Results 6,321-6,340 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Bord na Móna operates as a diversified utility operating in multiple sectors, including power generation, bioenergy, resource recovery, horticulture and fuels. The dual imperatives to finish energy peat production and contribute to economy-wide decarbonisation have had a major impact on the company’s business model and have become the primary drivers of Bord na Móna’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: In January this year the Department of Justice and Equality requested my Department to examine whether or not any legislation existed under my Department's responsibility which could be impacted by any change to Article 41.2 of the Constitution. Following that request my Department did not identify any laws which are dependent on or in place as a consequence of Article 41.2 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I recognise the frustration felt by Irish consumers where telecommunications networks are not always delivering the services people expect. Accordingly, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. The Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Ireland has a national target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The public sector has a critical leadership role to play, with a more ambitious 33% energy efficiency target in the same period. Very significant efficiency gains have already been made with a 20% improvement in energy efficiency achieved in the public sector by the end of 2016. This equates to €133m of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location. The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector. Today, 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. By 2020, 9 out of 10 premises will have access...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Digital Hub Development Agency (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 757 together. The Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003 provides that the Agency shall consist of a maximum of 14 members. There are currently 9 members on the Board of the Agency. In June of this year I made three appointments to the Board of the Agency and I have no plans to make further appointments at this time. In relation to staffing,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sporting Rights (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air. Under the 2009 Act, I, as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three years. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Directive 2014/61/EU on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks requires operators of communications, district heating, electricity including public lighting, gas, transport and waste water networks to negotiate agreements to share their network physical infrastructure with public communications networks operators, if requested, unless there are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Review of pricing and access arrangements of the Metropolitan Area Networks has been completed by Analysys Mason Consultants. My Department is finalising its consideration of the Review and is currently engaging with the Management Services Entity (enet) in relation to the Review’s recommendations. It is my intention to publish the Review in the near term.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: On foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, I established the National Dialogue on Climate Action in 2017. The National Dialogue subsumes the proposal in the Energy White Paper, 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030,' to establish a National Energy Forum to maximise and maintain consensus on the broad policy measures required in the energy transition....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: A significant programme of capital expenditure for energy efficiency programmes in the residential, commercial and public sectors is funded by my Department and implemented through the SEAI. In addition to achieving energy savings, these Programmes realise benefits for air quality, health, social inclusion, business competitiveness and better public services, all of which make a real and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Better Energy Programme (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Programme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Programme consists of three main schemes: Homes, Warmer Homes and Communities. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Better Energy Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 764, 777 and 782 together. In 2017 I commissioned two studies designed to address the main points of the motions passed in Dáil and Seanad Éireann as well as key concerns expressed by the parties opposed to the development of the North South Interconnector as an overhead line. The first is an independent study to examine the technical feasibility...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcast Spectrum Management (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: A Decision was adopted at EU level in order to co-ordinate the release of the 694-790MHz (700MHz) spectrum band in all Member States by 30 June 2020. In Ireland, the 700MHz band is currently used by digital terrestrial television services (DTT) and my Department and ComReg have been working to ensure the necessary measures are taken to facilitate a clearance of the spectrum to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Biofuel Obligation Scheme (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of motor fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of annual fuel sales. It is a certificate based scheme with two certificates awarded per litre of sustainable biofuel if that biofuel is produced from wastes or residues and one certificate per litre for all other sustainable biofuels. The Biofuels...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: EU Directives (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Commission’s proposals around amendments to Directive 2009/119/EC, known as the Oil Stocks Directive, are currently being considered by the Oil Stocks Directive Committee, set up under Article 23 of the Directive, in which Ireland is participating. As things stand the amendments proposed by the Commission are as follows: - To change the date on which member states are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: Bord na Móna and Coillte Teoranta continue to work together on areas of joint interest, in line with a Memorandum of Understanding that was agreed by the two companies in 2016. The two companies are co-operating closely in a number of areas including: 1. Indigenous biomass supply; 2. Regional tourism development; and 3. Wind energy. Bord na Móna is working with a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (10 Jul 2018)

Denis Naughten: The renegotiation of EU Regulation 994/2010 concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply concluded with the adoption of EU Regulation 2017/1938. The revised regulation came into effect on 1 November 2017.The revised regulation further strengthens regional cooperation in the field of security of gas supply.