Results 421-440 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 and 568 together. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport power from renewable sources. Ireland aims to meet its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: On the issue of the charging infrastructure, I have no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent regulator. Ahead of the introduction of the Electric Vehicles Scheme in 2011, a cost benefit analysis was undertaken in relation to electric vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Financial Services Sector (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: An Post has the largest retail network in the country and was fully computerised some years ago. As a result, the post office network can fill a vital role in the nationwide provision of over-the-counter services to the public, state services and other financial and commercial transactions. An Post currently carry out a range of transaction services on behalf of the AIB and the Ulster Bank...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for the company and are not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function. However, I have asked the company to revert directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: My Department has passed this query to ESB Networks and have requested them to contact the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The economic benefits to Ireland of the Corrib gas field include the significant economic activity generated from the development stage of the project, a strengthening of Ireland’s security of energy supply and the direct return to the Exchequer through the 25% corporation tax on profits. The operation of the taxation system and the receipt of taxation are matters for the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (19 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides grant aid to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (19 Nov 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 Provision (19 Nov 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: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited were awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System, on behalf of the State. The contract covers the design of the Eircode, encoding public sector databases, accessing the GeoDirectory database, the launch and implementation of Eircode and the on-going management of the system for the licence...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Data Protection (19 Nov 2015)

Alex White: My Department has not enacted any legislation which amends the Data Protection Acts. Any legislation introduced complies with the provisions of the Data Protection Acts, where appropriate. For example, in relation to Eircodes, the recently enacted Communications Regulation Postal Services Amendment Act 2015 did not amend the Data Protection Acts but rather the legislation was drafted in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies (19 Nov 2015)

Alex White: There have been no new State Bodies established by my Department since February 2011, nor do I plan to establish any new bodies at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Post Office Network Business Development Group, the remit of which is to examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the Post Office network, presented its initial report to me in May 2015. In summary, the initial report outlined that the future of the Post Office network would be best secured by seeking out...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: An Post is keen to explore new business opportunities for the post office network. The company has the largest retail nework in the country and was fully computerised some years ago. As a result, the post office network can fill a vital role in the nationwide provision of over-the-counter services to the public, state services and other financial and commercial transactions. With regard...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Renewable Electricity Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources, including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The Report of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group was presented to Government in June 2014. The Government established a cross-departmental implementation group in July 2014, chaired by my Department and attended by representatives from a number of other Departments, including the Departments of Justice and Equality and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The purpose of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The primary support mechanisms for renewable energy, including wind energy, are the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) schemes and the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes incentivise the development of the renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to allow Ireland to meet its target of 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by 2020. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: My Department is currently in the process of finalising a new Energy White Paper which will set out Ireland’s energy policy to 2030. This follows a period of extensive consultation including a written consultation process in summer 2014 which garnered 1,240 responses and a period of intensive stakeholder engagement covering 7 themed seminars and 4 regional seminars, one of which was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The development of Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy resource will be an increasingly important element of Ireland's future energy policies. Offshore renewable energy has the potential to generate carbon free renewable electricity, reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhance our security of energy supply, and deliver green growth and jobs to the economy. The 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is a Government initiative which aims to deliver high speed broadband to every citizen and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of accelerated commercial investment by telecoms operators, and a proposed State intervention to provide high speed broadband to those parts of the country where the commercial sector will not invest....