Results 5,941-5,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012 less than 700,000, or 30%, of all 2.3 million Irish premises had access to high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Inland Fisheries (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. I have asked my Department to reflect over the coming period on legal advice and on the outcome of proceedings in the context of intended Bye-laws going forward. I have requested a report on the options to be considered going forward in relation to the Bye Law. The Lakes in question have long been designated, as a matter of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Prospecting Licences (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: In the case of every public consultation on a Prospecting Licence grant or renewal, the full list of townlands to be encompassed by the Prospecting Licence Area is published in the newspaper advertisement.Details of all the Prospecting Licences are included in the Six Monthly Reports which are submitted to the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 77 of the Minerals Development Act, 1940 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 418 together. Successive governments have underlined the commitment to move from a fossil fuel-based electricity system to a low-carbon power system. Almost two thirds of renewable energy used in Ireland comes from renewable electricity. It is widely recognised that Ireland needs to make a step change in its climate ambitions and I have secured...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mining Licences (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Applications for Mining licences/leases are subject to a consultation process under Section 18 the Mineral Development Acts 1979. The Minister is required to publish a notice in at least one national daily newspaper and in so far as practicable to give every person, that may appear to have an interest in the proposal, the opportunity of making representations. A notice must also be published...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access to all premises in Ireland, including those in rural Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment and a State led intervention. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. In 2012, less than 700,000, or 30% of all 2.3 million Irish premises had...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management Regulations (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Further to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 26 February, there is nothing which expressly prohibits a service fee being charged as part of a pricing plan used by a household waste collector. The measure to further incentivise the prevention and segregation of waste through phasing out flat rate fees for household waste collection during 2017 and 2018 is one of a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Commission document published on 28 May 2018 contained a 90% collection rate for plastic bottles by 2025, as pointed out by the Deputy. However, this changed very early on during negotiations between Member States in the Council to 2030, which became the de facto working date for negotiations. The Deputy will be well aware that negotiations such as these can be both difficult and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Repak were not the only experts consulted in relation to the proposed EU directive on single use plastics. In consideration of the above proposal, relevant experts were consulted as the need arose. For the purpose of developing negotiating positions and ensuring we had all the relevant knowledge, short, relevant extracts were forwarded to necessary experts. I believe this is common practice...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am conscious that Ireland remains substantially short of the targets which have been set previously. I have secured government approval to develop an all of government plan, which will set out the actions which need to be taken in order for us to step up our level of ambition. The plan will focus on implementation, the actions which need to be taken, with strict timelines for implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Data (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is the official source of energy data for Ireland. They develop and maintain comprehensive National and sectoral statistics for energy production, transformation and end-use. According to their 'Energy in Ireland 2018 Report', the 2017 energy mix for Ireland was: TPER Fuels 2017 - ktoe 2017- % share Coal 1,099 7.6 Peat 695 4.8 Oil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am leading on the development of an All of Government Plan, which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. This involves working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives which will allow Ireland to set a clear pathway to reducing our dependency on fossil fuels across the economy and to meet our targets, under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Waste Framework Directive was amended in 2018 and introduced a new requirement for EPR schemes to modulate the financial contributions paid by producers by 2023. The objective of this new provision is to provide an incentive to producers to design products that contribute to waste prevention and facilitate recycling by taking into account their durability, reparability, re-usability and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I am currently preparing an All of Government Climate Plan which will set out the actions which must be taken to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change. I am working with colleagues across Government to develop new initiatives across electricity, transport and heat, as well as a range of other sectors. The All of Government Plan will build on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Clean Air Strategy (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With that in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first national Clean Air Strategy. The strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will include a range of specific actions to reduce the health and environmental impacts of air pollution, and will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: Faithlegg National School is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The procurement process to appoint a bidder...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP. This intervention is the subject of an ongoing procurement process. The procurement process to appoint...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: State Bodies (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: ESB is a commercial State body with its own Board. Investment projects by ESB and its subsidiaries are an operational matter for ESB.In terms of oversight, my role, as Minister, is to ensure that ESB is compliant with the 2016 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the statutory framework underpinning ESB. I have asked ESB to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radio Broadcasting (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: National and local radio makes an enormous contribution to the lives of individuals and communities in this country. I fully appreciate the difficulties faced by the independent broadcasting sector and my Department is working to ensure that positive changes are put in place. To date, independent radio stations have benefited from the Sound and Vision Scheme, funded from the licence fee,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Poverty (5 Mar 2019)

Richard Bruton: While supermarkets are directly responsible for the disposal of only 2% of food waste, their influence across the supply chain makes them central actors in combatting our national food waste problem. Recognising this, my Department and the EPA have sought to involve major supermarkets in reducing food waste. Aldi, BWG, Lidl, Musgrave and Tesco have all participated in my Department’s...