Results 12,741-12,760 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

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

Denis Naughten: ComReg already has a role in regard to terminal dues and, as recently as June last year, ComReg published a review and assessment of An Post's terminal dues agreements in the context of compliance with section 29 of the 2011 Act. Terminal dues are rates paid for delivery of international inbound mail items. I was mindful of the concerns expressed in regard to the impact of terminal dues on...

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

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030' sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting these RES-E targets. The Programme for Government contains a...

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

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (8 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (8 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, including at the EU Council of Ministers, Ireland has been fully supportive of the Roam Like at Home principle, and, in particular, the...

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

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in White Paper on Energy and 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...

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

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan, aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every household, school and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and for those areas that will not be covered by commercial operators the State has committed to intervene and subsidise a network build, so that nobody is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications allows for the application of a Universal Service Obligation (USO) in respect of fixed voice services. This framework has, in my view served consumers well over several decades and ensured that householders can get an affordable fixed voice service, regardless of where they are located. There are no provisions in...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Davitt for raising a very valid question on an important issue. From a telecommunications perspective, Ireland favours easy access by our citizens to mobile communications on the basis that such access is of benefit to society. There is currently no Irish legal requirement to register the personal details of owners of SIM cards. Where mobile service providers are extending...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: To bring in a law on mobile phones, we have to ask what a mobile phone is. It is a mobile device not a mobile phone. Most of the tablets we have now also have SIM cards or are linked up to mobile phones. My children have tablets in school. The school has purchased them. I was in Roscommon Community College during the week and rather than having e-books and using e-learning, the children...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Of course they do. I do not agree with the Senator's proposal to have a ban on the use of mobile phones at particular ages. The only way we could do that is to have a ban on the use of the SIM card rather than the device as a result of the way technology is changing. With the wider use of the internet, we will see a situation where very small children will have a bracelet with a SIM card...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Quality (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Kieran O'Donnell for raising this issue with me. A number of important EU directives seek to protect our environment from the harmful effects of air pollution and maintain the quality of the air we breathe. The current air quality standards are contained in the clean air for Europe directive of 2008 and the fourth daughter directive of the European Union. The directives...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Quality (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The location in Limerick city will be one that will best reflect the air quality in the city as a whole. Currently, the EPA has 31 stations to try to give a read across the country, which is virtually impossible to do. By doubling the number of stations, it will be able to give a far more accurate national read and it will be able look at locations in our cities that can best and accurately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Recycling Data (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 to 317, inclusive, together. Ireland has met every target prescribed by the European Union under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive to date and I am satisfied that my Department has put in place the legislation and supporting structures and systems required to ensure that all future targets will continue to be met. Each Member...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telephone Call Charges (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 322 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 321, inclusive, together. The Better Energy Programme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department consists of the Better Energy Homes Scheme, Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and Better Energy Communities Scheme. The Better Energy Homes (BEH) Scheme provides grant aid to private homeowners who...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Freedom of Information Requests (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: No Freedom of Information requests received by my Department over the last three years and to date in 2017 have been referred to the Chief States Solicitor's Office and therefore the issue of costs does not arise.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Postal Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. I thank both my colleagues for their questions. It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong, viable company in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and that it maintains a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. Members of the House will be aware from recent discussions on...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Postal Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The operation of the post office network is an operational matter for An Post and it is one that I do not have any role in. It is also important to point out, as I have pointed out here in the past, that on foot of the reconfiguration of Departments, responsibility for, and accountability to this House for, the post office network transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Postal Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: As regards anything that I have responsibility for in An Post, my form has been to take quick, decisive action. When the issues concerning An Post were brought to my attention, I did just that. The reality is that a decision was taken on 19 July by the Government to transfer responsibility for the post office network to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and her Department. Naturally...