Results 6,921-6,940 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Internet Safety (27 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy will be aware that on Thursday 22 February 2018 the Government did not oppose a Private Members Bill introduced by Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire which sought to establish an office of a Digital Safety Commissioner. While many of the objectives of Deputy Ó Laoghaire's Bill are laudable, some of the proposed functions of the Office as set out...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (27 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing addresses and Ordnance Survey Ireland provides the geo-locations for these buildings.  An Post GeoDirectory, a subsidiary company of An Post and Ordnance Survey Ireland, issue a new...

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The new chief executive officer, CEO, must come into place and I will have the same conversation with the new CEO that I had with his predecessors. For me it is a priority to maintain job numbers right across the midlands. I have made that crystal clear. As we transition away from fossil fuels into sustainable forms of fuel, it will remain a priority. That is why I was determined as a...

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will not recite poetry, although I will declare an interest to the extent that I have been eaten out of the bog by midges on many occasions. The village in which I was born is surrounded by bog. Incidentally, I hated every day I spent on the bog. Bord na Móna employs approximately 450 people in County Kildare. The company has...

Topical Issue Debate: Bord na Móna (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: That makes two of us.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special and Commemorative Stamp Programme (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to address the Seanad on this matter and I thank the Senator for raising it. As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have a statutory function under section 69(4) of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 in respect of granting consent to An Post for the design and issue of postage stamps. I want to inform the Senator that An...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 to 236, inclusive, and 238 to 240, inclusive, together. The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. Notwithstanding the above, I established a Household...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Almost all paper and plastic packaging is governed by EU internal market and packaging legislation. In that context, as Minister, I have called on the European Union to urgently consider collectively banning single-use plastic items on foot of the EU Plastic Strategy to further protect the environment and to help alleviate the impact of the decision by China to restrict its intake of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commercial Rates (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Responsibility in relation to commercial rates is a matter for the relevant rating authorities.  I have been informed by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government that Local authorities are under statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: EU Roam Like at Home took effect by way of EU Regulation on 15 June 2017 and is now in force EU-wide. Therefore until the UK leaves the European Union, this EU law has full effect in the UK, including Northern Ireland. On the issue of Brexit, my Department engages on an ongoing basis with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with a view to informing Ireland’s approach...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Grid (22 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 247, inclusive, together. The regulation of the electricity network, including the management of the grid connection process and related matters, is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.  In this regard the CRU’s Work Plan outlining its key priorities for 2018 was laid...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (22 Mar 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...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to meet the committee to discuss the 2018 Revised Estimate for my Department. I am joined by my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, who has responsibility for natural resources and digital services development. I am also joined by my officials, Mr. Brian Carroll, assistant secretary with responsibility for climate action and environment; Mr....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: Yes.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: I will go through the Estimate questions first before dealing with some of the broader questions. I will begin with the spending and changes in the figures from 2017 to 2018 under the various subheads. On information and communications technology, between 2017 and 2018 the Estimate has gone from €20.5 million to €19 million. That is because of anticipated contractual payments...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: ---- it is currently €500,000. The Tuam ducting has a sum of €100,000. The North-South telecoms operation is €20,000 and €1.8 million for Eircode. Deputy Dooley asked about subhead A4 on multimedia developments. The projected change from the 2017 Estimate to the 2018 Estimate is €654,000. The decrease relates to the Digital Hub Development Agency 2018...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: There is more than one line at issue. There are other complex issues with the legislation, but we are happy to engage with the Deputy on it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The network design is part of the procurement process. I understand there has been engagement to explore all options and that nothing has been ruled out. The regulated price is €20 per telephone pole, which means that if there are two operators using a pole, the cost if €10 each and that if there are four, the cost is €5 each. The Deputy will be aware that prior to...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: There has to be a network design in place for the preferred bidder. It is under active discussion with all of the players involved.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Revised) (21 Mar 2018)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of programme B is to support Ireland's socioeconomic development by promoting the maintenance of a diverse and vibrant broadcasting sector and ensuring the regulatory framework will remain appropriate in achieving this. RTÉ and TG4 are funded through a mix of commercial revenues obtained largely from advertising, Exchequer grant payments and licence fee revenue. It is...