Results 14,081-14,100 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 Dec 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 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Attempts to thwart democracy are as old as democracy itself. There is a long and less than distinguished history of state and non-state actors alike engaging in such activities. Moreover, many states, including Ireland, have adopted a series of measures to reduce the risk of this occurring, including rules on the transparency of media ownership and the use of funds from international...

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I also suggest that this should only happen once the key investigations into recent events have been completed, including those of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It is critical to note that we are far from defenceless against any future attempt to manipulate democracy here. Leaving aside the rules in place regarding political funding...

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Am I allowed to respond to the points raised?

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is a lot of work going on and people are working late.

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy has done so.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Invasive Plant Species (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Following discussions between the Environmental Protection Agency, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Biodiversity Ireland, it was suggested that the level of regulation required for the management of waste arising from the cutting or excavation of invasive alien plant species may be disproportionate to the risk of environmental pollution posed by such activities. Accordingly, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Dec 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: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Dec 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 67% 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: North-South Interconnector (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together. 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 Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May of 2016. Following the decision of An Bord Pleanála, I met...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 214, inclusive, together. 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 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy Publication (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The draft Bioenergy Plan was published in 2014. There are a wide range of Government Departments, agencies and State bodies that are critical enablers for the development of bioenergy by virtue of their responsibility for areas such as forestry, agriculture, waste, research funding and business development.  The draft Bioenergy Plan sets out the policy areas that must be coordinated to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Senator for having his finger on the pulse. No more than his office, my constituency office is now receiving queries on electric vehicles, charging points and the national network. This is a positive development. At long last, people are beginning to see the significant benefit of electric vehicles, particularly people with two cars and relatively short commutes. The average...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: It will feed into a task force that has been established between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and my Department, namely, the low-emissions vehicle task force, which I will discuss in a moment. In May, the Government approved the publication of the National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030. This framework sets an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The State will be getting involved in it. We do require state aid approval. I do not know how long that is going to take. It would be my intention to see some of these fast chargers installed before the end of 2018 and that ramped up in 2019. One final point is that it is not just about the financial supports and the charging infrastructure. It is also about exposing people to electric...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or the ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels within the areas it applies, with an associated significant improvement in public health. Research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in over 350 fewer annual...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commencement of Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are two Acts for which all sections have yet to be formally commenced by my Department. The details are set out in the following table.: Title of Act Section(s) not yet commenced Purpose of section(s) Reason for delay in commencement Energy Act 2016 Provisions not yet commenced are sections 8 and 19 Section 8 of the Energy Act provides for a revised legal definition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (14 Dec 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 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Advisory Council (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Climate Change Advisory Council was established by Ministerial Order (S.I. No 25 of 2016) on 18 January 2016 pursuant to section 8 of the Climate Change and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The Advisory Council consists of eleven members appointed by Government, acting in a part-time capacity, four of whom are ex-officio members. The overall costs associated with the operation...