Results 5,261-5,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: A minute of this meeting was published last year amongst the documentation made available to the Process Auditor, Mr. Peter Smyth. It was a matter for Mr. Smyth, under his terms of reference, to interview or receive statements from any relevant parties as part of his review of the NBP procurement process, prior to finalising his report. The Government noted and accepted the findings of this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 376 together. National Broadband Ireland will be wholly owned by a holding company which is in turn wholly owned by Granahan McCourt Dublin (Ireland) Limited. The Minister will hold one special share in National Broadband Ireland. The special share will not carry any economic rights, including a right to share in profits or to vote at shareholder...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: NBI Infrastructure Limited, trading as National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is a new entity established by Granahan McCourt for the purposes of delivering the NBP. It is this company that will be the signatory to the NBP Contract with the State.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 to 380, inclusive, together. The precise manner in which National Broadband Ireland (NBI) must be capitalised and supported throughout the project term was set out in the tender documentation. These requirements were fully assessed by an expert commercial and finance team as part of the final tender evaluation process. While there are no further...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Craoltóirí Seirbhíse Poiblí (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: De réir Alt 98 den Acht Craolacháin 2009, is craoltóir neamhspleách náisiúnta seirbhíse poiblí é RTÉ agus, ar an ábhar sin, níl aon ról agamsa mar Aire ina chuid oibríochtaí ó lá go lá. Foilsíonn RTÉ Ráitis Bhliantúla ar Ghealltanais Feidhmíochta le spriocanna a bhaineann le...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Waterways By-laws (28 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department has almost completed its consideration of the implications of legal advice received following the outcome of proceedings in the context of intended Bye-laws going forward. I cannot comment on the legal advice itself, however, I can advise that these implications are particularly complex and challenging as regards any Bye-law in relation to the issue raised by the Deputy. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I think there is a genuine issue here. There is no doubt that the revenue sources of traditional media are being undermined significantly as a result of the explosion in online activity. As the Deputy is aware, I am bringing forward a broadcasting Bill to provide for changes in the way the broadcasting levy is raised. We are examining the potential for deploying the levy in new ways. Of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: That was in parliamentary questions yesterday.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of the National Broadband Plan is to ensure that over 1.1 million of our citizens in rural Ireland have the same opportunity to participate in the digital society as citizens living in urban areas. The availability of ubiquitous high speed broadband will bring significant benefits in areas of e-Health, e-Education, smart farming, regional development and tourism. The premises...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department currently has a total of 66 staff assigned to climate and related energy policy functions, across eight separate divisions. This staff complement has significant experience in developing and implementing climate and energy policy at international, EU, national, regional and local levels. In addition to its own staff, the Department also has access to scientific and technical...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is a new entity established by Granahan McCourt for the purposes of delivering the NBP. It is this company that will be the signatory to the NBP Contract.The equity of NBI will be invested in NBI via a holding company as would be typical for projects such as this. The holding company will be wholly owned by Granahan McCourt Dublin (Ireland) Limited. The Bidder...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of Irish premises had access to high speed broadband. Today, 74% of the 2.4 million premises in Ireland can access high speed broadband. The State intervention is the subject of the procurement process to engage a company to build, operate and maintain the NBP State intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (22 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: As is required under State Aid guidelines, the procurement process for the NBP was technology neutral. Fibre was proposed by the bidders in the process as the best solution, which involves deployment of fibre cable along poles and ducts within the intervention area. Also under State Aid guidelines as much as possible of the network build will comprise the re-use of existing infrastructure....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: There have already been prosecutions, as I outlined in my reply. Vehicles have been impounded and prosecutions initiated.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy raised this matter previously and I am aware of his concern. Each local authority, including Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council, is responsible for the supervision and the enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Waste Management Act within its functional area. Local authorities have specific powers under the Act to require measures to be taken or to take measures...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Illegal Dumping (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is being taken very seriously. The national waste enforcement steering committee will discuss this particular site at its next meeting in June. An effort is being made to get co-ordination among the various agencies that can play a part in order to get resolution. As I have said, the Environmental Protection Agency met city councillors as recently as last week to try to make progress in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: It will be a matter for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, to bring forward proposals on carbon pricing. The Oireachtas has clearly signalled that the money should not be used for revenue raising but rather as a dividend or to shoehorn additional work to decarbonise the economy. The Taoiseach has put on the record his support for that approach. On agriculture, the committee on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The concept of just transition will form a key pillar of the climate action plan. It recognises that while every home, workplace and community will have to make far-reaching changes in our lifestyles to achieve climate resilience and protect our environment for future generations, the level of adjustment and options for adaptation risks imposing particular hardship for some. In that light,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the points made by the Deputy. Last Friday, I attended a very useful session in Mount Lucas which brought together many companies operating in the new decarbonisation world and which offer many employment opportunities. Representatives of educational institutions were also in attendance to identify how the midlands could be a centre for developing some of the new retrofitting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (21 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: These are the things that are or will be in development. The plan which we will publish will only be the start of the roll-out. Smart finance will be a key part of it. Institutions such as the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, which is looking seriously at this sector, have a significant role to play. I agree with the Deputy on the role of education. It is not by accident that...