Results 12,761-12,780 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The national broadband plan, NBP, aims to deliver high-speed broadband to all businesses and households in Ireland through a combination of commercial investment and State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. The NBP has been a catalyst for an increased level of investment by commercial...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: My focus is on delivery, not dates. I am very much focused on delivering this matter. The roll out of the national broadband plan has already started. Commercial companies are spending €1.7 million per day on foot of the plan. In the coming weeks we intend to make significant progress on that. I included in the programme for Government a mobile broadband and wireless task force...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Prior to becoming Minister I understood the difference between geographic and population. I have always insisted that we should be looking at geographic coverage. I have made my views quite clear on that, both publically and privately. In regard to the 3.6 GHz spectrum, the auction is slightly different in terms of its objectives. The country is broken into nine different areas, both...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Compulsory Purchase Orders (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Since 2007, my Department in co-operation with Tipperary County Council, has undertaken an extensive programme of remediation works at a number of former mining sites at Silvermines, County Tipperary, with expenditure on the works totalling €11.2 million to date. The last substantive phase of the programme of remediation works to be completed is the work at the Garryard site....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The North-South Interconnector is important for improving the efficient operation of the single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I listened intently to both debates about issues that were genuinely raised by people who had concerns. Similar motions have been passed by both Houses. I have directed my officials to prepare a proposal for me. I have not yet seen it. I have been pressing my officials on that because the argument made by the groups representing local communities I met here was that we did not have the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I will be honest with Deputy Dooley. The starting point was not the motion that was passed by this House. The starting point was the meeting I had with the communities where I thought they raised very valid questions. On foot of the raising of those questions, I immediately sought advice from my own technical adviser about the issues that were raised. There are legitimate questions that...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34  and 41  together. In line with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, I am required to prepare and submit a national mitigation plan to Government for approval no later than 10 June 207. An important milestone in this work, and one required under the legislation, was reached last week when I published a draft...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Deputy Pringle stated that the plan does not take into account the human aspect and cost. One of the big problems is that we have not had an across-the-board economic analysis of the impact of climate change and its cost to the environment and society. The really frustrating aspect is that I, as Minister, was starting with a blank sheet. When the 20% targets were agreed, the then...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Will the mitigation plan be sufficient to meet our 2030 targets? No, not as it stands at present. First, this is a draft document and we are looking for feedback and submissions from the public on it. Second, this is a living, breathing document that will alter with the forthcoming budget and the review of the capital plan. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has directed that...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Sometimes we are much too hard on ourselves. Ireland is leading the way in some areas. The beef data and genomics scheme is probably the most innovative step taken in agriculture anywhere in the world. I have been surprised by the number of ministers from abroad who have asked me about this scheme. The initiative taken by the Environmental Protection Agency on smart farming is putting...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: To respond to Deputy Pringle's question, while I am very open to constructive suggestions, I am not open to the suggestion that we close down the three peat fired power stations tomorrow and have all the seasonal workers who are driving tractors become electricians and retrofit houses in Dublin. This is the type of solution that is being put forward. What we need are practical solutions and...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The programme for Government recognises the importance of community participation in renewable energy projects in both the national and local interest. This builds on the 2015 energy White Paper commitment to widen the opportunity for community and citizen participation in renewable energy projects. While the specific proposal detailed by the Deputy is a commercial matter for Coillte, I...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: First, Deputy Murphy made the point that there is no good method for dealing with communities and he is correct that this was the case. That is why before Christmas I got the industry to sign up to a new code of practice. I acknowledge some of the people near Sliabh Bawn have dismissed that but it is funny that other communities in County Roscommon that have used the code have said that it...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I acknowledge, and have acknowledged, that there is a difficulty. That is why I put the code of practice in place and that is why the wind industry has written to every Member to tell them there is a new mechanism in place to deal with issues such as those being experienced by the Deputy. Noise is an issue and the new guidelines will reflect that. The Deputy asked me to meet the people...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU renewable energy directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable energy sources. The Government has a range of policy measures and schemes to incentivise the use of...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The new support scheme should be far broader than schemes up to now. Up to now the focus has been on onshore wind. There is an opportunity now to expand and look at both domestic and large scale solar, hydro, biomass, offshore wind energy and micro-generation. Micro-generation has to be part of that mix. I cannot give the Deputy a commitment on any specific project. There are a number of...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Has there been engagement with the Commission on state aid? Yes, of course, there has been. Our Department will be in regular contact across a number of areas. Is it likely it will get approval from the European Commission? Yes, it is our intention to design a scheme that will get the approval from the Commission. It is important to remember that under the renewable electricity support...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is currently developing a proposed new renewable electricity support scheme, RESS, which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contributions out to 2030. Analysis is ongoing of the types of technologies to be included such as biomass, offshore and onshore wind, waste, and combined heat and power. This analysis also includes an assessment of the...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy is right about there being a balance but I recall how, soon after I was appointed Minister, he and his colleagues lectured me on the impact of the PSO on domestic bills.