Results 15,201-15,220 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Establishment of Special Joint Committee on Climate Action: Motion (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: They are not all cows.

Establishment of Special Joint Committee on Climate Action: Motion (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I know some people referenced the CAN Europe report. It would be worth their while if they read it because there is no reference to the investment that has been outlined in the national development plan. This is significant. Despite the fact that nobody in this House wants to acknowledge it, the fact is that one in every five euro in capital investment this Government will spend over the...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank colleagues for their flexibility in having the debate today rather than last Thursday when I was not available. I welcome the opportunity provided to me by the Deputies to discuss what is an essential electricity grid enhancement project for the midlands. To ensure the national electricity grid is fit for purpose in modern times, it is necessary to carry out grid refurbishment and...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I was trying to answer the questions raised by the Deputies.

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I reiterate the essential responsibility to ensure that Irish citizens have ongoing secure access to electricity via a world-class electricity infrastructure which rests with EirGrid and ESB Networks. They undertake their work in this regard under the auspices of legislation and in the common interest, which is critical. It is clear that most of the development in Ireland now meets with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Waste legislation does not provide for minimum fines as the approach of the Oireachtas has generally been to specify in law a maximum penalty for an offence, so that a court, having considered all the circumstances of a case, may impose an appropriate penalty up to that maximum. Penalties under the Waste Management Act are already substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Since coming into office, illegal dumping is an issue that I have actively dealt with through significant funding increases and supports for local authorities. My Department works closely to support and assist local authorities in tackling difficult enforcement challenges, alleviating environmental risk and prosecuting cases in the appropriate courts.   Issues...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Regulations (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The potential introduction of economic instruments designed to improve environmental behaviour, including an incineration levy and a number of other options, is being considered in the context of a review of the Environment Fund. I understand that the initial review is very close to finalisation and will be submitted to me in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Quarrying Sector (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Waste Management (Management of Waste from the Extractive Industries) Regulations 2009 requires each local authority to establish and maintain a register of all extractive industries within its functional area, including the working of quarries. Under Regulation 19(1) each local authority are obliged to: Establish and maintain a register of all extractive industries within its functional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management Data (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 423 together. There is currently no exchequer funding available for the development of new and existing civic amenity sites. Between 2000 and 2015, a total of approximately €210 million was provided to Local Authorities for the building and operation of bottle banks and civic amenity sites.  With declining resources in the Environment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Waste management planning, including infrastructure provision such as civic amenity sites, is the responsibility of local authorities under the Waste Management Act 1996. Under section 60(3) of that Act, I, as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance, in specific cases, by a local authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, including regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. The Department necessarily incurs some occasional expenditure on archaeological services from time to time. In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary. The policy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (3 Jul 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, 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 have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (3 Jul 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, 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: Broadband Service Provision (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The 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, 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 have access to a high speed broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Currently, my Department has one e-car charging point and one designated parking bay at its headquarters in Dublin 2, and is set to increase to three charging points shortly. The position at my Department's office locations will be kept under review in the light of growing demand.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 438 together. The National Development Plan sets the ambition of at least 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and, in order to support reaching this level, allocates €200m in funding for electric vehicles over the period 2018 to 2027. Funding of €9.8 million has been allocated in my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (3 Jul 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, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband.  By 2020, this will increase to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am committed to exploring opportunities for micro generation further, as I believe it can offer customers protection from rising energy costs and could enhance broader social engagement with renewable energy projects across Ireland. Furthermore, micro generation will be required given the scale of our climate and energy ambition as laid out in the National Development Plan and Project...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (3 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: At the meeting in January 2018 which I attended with officials along with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Ratheniska, Timahoe, Spink and Surrounding Areas Substation Action Group outlined aspects of the project with which they were dissatisfied. These aspects covered issues of concern from the origins of the project in 2009 to the present day. I...