Results 12,861-12,880 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Insurance Costs (28 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is not required to hold insurances against the risk of any loss, under headings such as public liability, buildings cover, employer liability and so on, as it is covered by state indemnity, whereby the Exchequer carries its own insurance. The information regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fishing Industry (28 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 to 536, inclusive, together. There are many factors affecting salmon stocks generally. Marine survival is considered to have the biggest influence on return of salmon to all Rivers from far North Atlantic feeding grounds and survival has been at or below 5% in the North Atlantic for more than a decade. There is also evidence that heavy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Biofuel Obligation Scheme Implementation (28 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 sources of energy, with the latter target also being legally binding. In the transport sector,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Reviews (28 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 539 together. The EPA was established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 as a non-commercial and independent state-sponsored body. While I am precluded, under the 1992 Act, from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the EPA of its functions in specific cases, I am happy to respond in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air and Water Pollution (28 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Industrial facilities, including all power plants in Ireland, are subject to the licensing, monitoring and enforcement requirements of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). Monitoring and inspections, both routine and non-routine in nature, of these facilities are undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure the terms of IED licenses are respected,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (28 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: EirGrid, as the transmission system operator and ESB Networks, as the distribution system operator are continually working on ways to improve the electricity system for the benefit of the people of Ireland. As set out in the ‘Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure’ the State owned Networks Companies are mandated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (29 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Capita Business Support Services trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement and maintain the national Postcode System "Eircode". Some of the industries using Eircode data in their business include retail, logistics/delivery, utilities, public sector bodies, financial services and insurance. Eircode licenced End Users to use the Eircode data...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (29 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The operation of the post office network is a day to day operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function. On foot of the reconfiguration of Government Departments last year, responsibility for the post office network transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme (29 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy in Ireland. This builds on the 2015 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. My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts Data (29 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: No private investigation firms have been hired by my Department in the past five years or to date in 2017.

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (30 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for raising this specific issue, which is important and which was raised privately with me as well. Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the electricity market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas, not least in its horticulture business. The framework for...

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (30 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy O'Louglin for her questions. I want to make it quite clear that I could have kicked this can down the road, not made a decision and told Bord na Móna not to invest in the UK operation. Had I done that, within 12 to 18 months, Deputy O'Loughlin and her colleagues would be asking why I did not take any action to try to save the Kilberry plant and the horticulture...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (30 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Capita Business Support Services trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement and maintain the national Postcode System "Eircode". Capita have informed my Department that this property has been assigned an Eircode and I shall send this to the Deputy directly. The issue raised appears to refer to the name of the property and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (30 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. EirGrid is the designated Transmission System Operator and its role includes the operation, maintenance and development of the electricity transmission network in Ireland. As detailed in the 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure, the Government does not seek to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal (4 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Statistics and information on shipments of waste to and from Ireland, including repatriated waste, are not kept by my Department. Such information is maintained by the National Transfrontier Shipments Office (NTFSO) as the National Competent Authority for the export, import and transit of waste shipments under the Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations, 2007. The liability...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal (4 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: According to a recent EPA report, Ireland's Environment - An Assessment 2016, there were six operating landfills in the State in 2016. In accordance with legislation, waste management planning, including infrastructure provision, is the statutory responsibility of local authorities. Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer the Deputy to the response in Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 22 March 2017. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (4 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Public service broadcasters play an important role in our democratic society and the provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring they can continue to deliver on that role. While the existing TV licence fee model has provided a measure of stability to date, the rapid changes in technology altering the traditional way in which television is watched, together with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (4 Apr 2017)

Denis Naughten: Today the 4th April, I formally published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at . The updated Map shows the following categories of areas for delivery of broadband: - The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial telecommunications providers are either currently delivering or have indicated plans to deliver high speed broadband services, - The AMBER areas on the...