Results 13,301-13,320 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Topical Issue Debate: Disposal of Hazardous Waste (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick. The port to which he refers is in County Down, Northern Ireland, and any proposed waste transfer station to be situated there would, as a consequence, be subject to the regulatory controls of that jurisdiction's national waste legislation. Decisions on planning applications for this proposed development would fall to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. This...

Topical Issue Debate: Disposal of Hazardous Waste (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is a culture of strong and active co-operation on waste management issues between the relevant authorities on both sides of the Border. As I pointed out earlier, there are well established structures in existence that provide a forum to deal with a variety of cross-Border issues, and I have used these previously to highlight problems being faced by Border counties exposed to the...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputies Fleming and Stanley for providing me with the opportunity to discuss this significant electricity grid enhancement project. I understand that they have been briefed by both EirGrid and ESB Networks on the matter late last week. I welcome a discussion on the topic, and I believe it to be an example of how important it is for the people of Laois and Kilkenny that their...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have contacted EirGrid and have spoken to the chief executive of the ESB about this. I will not contact An Bord Pleanála. I cannot and will not do so. The planning process has to go on and I will not interfere with that in any way whatsoever. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has spoken very frankly to me about this. There is quite a bit of anger here in the House about it, and I can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a priority.  This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper sets out a vision and a framework to guide Irish energy policy up to 2030. It is a complete energy policy update and its actions have been informed by a vision to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050. This vision is further reinforced by the Programme for Government. In March, I published a draft of Ireland's first National Mitigation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Meetings (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: Given that the UK general election only took place on June 8th last, the opportunities for engagement have been relatively limited in that very short timeframe.  The responsibilities of my Department align with responsibilities across three separate ministries in the UK. Mr. Greg Clarke was reappointed as Secretary for Sate for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wild Fires (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department has no statutory function for any follow-up actions in relation to the recent fires in Connemara, though as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, I am of course concerned about the potential impacts of these events on the environment and, of course, the communities, farms and businesses in the areas affected. The statutory responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland  (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides fixed grants towards a range of energy efficiency interventions including roof insulation, wall insulation, heating controls, boiler upgrades, solar heating systems and the cost of Building Energy Rating...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 75 together. I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 58, 67, 82 and 585 of 9 May 2017 and to the reply to Question No. 56 on today's Order Paper. As I indicated in my previous responses to these questions, the release of the latest projections of greenhouse gas emissions by the Environmental Protection Agency on 13 April last clearly indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (27 Jun 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 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has calculated that 25.3% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 473 together. I was pleased to announce earlier this year that the Government was moving to establish, on a two-year pilot basis, a National Dialogue on Climate Action. This is in line with the commitment set out in the Programme for Government. The primary objective of the National Dialogue will be to ensure an inclusive process of engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to answer Questions Nos 73, 74, 78, 83, 91, 95, 98, 101, 102, 106 and 108 to 110, inclusive, together.  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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: Under the Electricity Act 1927 (as amended), landowners are entitled to compensation for any electricity lines placed across their lands.  The ESB/IFA Code of Practice (1985) sets out the basis on which landowners are compensated for any loss taking account of crop loss, land damage, loss of development rights and disturbance. The agreement between EirGrid/ESB...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: International Agreements (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 90, 92 and 472 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 458 on today's Order Paper. The Irish Government strongly supports concerted international action to address the global challenge of climate change and, together with our EU colleagues, helped to bring about the entry into force of the Paris Agreement last November. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Negotiations (27 Jun 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: Telecommunications Services Provision (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 487 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone and broadband services, is a matter for the service providers concerned which operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). However, I am aware...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: The statutory responsibility on planning policy and legislation, including leading the review of the Wind Energy Development Guidelines, rests with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, in consultation with me, announced last week that we had developed a preferred draft approach...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos 86, 89, 96 and 104 together. I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Recognising this challenge, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Mitigation Plan (27 Jun 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No. 58 on today's Order Paper.   The objective of Ireland’s first statutory National Mitigation Plan is to set out what Ireland is doing, and is planning to do, to further the national transition objective as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015. The Plan will focus on measures and actions to progress...