Results 6,821-6,840 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The staff of the Westmeath Independenthad raised it with me following an on-the-record interview.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: With regard to Independent News & Media, I did have a conversation with Leslie Buckley on 3 May 2017 at the data summit. That was the only other engagement that I had with staff of Independent News & Media.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The National Union of Journalists said of me on 10 November that I had the power to examine this acquisition. The union urged me to display political leadership and courage. The union went on to say that failure to do so would represent an act of political cowardice, something we have experienced many times when it has come to challenging media interests. The only new information that I...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----and that is exactly what I did. I did not have insider information. I did not have confidential information, so I could not have disclosed it to him.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I met with Leslie Buckley on 3 May 2017 at a data summit in the RDS organised by Independent News & Media. I was a speaker at it. Leslie Buckley greeted me and we exchanged small talk before I actually addressed the event. I left immediately after that event. At that stage the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was still considering the matter in respect of its determination. ...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Everyone would have been of that view. In fact, had I not done that and had that not been the advice, I would have been grilled here in the House as to why I did not take that approach.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: No, there is not because I did not, and still do not, see the significance of it. It was a conversation I had based on the information in the public domain. I had been provided with no detail. My Department had been provided with no detail of the acquisition. That did not come into the Department until later that month. I was not in possession of any information other than the...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I said in my opening statement that it would have been preferable if the conversation had not taken place and I reiterate that. It was by no means a definitive view and nor could I have done so at that time. I said it would likely that it would go to a phase two assessment, but I also made it crystal clear that I would be guided by the advice of my officials when the application came before...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the information, and the commentary I made, was based on the information already in the public domain.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I did not wilfully or in any other way mislead the Dáil. On 26 October, Deputy Brian Stanley questioned me in the House on the Celtic Media Group acquisition. At that stage, it was with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Deputy Stanley made the point that there was a question mark over losing more diversity owing-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----to the possible purchase of-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: -----the Celtic-----

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: When I spoke to Mr. Ó Neachtain, I gave a view that it was likely to go to a phase two. I was not in any way definitive in regard to that. What I was definitive about, and the only new information Mr. Ó Neachtain received on foot of that conversation, was that I would be taking the advice of my officials and applying their recommendations to my decision. That was what I did both...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The application came to my Department on 21 November. The phone call I had with Mr. Ó Neachtain was in early November. The only new information I gave at that time was that I would take the advice of my officials in making whatever decision I would make. I said in the House on 6 December that I had not received the report from my officials, and I had not at that stage. I said I would...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not know what is in the email. I have not seen the email or the affidavit. I can without contradiction clearly state that I made it crystal clear on that occasion that I would be taking the advice of my officials and applying it to this decision, as I had done with all previous decisions to that point. The file will clearly show with each hurdle along this very complicated process...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I do not know what is in the email and I have not seen it. Let me be crystal clear that what I stated was my own personal view that based on what was already in the public domain and the guidelines and criteria there, it was likely to go to a phase 2 assessment. I also put in a caveat relating to it. I made it crystal clear that I would be guided by the advice of my officials. At that...

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I am sure they are on the way.

Statement by Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In early September 2016, Independent News & Media, INM, announced that it had agreed a deal to purchase the portfolio of regional newspapers owned by the Celtic Media Group. The titles that were to be included in the deal were The Anglo-Celt, The Meath Chronicle, Forum, the Westmeath Examiner, the Westmeath Independent, The Connaught Telegraph, and the Offaly Independent. On 3...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In accordance with section 59(1) of the Waste Management Act, 1996, each local authority is responsible generally for the supervision and the enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Waste Management Act in relation to the holding, recovery and disposal of waste within its functional area. Local authorities have specific powers under sections 55 and 56 of the Act to require measures to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (18 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...