Results 6,721-6,740 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Protocols (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In my initial reply to Deputy Stanley's supplementary question I said I will not be taking calls from lobbyists. I have said to him that I have discussed the issue with my Secretary General and he will be reviewing the position to see if any other changes in procedures are necessary, but procedures are set out clearly in this regard. I have apologised for it. I sincerely regret it. I just...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Protocols (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: First, I did not give any confidential information. Second, I made it crystal clear that I would be guided by whatever advice I got from my officials, and the file shows clearly that is exactly what I did. The reason for my apology is because this is the fourth day in a row this House has been discussing the issue of a 30 second conversation I had in which I gave an opinion that I sincerely...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is the contractor for broadcasting licences for both television and radio stations in Ireland. In the context of that role and its obligation under the same Act to promote diversity and plurality in broadcasting services and the wider media landscape, the authority operates an ownership and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: They are two key aspects of this issue on which I have been highly focused. That is why, as part of the overall process, an agreed protocol has been put in place. Just to give an example, we could have a situation where there are two post offices within 700 m of each other. There is a broad range of situations here. It is not just about isolated rural communities. We have to try to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government gave An Post a €15 million loan before Christmas specifically to allow it to look at the modernisation of the post office network. The first practical step that the Government is taking is the digital assist pilot programme. Under that programme, post offices will provide access to a wide range of Government services. We have picked out ten locations for the pilot...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Protocols (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. Deputy Stanley should not forget that my Department also deals with a lot of environmental NGOs. My Department is responsible for a number of areas critical to economic and social development such as energy, climate action, cyber and environment which are complex and cross-cutting areas. As Minister, I am required to make...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: As Minister, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post. I am acutely conscious of the value placed by communities in both rural and urban areas on services provided by post offices and am concerned to ensure the needs of those communities continue to be met. As part of the strategy for modernising the post office network, An Post has established a dedicated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Trading Online Voucher Scheme (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: A key element of developing Ireland's digital presence has been to encourage small businesses to discover the economic potential of the Internet. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme assists small businesses that are not yet trading online, to develop their ecommerce capability, pairing training with financial support of up to €2,500.  This is a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 33 together. As Minister, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post.  Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, including the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post. Nonetheless, I am acutely conscious of the value placed by communities in both...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 58 and 64 together. The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. This will be Ireland’s contribution to the overall EU...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Mitigation Plan (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper presents a long-term strategic vision that is intended to guide the direction of Irish energy policy from now until 2030. At its heart is a commitment to transform Ireland into a low carbon society and economy by 2050 and reduce the country’s fossil fuel dependency. This ambitious vision for Ireland’s energy system envisages a reduction in greenhouse gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 57 together. The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is considering the measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles. As Deputies will be aware, this has led to a range of additional supports being introduced for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 60 together. Ireland’s White Paper on Energy Policy, Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030,National Mitigation Plan (NMP) and Long Term Renovation Strategy (LTRS) all recognise the fact that extensive renovation of our building stock will need to take place in order to meet both national and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (25 Apr 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, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband. Since this Government came into...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 65 together. Providing telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the relevant service providers operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as independent Regulator. I do not have statutory authority to require commercial companies to rollout...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together. The North South Interconnector, as proposed as an overhead line, now has full planning permission in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. I have listened carefully to the issues raised in relation to this project, particularly those living in close proximity to the proposed project. In February and March 2017, two motions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Adaptation Plans (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Implementing Ireland’s first statutory National Adaptation Framework (NAF) is a key priority for both my Department and indeed the whole of Government. I am very happy to report that significant progress has been made in the relatively short time that has elapsed since I published the Framework in the offices of Sligo County Council in January of this year. The NAF...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Funding (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 50 and 53 together. On 12th April 2018, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it had allocated finance of €500 million to the rollout of a high speed broadband network for the National Broadband Plan.  EIB financing is only offered to projects which contribute to EU Economic policy objectives, such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 46 together. 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, almost 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland have access to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (25 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Official inventories of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are prepared annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent data, for the year 2016, was published in April 2018 and is available on the EPA's website at: . According to this data, the breakdown of emissions by sector in 2016 is as follows: Sector Mt CO2eq. % of total 2015 emissions Agriculture 19.851 32.2%...