Results 14,001-14,020 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Priority Questions Nos 37 and 40 on today's order paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 494 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: European, national and regional waste policy are all predicated on the management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred (in that order) to the disposal of waste. For instance, collectors of waste must conduct their activities in accordance with the relevant legislation and the conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I can tell Deputy Martin that broadband is being rolled out across the country through the commercial aspect of the national broadband plan. Currently 300 farms a week are getting fibre outside their door. We are passing two premises every minute of every working day with pure fibre. On the issue of the procurement process, it is a complicated process, as I have explained to the Deputy in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: -----or like the national broadband scheme which was obsolete the day it actually went live. We need to make sure that this not only meets the needs of the current generation but the generations to come. It is a very complex procurement process. I accept that. However, what we are doing currently is putting the mechanisms in place so that as soon as the contract is signed the roll-out can...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Yes. Those regulations are being drafted and I think the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, intends to present them to the committee before the end of the year. I wish to highlight, however, that local authorities are still going against Government policy and direction from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and charging...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Current financial supports for renewable electricity projects in Ireland are provided via the Renewable Electricity Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes, which support renewable electricity generated and exported onto the national grid. Renewable technologies supported under the REFIT schemes include onshore wind, hydro, biomass landfill gas, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (23 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: My officials and I are in contact with mobile phone providers, as necessary. The reasons for engagement cross many subjects - examples include the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, consultation on national and EU-level policy issues and in relation to telecommunications market and technical matters.  We also met with the  IBEC Telecommunications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (23 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 194, inclusive, together. The following table sets out engagements I have had with my counterparts in the countries listed in the Questions.  I have not met with my counterparts from the United States, Wales or Northern Ireland in the past six months. Engagements Counterparts Environment Council, Luxembourg – June 2017 Ms...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Internet Safety (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: As the Deputy will be aware through his work as Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, which is currently considering the subject of online safety for children and young adults, the issue of online safety is of vital interest and importance to citizens. It is also a complex area that straddles the responsibilities of many Departments. There have been a number...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Vacancies on State Boards (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are currently 8 vacancies on State boards under the aegis of my Department, the details of which are set out in the table below. State Board Existing vacancies as at 24 November 2017 Inland Fisheries Ireland 1 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 1 RTÉ 1 Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA)* 5 Total Vacancies 8 * It is not proposed to fill some of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Appointments to State Boards Data (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Appointments to State boards under the aegis of my Department include Ministerial appointments, reappointments, appointments of Elected Employee Representatives and appointments of ex-officio directors (CEOs). All appointments made by me since taking office have been made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on Appointments to State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Media Mergers (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Media Mergers process was created as a result of amendments made to the Competition Act 2002 by the Competition & Consumer Protection Act 2014. All media mergers must be notified to me as Minister and I must make a determination whether or not the proposed media merger may proceed based on an assessment of its impact on the plurality of media in the State. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Communications (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I wish to inform the Deputy that I use both my Department and Oireachtas e-mail accounts for work purposes. I do not use an unsecured account to receive or send official business e-mails on any subject.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this is set to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies Data (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the bodies under the aegis of my Department which were allocated in excess of €1m funding from my Department's Vote in 2017 is set out in the following table. Body/Organisation Amount Public Funding Details (based on 2016 Accounts) Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ)  ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517, 520 and 523 together. As I indicated to the House last week, the Government has agreed to make €30m available in State funding to An Post. The funds will be provided by way of a long term loan advanced from the Exchequer. The €30m will be used to support the renewal of the post office network (€15m) and the continued fulfilment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (28 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Ireland holds 90 days of emergency oil stocks, in accordance with International Energy Agency (IEA) rules and EU legislation, to be used in the event of a supply disruption. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for acquiring and managing Ireland's emergency oil stocks. The majority of these stocks are held in Ireland, with some stocks held in other EU Member...