Results 5,001-5,020 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Information (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. Following clarification with the Deputy's office, details of the 32 current policy documents and strategies published by my Department during the period 2016 to date are set out in the following table. Name of Policy Document/Strategy Year Published Statement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: In 2015, the Government commissioned a report by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands (RIVM), which examined and synthesised existing peer-reviewed research on the potential health effects of electric and magnetic fields arising from high voltage power lines, and electromagnetic fields from base stations for mobile communication. The report,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: I recently brought a recommendation to Government to confer Preferred Bidder status on Granahan McCourt, the remaining bidder in the NBP procurement process and the Government agreed to this at its meeting on 7 May. This is an important step towards achieving the overarching goal of the National Broadband Plan, which is to provide access to high speed broadband to every home, farm, school...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Homes Scheme Eligibility (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 135,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector continues to play a leadership role in tackling climate change through the achievement of further energy efficiency gains and carbon emissions reductions. The Climate Action Plan sets a target to improve the energy efficiency of public sector buildings by 50%. The public sector has already made a strong contribution in this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cycling Facilities Data (2 Jul 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department currently has 86 bicycle parking spaces. Under my Department’s Resource Efficiency Action Plan a staff survey on how staff commute to work will be undertaken with a view to promoting more sustainable options and to feed into the design of our new HQ due for completion in early 2023. I understand that information on the total number of bicycle spaces across the Civil...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy can, of course, express scepticism about how the company reached its decision-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----but that is not what he advocated. He said it should be a question of muscling at the Cabinet table-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----to make a decision about State companies that we rightly say should be run independently for the benefit of the public, their workers and the customers they serve. The Government does not in any way countenance a reduction of services from five-day delivery, on which this and previous Governments have insisted. That is the obligation of An Post. The Deputy has to recognise that any...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is no doubt that this is a difficult day for the workers directly affected by this decision. I assure the Deputy that not only will good terms and conditions be offered to the workers but every support will also be made available by the company and, indeed, by the State to support them at this difficult time. The company has outlined some of the supports that will be provided. These...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I have to disagree with the Deputy. He is advocating that this decision should have been politicised. He is suggesting that this decision should have been taken around the Cabinet table, with people muscling one another as to whether this should have been in favour of one part of the community or another. That vision of how decisions should be made is not one to which I subscribe. The...

Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown: Statements (Resumed) (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: First, I thank the Deputies who participated in this debate. A wide number of issues have been raised and I understand why people are expressing fear about the impact on different communities. That is always going to be the case when we face the significant change that is required of us. I ask people who have expressed such fears to show a little forbearance about thinking what the future...

Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown: Statements (Resumed) (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, has a consultation out until the end of this month which is asking people to submit their views as to how that is being done. He has clearly signalled that both energy poverty and the need to make change, which is part of the plan, are factors that should be taken into account in evaluating how revenue...

Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown: Statements (Resumed) (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: There is no means being applied to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grants which are available for electric vehicles or for modification of homes. There are means tests for people who are in energy poverty. People on the fuel scheme get a 100% allowance. Other than that, these schemes are generally available. There is a grant of €10,000 for an electric vehicle,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that in December 2015-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----the terms and conditions under which state aid would be provided to bidders to provide a national broadband service that ensures 25% of the population is not left behind were published. Under that procedure, as the Deputy knows, Eir went through the pre-qualification stage and agreed to the approach and it submitted a bid of €2.7 billion. That was in accordance with state aid...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: We are now entering into the period during which we will have to decide whether a contract will be signed. If we decide not to proceed with the procedure that has been put in place, we will have to start a completely new procurement procedure.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: No such-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----procurement procedure under state aid rules could involve conferring an individual company, particularly a company with a substantial incumbent position, with a subsidy-----