Results 6,641-6,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206, 212, 214 and 218 together. My officials met with Screen Producers Ireland (SPI) earlier this year for a full briefing on the Irish independent production sector. SPI have recently been in contact with my office requesting a meeting since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action & Environment. Unfortunately, this has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Rental Sector (21 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Rental properties present a particular challenge in terms of energy efficiency upgrades owing to the split incentive issue.  A split incentive occurs where landlords meet the cost of improvements, while tenants would reap the benefit, so neither party is motivated to upgrade the dwelling. This is why there is currently under-investment in improving the energy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: First, it is important to distinguish between two elements. On the commercial broadband delivery front, we have dramatically expanded the availability. It has gone, even since this Government's creation, from 50% up to 75%. That is entirely commercial. Those commercial outreaches still leave amber areas quite close to what is being delivered commercially but they remain the subject of the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important question. In total, the European Union releases about 200,000 tonnes of plastics into the oceans. There is a serious problem throughout the Union which has decided in principle that it will introduce a ban on the use of single use plastics which will I hope become enforceable early in the new year. Obviously, the directive has to be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: An Post is a commercial State body, and it has been under very severe financial pressure in recent years. It has had to take steps, including increasing the prices of stamps, among other things, to ensure that it can continue to deliver a service. It has negotiated a settlement with the postmasters whereby some post offices will voluntarily close. It has also developed a protocol under...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I have no problem communicating with the Deputy, but it must be borne in mind that this is a public company that has commercial responsibility. It has to develop its proposals in a way that is financially viable.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is continuing the work of developing a mechanism to provide a €75 support for vulnerable persons with a condition such as lifelong or long-term medical incontinence to help meet the average annual cost of disposing of their domestic waste. I am informed that this process has taken longer than envisaged, due to a number of issues, including data protection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Administration (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Broadband Plan Division is one of the Divisions making up the Communications Area of my Department. The work of the Division is primarily focussed on activities related to the procurement process for the NBP State-led intervention.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Nuclear Waste (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The matter of mud dredged from the Hinckley Point C construction site was raised by Irish officials and discussed at a recent meeting of the UK-Ireland Contact Group on Radiological Matters in London. This group, comprising senior officials from the United Kingdom and Irish Government Departments and relevant agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), meets...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The premises referred to by the Deputy is in the AMBER area on the 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 and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.  The Deputy makes reference to the premises' proximity to a commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Solar Energy Guidelines (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The matter of planning guidelines for solar PV installations is a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government and I have no statutory function in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Resources (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 549 together. The 2015 Energy White Paper, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future, sets out a road-map for Ireland to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050. The strategy is clear that non-renewable energy sources will make a significant – though progressively smaller – contribution to our energy mix over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 535 and 536 together. In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce worked with key stakeholders to produce a report in December 2016, available on my Department’s website, which contained 40 actions to alleviate some of the coverage deficits across the country. An Implementation Group is overseeing the implementation of the actions and comprises all key stakeholders responsible for delivery. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Announcements regarding electricity price increases in 2018 reflect that, since the final quarter of 2016, average international natural gas prices have increased. They have, more or less, continued to rise through 2017 and 2018, with UK National Balancing Point day ahead gas prices in September being 57% higher in Euro terms than 12 months earlier. Consistent with the upward international...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Wind Farms (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: Individual wind farm developers must comply with the conditions of their planning permission including those relating to community engagement and community benefit schemes.  Enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority, which can take action if a development does not have the required permission or where the terms of permission have not been met, and I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: In the first instance, the management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002. This role includes the allocation of radio spectrum and the award of spectrum licences, including any terms, conditions and obligations that may be attached to such licences. ComReg is independent in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 to 543, inclusive, and 552 together. I am very much aware of the challenges that face the existing TV Licence system, including the current levels of evasion which have been estimated to equate to a loss of up to €40m per annum to public service broadcasting. In recent years the rate of compliance has increased from 84.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will lead on the development of an all of government plan which will set out the actions which must be taken in every government department and body to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change, not a follower. I will work with colleagues across government to develop new initiatives across electricity, transport, heat, as well as a range of other sectors. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Advertising Campaigns (20 Nov 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public service broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate...