Results 12,661-12,680 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take amendments Nos. 1 and 2 together. As outlined by my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne on Committee Stage, section 28(1) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 sets out the principles with which the universal postal service provider’s tariffs must comply. These principles are enshrined in Article 12 of EU Directive No....

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I would be quite happy to discuss this with my officials. As Deputies know, I cannot direct ComReg in this matter, but the committee itself could put that request in to ComReg. We would be quite willing and happy to facilitate the Deputy in any way we can.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 3:In page 3, line 19, to delete “any consequences of the repeal” and substitute “any consequences, including for terminal dues, of the repeal”. This is an alternative to the amendments tabled by Deputies Dooley and Ryan on Committee Stage. My officials have looked at the matter again and we have come up with a composite wording and I hope that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management Regulations (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 582 together. Sewage sludge is subject to a range of regulatory controls under national legislation across a number of Departments. In terms of waste legislation under my remit as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, those who wish to store sewage sludge must: - satisfy themselves as to whether a Licence (under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Schemes (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: It is my intention to introduce new regulations as soon as possible this year to ensure the environmentally sound management of waste tyres in Ireland. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The supply and retail price of LPG is not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. Liquid Petroleum Gas, or LPG, is a by-product of oil. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is no price control on petroleum products in Ireland. The Deputy will be aware that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has specific...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: White Paper on Energy (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper – Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030 – sets out a vision and a 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. In accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Feb 2017)

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: Information and Communications Technology (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 588 to 590, inclusive, together. Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System "Eircode". The contract provided for a programme of public sector database encoding with Eircodes for 15 public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Funding (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government has a coordinated approach to Brexit managed centrally by the Department of An Taoiseach. As outlined in An Taoiseach’s speech on 15 February, as a direct response to Brexit, the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform have been asked to prepare an ambitious multi-annual 10-year capital plan that will make Ireland a far better place in which to live...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (21 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. I will request the relevant bodies under the aegis of the Department to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (22 Feb 2017)

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: North-South Interconnector (22 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together. On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May last year. The planning process in Northern Ireland is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy (22 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: A total of 29 applications were received in response to the recent competitive call for proposals from community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations under my Department’s Digital Skills for Citizens Grant Scheme. Of these, 22 applications were eligible to be evaluated in accordance with section 4 of the scheme’s which outlines the qualification and award criteria to be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Advisers Appointments (22 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The office of Seán Kyne TD, Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources is managed and staffed by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.  I understand that Department will respond to the Deputy in respect of Minister of State Kyne.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (23 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Law Reform Commission Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, which was published in September 2016, recommends the reform of Criminal Law in relation to a number of issues that arise in the context of society’s growing use of online communications, include the posting of online intimate images without consent, cyber-bullying, online harassment and stalking, and new...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Exploration Licences (23 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: In mid 2016 I met with a delegation of TDs and subsequently my officials met with other relevant stakeholders to discuss the Shannon LNG project. On 7 October 2016 I provided an update to TDs where I outlined the position. I and indeed previous Ministers have supported this project, as appropriate, given that it would enhance Ireland's security of supply. This support is in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (23 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Warmth and Wellbeing scheme is a pilot initiative being delivered under the Government’s Strategy to Combat Energy Poverty and the Healthy Ireland Framework. The objective of the pilot is to validate, in an Irish context, the international evidence that suggests making homes warmer and more energy efficient can have a positive effect on the health and well-being of people in energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Feb 2017)

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 areas where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (23 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Any customer, including those in Clonbullogue in County Offaly, who experiences service difficulties should raise the matter with the service provider in the first instance. If this fails to resolve matters, customers can and should...