Results 15,021-15,040 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (29 May 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. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (29 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: Ireland fully embraces the ambition of the new strategy European Strategy for Plastics and I am committed to going beyond it. Already many of the measures recommended in the Strategy, such as extended producer responsibility schemes, the landfill and plastic bag levies, as well as robust enforcement, are well embedded into Irish resource management.  The national recycling list and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Advertising Regulation (29 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) is the independent self-regulatory body set up and financed by the advertising industry which promotes standards of marketing communications including advertising both online and offline, promotional marketing and direct marketing. The ASAI's Code of Standards for Advertising and Marketing Communications in Ireland applies to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (29 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the use of the National Postcode System "Eircode". As part of normal contract oversight arrangements, Capita has assured my Department that their current financial position will not impact on their capacity to  deliver their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (29 May 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. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (29 May 2018)

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: Waste Disposal Charges (29 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: There are no plans to introduce a requirement for waste collection companies to charge for collecting recycling.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Transport (29 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: Under new arrangements agreed by Government in March 2011, Ministers, with the exception of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality who retained their State car and Garda Drivers, could appoint two civilian drivers to drive their personal car, and claim mileage and related costs. These arrangements were already in place for Ministers of State. The following Table...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: Waste Collection Companies are required to hold a waste collection permit in order to collect waste in line with the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended. Waste collection permits are issued by the National Waste Collection Permit Office, which is the nominated authority to issue permits on behalf of all local authorities. Condition 6.6.26 of the permits contains...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: According to my Department’s National Broadband Plan High Speed Broadband Map, available at www.broadband.gov.ie, the premises detailed by the Deputy’s has been passed by eir as part of that company’s ongoing commercial deployment of high speed broadband to 300K rural premises. A high speed broadband connection is therefore available and I understand a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: The North South Interconnector, as proposed as an overhead line, now has full planning permission in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. I have listened carefully to the issues raised in relation to this project, particularly those living in close proximity to the proposed project. In February and March 2017, two motions calling for an updated independent study into the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department has engaged extensively with the European Commission, other Member States and key stakeholders during the negotiation of this legislative proposal. Earlier this year, my Department conducted an initial scoping consultation with key stakeholders regarding the provisions that are expected to be contained in the final text. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department has the lead role in developing the National Energy and Climate Plan. The creation of a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) is one of the key provisions of the proposed Governance of the Energy Union Regulation. The plan will include trajectories for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and national emissions, as well as the measures required to achieve these trajectories....

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach for a little discretion even though I know this is Committee Stage. I will deal with all the issues that have been raised and then come back to Senator O'Sullivan's amendments. I would like to try to address these because Senator Conway-Walsh's amendments were ruled out of order but I am positively disposed to the principle behind them. They can help to...

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: Yes. I do not dispute that decision. This will all fall into place if I am given a chance to elaborate on the matter. Radon gas is killing five people every week through lung cancer. Basically, a lung cancer diagnosis is terminal. Only 4% of people survive after being diagnosed. After smoking, radon gas is the second biggest killer in respect of lung cancer. Five deaths a week are...

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: On the points raised by Senator Grace O'Sullivan, the EPA under its remit with regard to radon publishes its aspect of it as part of its annual report under section 51 of the Act. That is laid before the Houses. The implementation of the NCRS is published by me. It is not a statutory document and is not laid before the Houses, but I will ensure that when the annual report comes to me and...

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: The buses are busier than that and there would be more than four people standing at a bus stop.

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: It is going to the Áras from here.

Seanad: Radiological Protection (Amendment) Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: As Senators are aware, the Bill is comparatively short and quite technical in nature. Primarily, its purpose is to regularise matters in the area of radiological protection by amending certain sections of the Radiological Protection Act 1991 and to effect the transfer of radiological functions from the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to the Minister for Communications,...

Seanad: Community Banking System: Statements (30 May 2018)

Denis Naughten: As Minister, I am acutely conscious of the value placed by communities in both rural and urban areas on services provided by post offices and I am concerned to ensure the needs of those communities continue to be met. I believe there is enormous potential for An Post to create additional competition and increase the availability of banking facilities throughout rural Ireland. An Post...