Results 5,961-5,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: The Working Group on the Future Funding of Public Service Broadcasting was set up by government decision in July 2018 to examine options for the reform of TV licence collection, taking account of recommendations set out in the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee. The Group's work is ongoing and it is scheduled to report to me at the end of this month. As I noted in the Debate on...

Independent Radio Stations: Motion [Private Members] (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Dooley for tabling this motion. It is our first debate on broadcasting in my time in this Ministry. It is timely. I recognise the strong endorsement of the role of local radio stations given by all speakers from the Fianna Fáil benches. That will undoubtedly be reflected in other contributions. Local radio stations are the information lifeline for audiences and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No. 497 of 26 February 2019. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Proposed Legislation (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The proposed amendment to the Broadcasting, Act 2009 is currently at an advanced drafting stage. My Department continues to work closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in order to progress this work with a view to having the Broadcasting Bill published in Q2 this year.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department as the budget is a function of the local authority. The Local Government Act 2001, as amended by the Local Government Reform Act 2014, provides the legislative basis for the budget process. The budget is developed in a phased process involving input from the Chief Executive, the municipal district members and the Corporate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Litter Pollution (28 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: My Department is responsible for ensuring that the policy, statutory and regulatory framework is in place to tackle the challenge of litter nationally. The operation and enforcement of the framework is principally a matter for each Local Authority. The National Litter Pollution Monitoring Survey (NLPMS) is undertaken nationwide annually by Local Authorities. It provides a detailed overview...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the debate. It is truly an historic debate we are having in this Parliament. It is important to remind the House of the value of the withdrawal agreement that has been put in place. It has the capacity to provide stability economically, socially and politically on these islands. It is, as it states itself, an opportunity for the...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: That is grand. There is no denying that Brexit has disturbed the balance of politics right across the island, and it is understandable that it provokes suspicions, as any separation will always do on different sides. The art of our calling, however, the art of politics, is the art of resolving conflict. This is more thoroughly tested by the kind of adversarial politics we have seen in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radon Control Strategy (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Currently there are no grants available to households specifically in relation to radon remediation. While the Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act, 2002 provides a legislative structure for radon remediation, no scheme was ever commenced under its provisions. In light of lessons learned in the delivery of similar schemes in other jurisdictions, the provisions under the 2002 Act are no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I refer to the reply to Question No 198 on 19 February 2019. The position is unchanged. Recent scientific evidence indicates that air pollution is more damaging at lower concentrations than was previously understood. With this in mind, I am committed to bringing forward Ireland's first ever National Clean Air Strategy. The Strategy, which I intend to publish this year, will provide the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Since 2012, greenhouse gas emissions associated with flights operating in the European Economic Area (EEA), including domestic flights as well as those to and from third countries, are covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Airlines are required to monitor, report and verify their emissions, and to surrender allowances against those emissions. Airlines receive tradeable allowances...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the BLUE 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 BLUE areas are where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services. Where a citizen living in a Blue area is unable to obtain a high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Charge (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 187, inclusive, together. A number of Deputies have raised this issue with my Department and replies are in the process of being issued to all. The position is that the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill which includes proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Levy provisions is currently at an advanced drafting stage by Parliamentary Counsel and is expected...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Heat Incentive (27 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) has been developed to financially support the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System. Under Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan published earlier this year sets out an allocation of €300...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that I had a meeting recently with the CEO and chairman of An Post. They are implementing a very successful restructuring plan. They are looking for opportunities wherever they can be obtained to drive more business through all the various elements of their business. They are equally aware that they must win that business and are determined to do so wherever they find...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Gas Networks Ireland (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network are matters for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). Gas connections to any new area is evaluated in accordance with the criteria in GNI’s Connections Policy, as approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the statutorily independent energy regulator, which conducts consultations on its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Projects (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Government is firmly committed to the facilitation of community participation in the energy sector, particularly in the realm of electricity generation. It is an important lever in ensuring that citizens and communities across the state can participate and benefit from the energy transition to decarbonise our economy and society. Following detailed economic analysis and an extensive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Nitrogen oxides (NOx) refers to two pollutants: nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). As outlined in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) report "Ireland’s Transboundary Gas Emissions 1990 - 2016", published in March of last year, Ireland exceeded the NOx limits set out in Directive 2001/81/EC for all years from 2010 to 2016. The Directive allows, however, an adjustment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: Providing adequate charging infrastructure is critical to ensure the continued growth in the uptake of electric vehicles. There are currently 668 standard public charge points as a part of the ESB eCars network and a limited number provided by local authorities and retail outlets. There are also 77 fast chargers, mainly on national routes, on the eCars network. A map showing the charge...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (26 Feb 2019)

Richard Bruton: The scholarship schemes operated by my Department are set out in the following table: Scholarship Scheme Criteria for award Amount of award € Number of awardees for dates which figures are available Petroleum Scholarship Scheme. The scheme’s objective is to ensure a potential pool of qualified graduates with specialist qualifications of direct applicability to the offshore...