Results 13,141-13,160 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: On 19 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 decision is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 607 together. As advised in my response to Parliamentary Question 685 of 31 January, 2017, there are no plans to sell the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and in this regard, no valuation exercise has been carried out to assess the current market value of the MANs.   enet is the Management Services Entity (MSE) which manages and...

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

Denis Naughten: The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In that regard, the management of radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg. I understand...

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

Denis Naughten: As I indicated in reply to Question No. 694 of 31 January 2017 the formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network within the National Broadband Plan State Intervention Area, is ongoing. Following the conclusion of that procurement process my Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Seanad for the invitation to discuss the funding of public broadcasting. The opportunity to discuss our views on public broadcasting and its funding is both timely and welcome. Senators will be aware that I have asked the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment to consider the future funding of our public service media and, indeed, how we might define...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Do not forget Midlands 103 FM.

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Yes.

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I will try to deal with as many of the issues raised as possible. I was smiling to myself when the father of the House, Senator Norris, was speaking earlier about broadcasting from the GPO. This comes back to a point Senator Warfield made about reconsidering the location of RTE, and I remember Deputy Eamon Ryan raised this issue with me in the...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Only I do not know what would happen to Ciarán Mullooly's job if RTE were relocated to Athlone. We need to be conscious of that. Senator Norris also spoke about the universal licence, which Senator McDowell spoke about in the context of the property tax. I had to smile when Senator McDowell made that point. On the one hand, he wants TV broadcasting to be funded through a general...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: That is a matter for the board and I am not going to interfere in that. Senator McDowell raised the issue of a counterbalance to social media and he is correct in what he says. There is a big problem with regard to fake news across the globe, as well as here. In fact, before a certain global leader raised this issue during an election campaign last year, I raised it here in this city. How...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commission for Energy Regulation Staff (24 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The current staffing levels and grading structure at the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) were agreed early last year following an extensive engagement between the CER, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. There have been no requests to my Department for any additional staff posts since then.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Data (24 May 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...

Questions on Promised Legislation (25 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am the Minister responsible and my Department is the Department responsible. The formal transfer of that decision will come before the Cabinet in the next couple of weeks. I have been engaged with the company. As the Deputy knows, two reports have been completed by Mr. Bobby Kerr and have fed into the restructuring of the company that is under consideration by the board. Significant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (25 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.  My Department is currently reviewing, together with the regulatory authorities and industry representatives, the introduction of an incentivised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management Regulations (25 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of Section 18 of the Waste Management Act 1996 is to ensure that the Minister, local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency can obtain information necessary for the performance of their functions under the Act. It also provides for the exchange of specified information between local authorities and the Agency.Subsection (3) specifically requires the Minister to make...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (25 May 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: Brexit Issues (25 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: My officials and I take every opportunity to discuss the potential impacts of Brexit with our EU and UK colleagues, including with the European Commission Article 50 Task Force.The EU Roaming Regulations aim to abolish retail roaming charges within the EU on 15 June 2017, subject to Fair Use Policy.  At that point in time, the UK will still be a member of the EU and will thus be required...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (25 May 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 transport target also being legally binding. Provisional figures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 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: Telecommunications Services Provision (30 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Regulation 27 of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Universal Service and Users’ Rights) Regulations (SI 337 /2011) obliges all providers of electronic communications networks and services to adopt and implement a code of practice for settling unresolved disputes with customers including complaints. The code must also set out the first point of...