Results 261-280 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for her questions and observations. I do not want to start on a discordant note but many people say to me - I accept it as absolutely genuine and in good faith - that they realise we have to address global warming, that serious adverse effects are already visible from climate change, that we have to engage in a plan to decarbonise our economy, that we must move away from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: When I first approached this matter, I believed these were black-and-white questions. I also believed that if one considered a set of assumptions and setback distances, it should be very easy to work out what it would mean in terms of lands available for wind turbines and wind farms. However, it became clear early on that the matter is much more complex than that. There are different types...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I hope so. The White Paper will be an important element of that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I hope so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: On the first point raised by the Deputy about oil and gas, I do not wish to misrepresent him but he was querying why we would continue with oil and gas at all. The White Paper will emphasise that we are in a transition. There will not be a moment next year, the year after or almost certainly for as long as any of us might have a chance of being in this House that we will be able to say that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: -----in terms of a transition fuel. They will be there and we need them for security of supply. People talk about coal and say we should turn off Moneypoint. I have heard what has been said in the past couple of weeks about closing Moneypoint, for which I have some sympathy, but if one were to close Moneypoint, one can forget about the supply of energy in the country. There will not be a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The White Paper is at a high level of policy. The questions of the specifics of feed-in tariffs, in whatever area, are for consultation and decision. For example, the REFIT scheme on which we are consulting at present will be dealt with in the course of 2016. It will not be dealt with in the White Paper. It cannot be because there are all sorts of rules relating to state aids and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: As soon as it is approved by the Government, which I hope will be next week, we will be in a position to share it. I should point out that I have taken careful note of what has been said not just at this meeting but also in previous meetings and Deputy Colreavy and others in the committee have contributed more than they might think to what is in the White Paper.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I agree with Deputy Fitzmaurice on the point about energy efficiency and energy savings. We have increased our support in the budget cycle and the capital plan to ramp up our energy efficiency strategy. This will happen by way of direct Exchequer support. However, the White Paper makes clear that we will explore innovative ways of leveraging finance, whether European money or private...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I realise the Deputy is making a broader point in terms of the wider community. However, it is not true to say that the economics of wind generation are negative. We can have a debate in this committee and we can bring forward the data we have. We have data from the 2015 report of the Council of European Energy Regulators. The report demonstrates that the per-unit supports for renewable...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I thank Senator Terry Brennan for his observations. We are certainly addressing all of the developments taking place and taking account of new technologies, particularly in the production of tidal, wave and ocean energy. Of all the developments of interest for the future, offshore production of renewable energy seems to be the most exciting. It is important to note that there is a long...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I do not accept that allegation, which is a political charge. I am not aware of precisely what is involved, but I will write to the Senator tomorrow to clarify the matter. In addition, I will make a public statement if it seems necessary to do so.

Estimates for Public Services 2015: Leave to Introduce (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I move:That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December 2015:Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary Estimate).

Estimates For Public Services 2015: Referral to Select Committee (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: I move:That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on 31st December 2015, the Supplementary Estimate be referred to the Select sub-Committee on Health, pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(c) and (6)(a) and 159(3), which shall report back to the Dáil by no later than 9th December:Vote 38 - Health (Supplementary...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The entire effort of this Government in the past five years has been to stabilise the economy after the shocking economic collapse that occurred, including, in cases where people have had to cope with the impact of mortgage arrears, including insolvency legislation which we introduced and brought through the House, and also the provision of services such as the Money Advice and Budgeting...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: -----and in giving advice to individuals who are faced with these issues. It is completely untrue to say that this is a hands off approach. The fact is that number of people in arrears, the number of families in financial difficulties and household debt have reduced and are reducing, of that there is no question. When the Deputy Donnelly compares Ireland to other countries he is not always...

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: The reality is that we have achieved an enormous amount, we have stabilised the economy and the public finances and now there is hope for the people that the Deputy and I represent------

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: -----who have faced mortgage difficulties. They have hope, they can sense there is hope and this Government is giving them hope. That is what happening. Those are the specifics in terms of the approach that this Government has taken-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: -----and that is what will continue to work for the Irish people, namely, that the Government and politicians, and I include many politicians on both sides of the House, will work genuinely in the interests of their constituents and also in the interests of the country and in the interests of ensuring we have proper measures in place that are robust, that we have an economy that works and...

Order of Business (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: It is proposed to take No. 12a, motion re leave to introduce Supplementary Estimate - Vote 38, and No 12b, motion re referral of Supplementary Estimate - Vote 38 to the select sub-committee. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that No. 12ashall be decided without debate, and subject to the agreement of No. 12a, No. 12b, motion re referral to select sub-committee,...