Results 221-240 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to deliver high quality, high speed broadband to every citizen and business, regardless of location. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a State led intervention in those parts of the country where commercial services will not be provided. Last November I published a national high speed coverage map...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Properties (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: All properties occupied by my Department are either owned by or leased by the Office of Public Works and as such my Department does not have any ground rent liability. In relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for each body. My Department will ask the bodies in question to supply the information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The Whitegate refinery was privatised as a result of its sale by the State in 2001. Under the terms of the sale, the owners are obliged to continue to operate the refinery for a minimum of fifteen years, a commitment which remains in place until July 2016. That commitment is not affected by the planned sale. The owners of the refinery, Phillips 66, advised my Department in October that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 620 together. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy, as set out in the White Paper on Energy Policy which I will publish tomorrow, is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers as our energy system undergoes the fundamental transformation required to meet our climate policy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The provision of electronic communications infrastructure, including the significant investment required to make high speed telecommunication services publicly available, occurs within a fully liberalised market. It is a matter for the competing networks providers to decide those areas which can be served on a commercial basis, in the first instance. Intervention by the State is limited to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focused post offices in the community. The post office network plays an important role in serving the needs of business and domestic customers alike. However, the postal sector is undergoing systemic change, with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: Following completion of the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline, Shell E&P Ireland Limited, on behalf of the Corrib Gas partners, submitted an application on 18 August, 2015, under Section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, for consent to operate the pipeline. This consent is required by the developer before production of gas can commence. A public consultation process in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bioenergy Strategy (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a small contribution. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This is being achieved through a combination of the commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. Currently approximately 1.2m premises in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: White Paper on Energy Policy (10 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I intend to publish the White Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland on 16 December. The White paper will discuss the role that micro-generation can play in transforming and enhancing the way homes, businesses, communities and citizens use energy. In addition, on 31 July, 2015 the Department launched a consultation on a new support scheme for renewable electricity. As part of the emerging design...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Rehiring (10 Dec 2015)

Alex White: My Department has granted no re-instatements since its establishment in June 2007.

Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (9 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on this matter and I thank Deputy Stanton for raising it. Ireland has a single refinery, at Whitegate in Cork, which is owned and operated by Phillips 66, a private company. As the Deputy stated, Phillips 66 supplies approximately 40% of the main products on the market, excluding jet fuel. Under the 2001 sale and purchase agreement, when the...

Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (9 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy again for his observation and insights. I remind him I have had occasion to visit the refinery and met management and workers to understand the value of the facility in the greater region where it is located. I have no doubt the Deputy is absolutely right in what he says about the refinery being a good neighbour and an important part of the economy and the fabric of Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households who meet the defined eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable to energy poverty. Recipients of the scheme do not receive grants but have measures installed free of charge. In 2012 the eligibility criteria for the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme were broadened in an attempt to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 to 604, inclusive, together. The Government’s National Digital Strategy (NDS) recognises the importance of enabling all citizens and businesses to realise the full social and economic potential of the digital world. My Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme, which was launched nationally on 1 July 2014, is a key initiative under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Product Labelling (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: My Department currently has Market Surveillance responsibilities for Energy Labelling and Ecodesign. We have become aware of potential issues relating to allegedly non-compliant LED lamps. My officials have liaised with market players to elicit more information on this matter and they have discussed it with counterparts in other Market Surveillance Authorities. We have, on foot of this,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister I receive representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies. Since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 11 July 2014 I have attended some 892...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The information requested in the question is set out in the following table: Company Event Date Event Cost Maxwell Photography 13/06/2011 Government convenes Next Generation Broadband Taskforce 340.92 Maxwell Photography 27/07/2011 Age Action Silver Surfer Launch (pre shoot) 274.97 Maxwell Photography 23/09/2011 Minister Rabbitte stock photos available for widespread media use 409.58...