Results 14,741-14,760 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Protection Agency Remit (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The EPA is responsible for the licence and enforcement of large industrial plants listed in the First Schedule of the EPA Act 1992 (as amended). This includes incineration and co-incineration plants. The Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) specifies the emission limit values for dioxins that apply to incineration and co-incineration facilities. This Directive also stipulates the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In April 2017, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. eir has committed to completing this rollout by the end of this year.  Information on eir's ongoing rural deployment is available at . A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my Department’s website...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Nuclear Plants (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I would like to clarify at the outset that there is no meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention scheduled to take place in September 2018.  The meeting referred to in the question appears to be the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention, which took place in Budva, Montenegro from 11 to 14 September 2017. Ireland was represented by officials from my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee Collection (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Section 145 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 defines 'issuing agent' as An Post "or another person designated by the Minister" under Section 145 (3) of the Act. A statutory body designated as an issuing agent under Section 145 (3) of the Act would have the same powers of prosecution as An Post currently has under Section 151 of the Act. The Act does not currently provide for...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am sure they are on the way.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In early September 2016, Independent News & Media, INM, announced that it had agreed a deal to purchase the portfolio of regional newspapers owned by the Celtic Media Group. The titles that were to be included in the deal were The Anglo-Celt, The Meath Chronicle, Forum, the Westmeath Examiner, the Westmeath Independent, The Connaught Telegraph, and the Offaly Independent. On 3...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The application came to my Department on 21 November. The phone call I had with Mr. Ó Neachtain was in early November. The only new information I gave at that time was that I would take the advice of my officials in making whatever decision I would make. I said in the House on 6 December that I had not received the report from my officials, and I had not at that stage. I said I would...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not know what is in the email. I have not seen the email or the affidavit. I can without contradiction clearly state that I made it crystal clear on that occasion that I would be taking the advice of my officials and applying it to this decision, as I had done with all previous decisions to that point. The file will clearly show with each hurdle along this very complicated process...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not know what is in the email and I have not seen it. Let me be crystal clear that what I stated was my own personal view that based on what was already in the public domain and the guidelines and criteria there, it was likely to go to a phase 2 assessment. I also put in a caveat relating to it. I made it crystal clear that I would be guided by the advice of my officials. At that...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: No, there is not because I did not, and still do not, see the significance of it. It was a conversation I had based on the information in the public domain. I had been provided with no detail. My Department had been provided with no detail of the acquisition. That did not come into the Department until later that month. I was not in possession of any information other than the...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I said in my opening statement that it would have been preferable if the conversation had not taken place and I reiterate that. It was by no means a definitive view and nor could I have done so at that time. I said it would likely that it would go to a phase two assessment, but I also made it crystal clear that I would be guided by the advice of my officials when the application came before...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the information, and the commentary I made, was based on the information already in the public domain.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I did not wilfully or in any other way mislead the Dáil. On 26 October, Deputy Brian Stanley questioned me in the House on the Celtic Media Group acquisition. At that stage, it was with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Deputy Stanley made the point that there was a question mark over losing more diversity owing-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----to the possible purchase of-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the Celtic-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: When I spoke to Mr. Ó Neachtain, I gave a view that it was likely to go to a phase two. I was not in any way definitive in regard to that. What I was definitive about, and the only new information Mr. Ó Neachtain received on foot of that conversation, was that I would be taking the advice of my officials and applying their recommendations to my decision. That was what I did both...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I did not give any definitive view to Mr. Ó Neachtain. I made it quite clear to him that it was likely to go to phase two. That was my own opinion but I also made it crystal clear to him that I would be going on the advice that was provided by my officials. As I have said, the only new information that I gave him was that I would be taking the advice of my officials, and that is what...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: My officials were not aware of this conversation because this was a conversation that I had with Mr. Ó Neachtain based on the information that I had at that time, which was information that was in the public domain based on the criteria clearly laid out in respect of media diversity and media plurality. The file and application had not come in to our Department at that stage. When I...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: No, it was a mobile phone call. Yes, it was a mobile phone call that I received from Mr. Ó Neachtain. As I have said, I was not aware at the time until he pointed it out to me that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had made its decision. I expressed my personal view that it was likely to go to phase two. That was based on the comments of Deputy Stanley, the report of...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I have had probably hundreds of journalists question me on this particular issue.