Results 15,281-15,300 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Data Sharing Arrangements (11 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Data Sharing and Governance Bill is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and was published on 8 June 2018 and is currently at Report Stage in the Seanad. The purpose of the Bill is to promote and encourage data sharing between public bodies by providing a statutory framework for data sharing for legitimate and clearly specified purposes that are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (11 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this issue. The North-South interconnector is vital infrastructure in delivering the objectives of Ireland's energy policy, namely, ensuring competitiveness and security of supply. It will also ensure a safe and sustainable source of energy for the jurisdictions of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The interconnector, as proposed as an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (11 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: This tender process is not just for the construction or potential construction of the route. As such, one cannot compare it to a shopping centre. To go ahead with the development of a shopping centre, one needs to know where the doors of each unit and the exits will be and what the overall design is. This process involves the design of transmission masts as well as the detailed design...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Civil Service Staff Data (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The recruitment of staff into my Department is administered centrally by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) via advertised competitions for all grades. My Department, as part of its workforce plan, offers mobility and promotional opportunities for staff through its internal competitions programme. The selection processes for all competitions run by PAS and by my Department are in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 612 together. There are a number of legal issues ongoing in Ireland and Northern Ireland in relation to the North South Interconnector project. My Department was involved in a High Court appeal against the planning decision in 2017. The planning decision was upheld in the High Court and subsequently in the Court of Appeal. This is now...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Communities Programme (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Communities Scheme is funded by my Department and operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). €23m has been allocated to the Scheme in 2018. To date, 37 communities have been approved funding for energy upgrades to more than 1,200 homes and 400 communities and commercial facilities. These communities will have warmer and healthier buildings lower...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: In September 2017 enet/SSE announced a project to bring high speed broadband to 115,000 homes and businesses across  the West and North West of Ireland. As the Deputy is aware, Eir withdrew from the National Broadband Plan procurement process in January 2018 leaving enet/SSE the remaining bidder in the process and as such the company is now engaged with my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Capital Expenditure Programme (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together. 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: Environmental Protection Agency Licences (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established as an independent body in order to monitor the quality of the environment and to ensure overall compliance with environmental protection legislation. The legislation passed by the Oireachtas to establish the EPA provides that the Agency is entirely independent of the Minister in the exercise of its functions. The EPA is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: To answer the Deputy directly no, I am not satisfied with the time delays associated with the allocation of a new eircode and I am frustrated with the situation as I know it is deeply affecting people across the country.  I have asked my officials to work more closely with An Post, Ordinance Survey Ireland, An Post GeoDirectory and Capita to improve and expedite the process of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am informed by the EPA that high carbon soils are considered to be organic soils under agricultural production. In this regard, there are two categories of emissions from arterial drainage of organic soils under agricultural production from which emissions are reported in the national greenhouse gas emissions inventory prepared by the EPA. The first is the Land Use, Land Use...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radon Control Strategy (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: While the Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 provides a legislative structure for radon remediation no scheme was ever commenced under its provisions.  Over the last year my Department considered, in some detail,  the practicalities of implementing a scheme under the 2002 legislation but concluded that this was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 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: Living Wage Expenditure (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department currently has 27 staff members who earn less than €11.90 gross per hour.  The additional cost to my Department of introducing a living wage of €11.90 would be approximately €85,890 per annum inclusive of employers pay related social insurance (PRSI). The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (12 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out the Government’s policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources.  The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind could be sustainably developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030.  An interim review of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (12 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: Invasive Plant Species (12 Jul 2018)

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...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it on this issue. I thank postmasters the length and breadth of the country for the dedicated service they have given to rural and urban communities over many years. As members are aware, some postmasters have taken the difficult decision in recent weeks to leave the business. I will return to that issue. Some people have, perhaps...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for his questions. I was shocked by the figures presented to me at the end of October 2016 because I had been presented with a different set of figures shortly before then. As a result, I asked New Economy and Recovery Authority, NewERA, which is part of the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, and which was established to advise Ministers on the operation of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Impact of Retirement Packages for Postmasters: Discussion (4 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I will let Mr. McRedmond answer that. In respect of the Deputy's comment on "some or all" of the business, I have said - and the company has agreed to this - that this will be a voluntary decision by individual postmasters and there will be an opportunity for the community to have An Post review the decision. Mr. McRedmond has given an example of one area where An Post has decided to...