Results 6,841-6,860 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 198, inclusive, together. On 21 November 2017, I convened a meeting with my colleagues the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to progress the subject of digital safety for all citizens, especially children. It was agreed at that meeting that an Open Policy Debate would be the most appropriate way to...

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

Denis Naughten: Media diversity in Ireland is supported by various legislation and policies. Firstly, the Broadcasting Act requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to ensure the provision of open and pluralistic broadcasting services; to promote diversity in viewpoint, outlet and source, and to promote diversity in control of the more influential commercial and community...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Social Media Monitoring (18 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The dissemination of so-called "fake news" and disinformation through social media and other online platforms is currently a matter of widespread concern. Effective, proportionate and appropriate responses to this issue will require international co-operation and agreement. In this regard, the European Commission established an Independent High Level Group on Fake News and Online...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In line with the commitments set out in A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland, published in 2012, and in the interest of encouraging further waste prevention and greater recycling, flat-rate fees for kerbside household waste collection are being phased out over the period autumn 2017 to autumn 2018, as customers contracts come up for renewal. The necessary regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Following a request from the Deputy to my Office, officials from my Department met the individual referred to on 1 February last during which the energy roadmap proposals prepared by the individual were presented. In this meeting, my officials took the opportunity to set out information on the background to, current position on, and pending developments in relation to national...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Projects (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1154 and 1155 together. In relation to developing Ireland's energy sector, the Programme for Government seeks a better balance between the concerns of local communities and the need to invest in indigenous energy projects and my Department is currently finalising the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme which is being designed to assist in Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Cyber Security Policy (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is located within my Department, and serves to provide a range of cyber security services to owners of Government IT infrastructure and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). While my Department does not release specific details in relation to the staff or precise funding allocated to the NCSC for operational security reasons, I can confirm that in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy, environment, climate change and public 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1158 to 1160, inclusive, together. Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are a matter for the Local Authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement (OEE) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and my Department does not compile statistics in relation to prosecutions taken or fines imposed. Information is available through the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Law Reform Commission (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: There were five Acts relevant to this Department that the Law Reform Commission reviewed and subsequently published revised versions on their website. Details of those Acts are outlined in the following table. These revised acts by the Law Reform Commission are an administrative consolidation of the Acts. The Law Reform Commission (LRC) is an independent body established under the Law Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Natural Gas Grid (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The factual position in relation to the routing of gas pipelines or the connection of towns to the gas pipeline network is the following. These are matters for Gas Networks Ireland, a commercial State-sponsored body under the aegis of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the statutorily independent energy regulator,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1163 and 1191 together. At the meeting referred to which I attended with officials along with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, the Ratheniska, Timahoe, Spink and Surrounding Areas Substation Action Group outlined aspects of the project with which they were dissatisfied. These aspects covered issues of concern from the origins of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1165 together. In July 2014, the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government published a Review of the Producer Responsibility Initiative model in Ireland. As part of this review, a wider examination of issues within the packaging sphere (which included plastic containers) was undertaken and consideration was given to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1166, 1173, 1181 and 1188 together. My Department has not held any discussions with the Commission in relation to a European level plastics tax. While I am aware that the Budget Commissioner has commented on a variety of options in the context of future EU budgets, there have been no specific proposals made to Council. Discussions between my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Waste Management (Facility Permit and Registration) Regulations 2007, S.I. 821 of 2007 set out waste activities which may be authorised under a waste facility permit or certificate of registration as opposed to being authorised under a waste licence. Different thresholds (above which a licence is required) apply to different waste activities, depending on the nature of the waste activity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Environmental Protection Agency exercises an independent statutory function in relation to 'end of waste' in accordance with Article 28 of the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations 2011, S.I 126 of 2011. Where criteria have not been set at EU level as referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 6 of the Waste Directive, the Agency may decide case by case whether certain...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee Collection (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: In estimating the national evasion rate, my Department takes into account a range of factors including the overall number of occupied houses and liable businesses, the levels of vacant units and the estimated television penetration rate, that is to say the estimated number of homes possessing a television set. Based on currently available information, my Department estimates that the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (17 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. It identifies the long-term strategic importance of diversifying Ireland's energy generation portfolio and largely decarbonising the energy sector by 2050.  It does not set out targets for specific renewable technologies; rather it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (17 Apr 2018)

Denis Naughten: Ocean energy can play a critical role in helping Ireland meet its medium to long term energy targets. The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out the Government’s policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources.  Ireland has a sea area of 900,000 square kilometres, 10 times its landmass, and some of the best...