Results 2,081-2,100 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: On June 24th last, the Government approved the streamlining and refocusing of the commercial operations of Bord na Móna and Coillte, primarily in the bio energy and wind energy sectors. The decision will see the establishment of a Joint Venture (JV) between the two companies, with subsidiaries or SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles) as necessary, to focus on the identified areas of greatest...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: Ireland's progress to date in transitioning to renewable energy was underlined by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) in its publication, in February 2014, of "Renewable Energy in Ireland 2012". That publication noted that the contribution of renewable energy to meeting overall energy demand rose from 2.3% to 7.1% between 1990 and 2012, with renewable electricity contributing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. The primary support mechanisms for renewable electricity, including electricity generated from wind, are the Renewable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 424 together. The Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) handles all emergency calls in the State and forwards calls to the relevant Emergency Service. ECAS introduced a text messaging service since 2012 to enable deaf, hard of hearing and speech-impaired people in the Republic of Ireland send an SMS text message to ECAS where it will be passed to An...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 425, 426 and 452 together. The Government's Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together. The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in November 2012. In relation to my Department, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) will be merged with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office which will, this year, see it transfer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in 2013 or to date in 2014. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of staff in Semi State Companies have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies. The information sought by the Deputy regarding payments to staff by Semi State Companies is an operational matter for each Company. I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 and 432 together. This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the Government Decision of 12 April 2011, each year, on my Department's website, Expressions of Interest have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Rehiring (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: My Department does not fill term-time vacancies. The former Minister at my Department employed a retired member of an Garda Síochána as a Civilian Driver from 2 May 2011 to 11 July 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Programme for Government Priorities (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The published Programme for Government Annual Report for 2013 (the second such report) sets out the progress over the preceding 12 months of Programme for Government commitments and a copy of the Annual Report is available on the website of the Department of the Taoiseach at . The Statement of Government Priorities 2014 to 2016, published on 11 July, 2014, sets out clear and ambitious targets...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Usage (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: In 2011, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and my Department commenced development of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system to record each individual public body’s progress towards the 33% public sector energy efficiency target. A database of approximately 40,000 electricity and gas meters has been collected to enable the accurate gathering of public sector...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. This includes the Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area-based scheme and the Better Energy Communities scheme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 439 together. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements in the electricity, heat and transport sectors from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this overall target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources. Provisional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 443 together. A comparison report, the “State of Broadband” published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in September 2013 ranks Ireland 35thof 183 countries for fixed line broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants; 19thof 170 countries for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 4 on today's Order Paper. I understand that my predecessor met with members of the Irish Postmasters Union on 24 March and they had a useful and wide-ranging discussion on their concerns about the future of the post office network.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: The completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. It is estimated that construction of the final section of the project - the onshore gas pipeline - will be completed later this year. Therefore, first gas cannot be expected before the first half of 2015. I understand that the bulk of the gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Bullying Issues (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I share the Deputy’s concern in relation to the possibility that the proliferation of internet connectivity may well expose children to bullying and harassment online. The Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group was established within my Department in December of last year to ensure our national policy represents best practice in offering the same online protections to our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 453 together. The Government's Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention. The National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Jul 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 3 on today's Order Paper.