Results 4,661-4,680 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Climate Change: Statements (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I never write out my speeches.

Climate Change: Statements (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is perfectly in keeping with the established practice that Ministers can speak to a debate without circulating notes.

Climate Change: Statements (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: This is a live show.

Climate Change: Statements (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I welcome this debate on climate change, which is coming at an appropriate time as thousands of young people in Ireland will mobilise tomorrow in order to raise awareness and demand climate action. The influence young people are having on this debate, in building momentum among older generations to take seriously the scale of the challenge, cannot be underestimated. They are a constant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 189, inclusive, together. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that they are not aware of a project with the reference no. NSADF-17-003. Project no. NSADF-17-014 provided funding for equipment for a youth angling initiative designed to facilitate access to angling activity. The project involved no physical works and therefore did not require...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The national project to upgrade our public lighting will greatly assist Local Authorities in meeting their energy efficiency objectives under the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy and the carbon and higher energy efficiency objectives set under the Climate Action Plan. The Public Lighting Upgrade Project involves most of Irelands Local Authorities and is being steered by an advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together. Under Section 4 of the Official Secrets Act, 1963 each civil servant is prohibited from communicating official information unless they are authorised to do so in the course of, and in accordance with, their official duties, or where it is their duty in the interest of the State to communicate it. Every Civil Service employee signs...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (19 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: Every home, farm, school and business in Ireland will have access to high speed broadband – no matter where they are located – following the Government’s decision to approve the appointment of a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan. Under this plan, Ireland will become one of the first countries in the world to ensure that those in rural areas have the same...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Brexit Preparations (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government has made no decision to move the State’s strategic oil stocks held in the United Kingdom back to Ireland. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) manages Ireland’s strategic oil stocks. Currently, 62% of Ireland’s stockholding is held in Ireland, 14% in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and 24% within other EU member states. NORA’s preference to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representative organisations and public bodies, in an effort to see how best to provide a financial support to persons with long-term incontinence with respect to the disposal of medical incontinence wear. One of the difficulties associated with efforts to deliver a support to date has been trying to accurately estimate the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department funds the Better Energy Homes scheme which is administered by the SEAI. Works that are grant funded under the scheme, such as the installation of fully integrated heating controls, must be carried out by an installer listed on SEAI’s register of contractors. As Minister I have no function in relation to the registration of contractors. In order to be listed on the SEAI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have no legislative power to compel a private company to provide a service to specific properties. The obligations on local authorities in relation to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that each local authority shall collect, or arrange for the collection of, household waste within its functional...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Planning Issues (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware Bord na Móna has been an integral part of the commercial and social development of the Midlands for decades, creating significant employment in the region. The company provides approximately 1,000 direct jobs at present, which in turn supports at least another 1,000 indirect jobs. In its strategy to exit peat, Bord na Móna envisages the development and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Programmes (18 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Platform for Coal Regions in Transition was launched in December 2017, as part of the Coal and Carbon-Intensive Regions in Transition Initiative of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package. The aim of the Platform is to provide support for regions heavily involved in fossil fuel industries and provide opportunities for national, regional, and local representatives and EU staff to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (17 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am aware of her concern, having met her and other Deputies during the summer. The climate action plan, which was launched in June, includes an increase in electricity generation from renewable sources from 30% to 70% by 2030. This includes replacing the use of peat and coal for electricity generation with onshore and offshore wind, as well as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Energy Production (17 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy. I assure her that the midlands regional transitional team will be central to the process the EU is now establishing whereby there will be a country team visiting Ireland. I recognise that there will be issues about developing a retrofit and ensuring that there is a skill-fit. I am conscious also that Offaly has some very good training facilities in Mount Lucas where...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position regarding the broadband contract is that the Government has chosen a preferred bidder. Work is now ongoing with that preferred bidder to move to a position where contracts can be signed. We are assessing the report of the Oireachtas committee. I have made it clear that while I will look at the committee's recommendations, I will not consider restarting the whole process, as...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: I think the Deputy is misleading the House. The reality is that the Government has been restoring funding to RTÉ. Last year it provided, I think, €10 million of additional funding to RTÉ as well as additional money to TG4. We believe strongly in the need for public service broadcasting and the importance of broadcasting, be it provided by public bodies or the private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Data (17 Sep 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty. These upgrades are provided free of charge to the homeowner. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The initial Warmer Homes Scheme budget allocation for 2019 was €24 million....