Results 6,141-6,160 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Disposal Charges (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: First, if I did not extend the Price Monitoring Group remit until the end of the year, I would have been criticised for being anti-consumer regarding it. Now, the Deputy is questioning the reason I extended it. I extended it to ensure there was consistency in respect of-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Disposal Charges (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the monitoring. I accept there is an array of charges and complexity in respect of them. The Deputy is right. It was an issue in the telecoms area and the regulator has addressed that. This might be something that will be reflected in the CCPC report and which we will have to look at in that context. Regarding medical incontinence, my Department is continuing to work on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: The reports were requested by me on behalf of the Oireachtas. A decision was made by the Government in that regard. I will present the reports to the Government. The hold-up has been that it was incumbent on me to consider the implications of a hard Brexit for our electricity system, the single electricity market, our gas market, the North-South interconnector and the ongoing DS3 project....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: No. My reference to EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland related to a third report I sought regarding the implications of a hard Brexit for our electricity and gas systems. It will be presented to the Cabinet along with the other two reports. It was only received by my Department at the end of last week. The intention is to turn it around quite quickly and bring all three reports to Cabinet...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am the first Minister for a long time to meet and directly engage with interested groups-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----and colleagues on the matter. I do not think any Member questions my sincerity or commitment to a fair process in this matter. I have the reports. I hoped to bring them to Cabinet earlier, but having received the request from the Commission, I believed it was fair to bring all three reports together. It is my intention to do so quite soon. Once they have been brought to the Cabinet,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I have not read the articles referred to by Deputies Cassells and Brendan Smith and, therefore, will not comment on them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: As soon as the reports have been presented to Cabinet, I intend to publish them so that people can read them for themselves.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not monitor anyone's social media account, nor do-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not dispute what the Deputy stated but-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: ------I do not monitor social media accounts, nor do any of the staff who work with or were personally appointed by me. Every Member of this House is legitimately entitled-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----to raise any issue in the House with me or any other Minister and I will always try to respond to the best of my ability. I understand the frustration that the reports have not yet been published but it was important for me to provide the Cabinet with a comprehensive review of all aspects of the matter, and I think Deputy Brendan Smith in particular will understand and appreciate that....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: As Deputy Brendan Smith is aware, there are judicial proceedings under way North of the Border and in this jurisdiction. As he is also aware, on 6 September the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Karen Bradley, announced that legislation is to be introduced in the House of Commons to deal with the issues that have been raised regarding the Arc21 waste incinerator judgment. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I hear what the Deputy says. First, we are open to considering any suggestion or idea to reduce the generation of waste in the first place. That must be the number one priority. The difficulty with the Deputy's suggestion is that the logistical cost involved in collecting, segregating and managing waste for 2,000 houses would make it very expensive for the houses involved. As the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: We are quite open to exploring the possibilities in terms of what the Deputy has outlined. My objective is to keep material out of landfill sites and anything that could help to do that would be positive. Specifically on waste generation, important work is being undertaken by some of Ireland's leading agrifood businesses to reduce unnecessary plastic packaging in the food supply chain....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Interconnector (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 50, 80 and 83 together. As the Deputies will be aware, in 2017 I commissioned two studies designed to address the main points of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, as well as key concerns expressed by those opposed to the development of the North-South interconnector, NSIC, as an overhead line. The first is an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sustainable Development Goals (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan. I acknowledge the tremendous work the Irish ambassador, David Donoghue, did on behalf of Ireland and Kenya, which led the charge for the development of these SDGs. People did not believe that it was possible to get agreement about SDGs. The Deputy is right about having co-ordination across Departments. It is my responsibility to ensure that happens, working with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sustainable Development Goals (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: As part of the implementation plan over the next couple of years, priority is being given to public awareness and to stakeholder engagement. We accept that that is fundamental to this. My role as Minister is overseeing coherent implementation across Government and Departments. I have specific responsibility for energy, sustainable consumption and climate action. It is not just about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Waste Management (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Waste Management Act 1996, as amended, and the Waste Management (Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, set out the regulatory framework for the collection of waste in the State.  The obligations on local authorities with regard to collecting household waste are set out in section 33 of the Waste Management Act 1996, as amended. In summary, it provides that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Energy Infrastructure (18 Sep 2018)

Denis Naughten: First of all, the figure is 40% of our renewable electricity by 2020. I am determined to try to achieve that target. The production, sourcing, buying and selling of natural gas produced outside this jurisdiction is an operational matter for the undertakings involved. There are a number of supply sources, with North America potentially one of those. Qatar is the largest producer of...