Results 14,621-14,640 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency Staff (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Mar 2018)

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. Today, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. This will increase to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 281, 283 and 284 together. The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. In terms of environmental requirements, the charges applied should encourage householders to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Since my appointment as Minister I have appointed two Special Advisers, Ms Suzie Coogan and Mr. Ross Elwood. Ms Coogan was appointed as press and media advisor and was previously employed as a journalist, government advisor and communications director for an international NGO. Ms Coogan's annual salary is currently at the rate of €95,441. Mr Elwood was appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together. In 2015, AECOM completed a study commissioned by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to fulfil Ireland’s requirements under Article 14 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) and SEAI’s responsibility under 23(1) of the European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 426 of 2014). As part...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to meet the committee to discuss the 2018 Revised Estimate for my Department. I am joined by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, who has responsibility for natural resources and digital services development. I am also joined by my officials, Mr. Brian Carroll, assistant secretary with responsibility for climate action and environment; Mr....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Yes.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I will go through the Estimate questions first before dealing with some of the broader questions. I will begin with the spending and changes in the figures from 2017 to 2018 under the various subheads. On information and communications technology, between 2017 and 2018 the Estimate has gone from €20.5 million to €19 million. That is because of anticipated contractual payments...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: ---- it is currently €500,000. The Tuam ducting has a sum of €100,000. The North-South telecoms operation is €20,000 and €1.8 million for Eircode. Deputy Dooley asked about subhead A4 on multimedia developments. The projected change from the 2017 Estimate to the 2018 Estimate is €654,000. The decrease relates to the Digital Hub Development Agency 2018...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: There is more than one line at issue. There are other complex issues with the legislation, but we are happy to engage with the Deputy on it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The network design is part of the procurement process. I understand there has been engagement to explore all options and that nothing has been ruled out. The regulated price is €20 per telephone pole, which means that if there are two operators using a pole, the cost if €10 each and that if there are four, the cost is €5 each. The Deputy will be aware that prior to...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: There has to be a network design in place for the preferred bidder. It is under active discussion with all of the players involved.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of programme B is to support Ireland's socioeconomic development by promoting the maintenance of a diverse and vibrant broadcasting sector and ensuring the regulatory framework will remain appropriate in achieving this. RTÉ and TG4 are funded through a mix of commercial revenues obtained largely from advertising, Exchequer grant payments and licence fee revenue. It is...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I will take a few of those questions together. First of all, the work the committee has done in this area has been very good. It has provided me with a very detailed report on-----

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the long-term view of where public sector broadcasting should go. In the next day or two, I am due to receive a report from my officials on that report, and I want to compliment the committee on it. In response to Deputy Eamon Ryan, I note that Deputy Dooley asked me the same question in the House a couple of weeks ago. We need to deal with this urgently. I agree with Deputy Eamon...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: We are talking about two different reports. We received the pre-legislative scrutiny report on foot of its publication earlier this month, on 8 March. There is a process for the passage of legislation. I cannot proceed to the next stage of that until it completes the next stage. It has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny and I have asked my officials to act, and act immediately, on foot...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Programme C aims to deliver on the key elements of the Government's energy policy with a clear focus on energy efficiency measures across the residential, public and business sectors. Using less energy, and using it more efficiently, is the most cost effective way to combat climate change. The programme provides €10.9 million to cover operational costs of the Sustainable Energy...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Deputy Lowry asked about the Littleton plant. It is a sad day when one sees any operation in the country closing. It was inevitable and will be inevitable that as we transition away from fossil fuels, we will have more announcements of this kind in the future. The objective is to try to ensure, in so far as is possible, that we are transitioning out of one technology and into employment in...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Yes. Solar panels are part of the mix. In fact, I visited a school in Leixlip where the kids were showing me the solar panel. They actually had battery storage in the school. The big problem with schools is that they are closed a lot of the time whether at weekends or out of term. As such, one is not getting the same bang for one's buck when investing in a solar panel there. However,...