. Following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Environment Fund accounts are published annually. The most...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department does not receive funding from the National Lottery.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 569, 571, 573, 577, 578 and 579 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Feb 2017)

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 and recognises that solar has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland’s energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) - both utility-scale and rooftop -...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 581 together. Across Ireland, initiatives are underway to improve the quality of telecommunications for citizens. Mobile operators have invested significantly in rolling out improved services, following the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) multi-band spectrum auction. At least one operator now has in excess of 90% 4G...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580, 582 and 583 together. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced electricity to all consumers. The Energy White Paper, published in December 2015, sets out a high-level  framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Details in regard to the sources of electricity generation in 2015 (latest data) are publicly available in the report entitled Energy in Ireland 1990-2015, published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in November 2016 and available on the SEAI website at www.seai.ie. The data shows that 27.3% of electricity demand in 2015 was met from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Recycling Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is no specific obligation in the EU Packaging Directive, which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014, on multiples using own branding to use recyclable packaging. The Packaging Directive covers all packaging placed on the European market and all packaging waste, whether it is used or released at industrial, commercial, office, shop, service,...

Media Ownership Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Ceann Comhairle and the Members for their kind words. I thank Deputies Catherine Murphy and Shortall for facilitating this debate on media plurality as I believe a strong and pluralistic media is at the heart of a free and open democracy. An important tool in protecting and supporting media plurality is the current media merger regime established under the Competition Act 2002,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Mitigation Plan (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Work is well under way on the development of the first statutory National Mitigation Plan (NMP), required under Section 4 of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015. The primary objective of the first NMP is to track implementation of measures already under way, identify additional measures in the longer term to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and progress the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Funding (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Warmer Homes (BEWH) Scheme funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly and vulnerable, making their homes more comfortable, healthier and more cost effective to run. In 2016, 6,839 homes were upgraded under the  scheme and the level of funding provided was just over €20m.    Across these three strands of the Better...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Tyre Disposal (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: It is my intention to introduce new regulations early this year to address Ireland's waste tyres problem.　 These regulations will enable me to put in place a full compliance scheme for tyre operators, which will be financed by a visible Environmental Management Charge (vEMC). Similar compliance schemes have operated very successfully across other waste streams, including,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement and maintain the National Postcode System "Eircode". At launch 2.2m Eircode notification letters were issues to addresses across the State. Since then in excess of 24,000 new addresses have been assigned Eircodes, of which c.26% have been non-unique rural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Homes scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department, offers a financial incentive to homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department welcomes queries from public representatives and members of the public in relation to the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and has a dedicated inbox, broadband@dccae.gov.ie, for this purpose. Queries received in relation to the NBP are then responded to by members of my Department’s NBP team. There is also helpful information on the NBP available through my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (8 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper published in December 2015, sets out a vision and framework to guide Irish energy policy and the actions that Government intends to take in the energy sector from now up to 2030, aimed at transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system by 2050. Successive Governments have introduced a range of policy measures and schemes to...