Results 12,721-12,740 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Carbon Budget (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 745 and 746 together. The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is one of the main policies of the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a cost-effective manner. Emissions Trading is a "cap and trade" scheme, whereby an EU wide cap or limit is set for participating installations. This cap is reduced over time so that total emissions are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November 2016, aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Agreement is designed to meet this objective through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by all parties to the agreement. In this regard, the European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Rural Broadband Scheme (7 Mar 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: Renewable Energy Incentives (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the Programme for Government and Energy White Paper, and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. During 2016, my Department undertook a detailed economic assessment on the design and cost of the RHI for heat users the industrial and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Construction Industry (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department does not engage directly in any construction projects and accordingly does not directly monitor construction inflation. In relation to other types of capital expenditure, all projects operate within agreed budgets and must adhere to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s Public Spending Code. All procurements for capital projects in my Department must comply...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: EU "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) will give Irish and EU consumers the ability to use their mobile devices, within other EU countries, at domestic rates, subject to Fair Use Policy, from 15 June 2017. Throughout negotiations at EU level on this initiative, Ireland has been fully supportive of the Roam Like at Home principle, and, in particular, the importance of obtaining a sustainable agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 754 together. EU "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) will give Irish and EU consumers the ability to use their mobile devices, within other EU countries, at domestic rates, subject to Fair Use Policy, from 15 June 2017. Throughout negotiations at EU level on this initiative, including at the EU Council of Ministers, Ireland has been fully supportive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have no role or function in the matter raised by the Deputy. The provision of telecoms boxes is a decision for private operators and as such I have no function in this area. Ordinarily those operators pay for the removal of telecoms boxes which are no longer in use. The issue raised is one for the relevant independent local authority who examine such matters on a case by case basis....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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 ongoing, with the planning inquiry concluding on 27 February 2017. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 757 and 758 together. As the Deputy is aware the EU has stated that there will be no negotiation without Article 50 notification. However, Ministers and officials, across Government Departments, take every opportunity to discuss the potential impacts of Brexit with our EU and UK colleagues. I have previously outlined meetings in relation to my own...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Overseas Development Aid Expenditure (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: In line with a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government, and a pledge given by the Taoiseach to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to scale up climate finance, my Department made an initial contribution of €2 million to the Green Climate Fund in 2016. The Government has also committed to building up its support to the Green Climate Fund in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy Efficiency Fund (EFF) is a commercial fund, established in 2014, to provide specialist financial expertise and appropriately structured funding for large scale energy efficiency projects in the private and public sectors. A sum of €35m in seed capital was provided by the Government with a view to the establishment of a leveraged fund of €70m. That target has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Rural Broadband Scheme (7 Mar 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...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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 97/67/EC, as amended by EU Directive 2008/6/EC, and provide that the tariffs must be,inter alia, affordable and cost orientated. These directives are transposed...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: It would take more than two Senators to replace Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: A number of issues have been raised. I will deal with the most significant one first, which was raised by Senator Boyhan. I echo what Senator Lombard said. There is no realisation here of the issue with which we are actually dealing. Senator Leyden also raised a number of issues, which I will come to in a minute. If these amendments are accepted here today, our debate is pointless. We...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Senator Boyhan is missing the point. I have come to the House as the Minister. I have answered the questions and given my justification. The Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, gave the justification on Second Stage and Committee Stage in the House because I was physically not able to attend. My difficulty is that I have set out logically the reason this does not make sense. There is not...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I know Senator Boyhan is a new Senator but-----

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Other than on Second Stage, it is not normal for a speech of a Minister to be circulated. The normal process on Committee and Report Stages is to move the amendment, have the argument and hear the response of the Minister. The Senator is not the person who has drafted these amendments, which I accept. I am quite willing to give him the reason I cannot accept the amendment and let him...