Results 7,341-7,360 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, 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. 7 out of 10 of the 2.3 million premises in Ireland now have access...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Communications Market Regulation (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), established pursuant to the provisions of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 (as amended) is the statutory independent regulator of the electronic communications and postal markets.  In addition, ComReg is empowered to investigate suspected breaches of competition law in respect of electronic communications and related services....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Communications Market Regulation (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: The provision of electronic telecommunications services by private operators, including wholesale services, occurs within a fully liberalised market.  Decisions by those operators with regard to all matters pertaining to the delivery of the service, including wholesale mobile services, are a matter for the service provider concerned. The regulation of the telecommunications market and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Prices (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: Electricity and gas markets in Ireland are commercial and liberalised, and operate within national and European regulatory regimes, supported by legislation. Government has no statutory function in the regulation of energy markets or the setting of gas or electricity prices. The position of successive Governments has been that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management Regulations (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: I have established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) to monitor the rates charged by household waste collectors and to date the PMG has met on five separate occasions: 13 September, 11 October, 14 November, 12 December and 9 January 2018 and considered four months of pricing data trends. Statements by the PMG have been released on a monthly basis since November...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Apprenticeship Data (1 Feb 2018)

Denis Naughten: There are no persons enrolled in apprenticeships in my Department. The information requested regarding the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May of 2016. On 23 January 2018, full planning permission was also granted for the section of the line that lies in Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. The Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) is implemented in Ireland under Article 7 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (which was transposed by Statutory Instruments (SI's) 131 of 2014 and 634 of 2016). The Directive imposes a legal obligation on Member States to achieve new savings each year, from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper 2015 sets out a vision and framework to guide Irish energy policy and the actions that Government intends to take in the energy sector from now up to 2030, aimed at transforming Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system by 2050.  As we move to a decarbonised energy system, support for renewable energy is vital from both an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Advisers Data (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: Special Advisors are appointed by Government under the terms and conditions set out in the 'Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil' which includes the Guidelines for Staffing of Ministerial Offices. I  appointed two advisors to my Department, Ms Suzie Coogan and Mr Ross Elwood on my appointment as Minister. Ms Coogan was appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points for electric vehicles (EVs).  There are approximately 900 EV charge points in Ireland of which circa 70 are rapid chargers.  The maintenance and management of these charge points is an operational matter for the ESB. The Commission for Regulation of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Incentives (31 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department is developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which is being designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The design of the new scheme has included an extensive independent economic appraisal. This appraisal compared the cost of supporting a range of commercial renewable technologies, at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Emergency Planning (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: As part of ongoing engagement between my Department and the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning, my officials are currently exploring options in order to identify a potential mechanism for private mobile phone operators in Ireland to convey text messages to mobile phone users, in order to provide real time information on developments in respect of large scale...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Craoltóirí Seirbhíse Poiblí (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: Tá dhá dhuine déag ar an mBord agus níl aon fholúntas ann.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Motor Industry (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: In November 2017, my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I committed to working together to ensure that all new passenger cars sold in Ireland from 2030 onwards will be zero emission vehicles. This statement followed on from the ambitious target that had been previously outlined in May 2017 with the publication of Ireland’sNational Policy Framework on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Generation (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Irish Government is fully committed to transitioning to a low carbon energy future and the 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a clear policy framework for this. This transition will not be delivered by any one single event or technology – it will be a societal transformation influenced by many different elements and marked by important milestones. Good progress has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, following a public consultation process, published its independent regulatory decision in relation to electric vehicle charging infrastructure in October 2017, providing clarity regarding the ownership, operation, maintenance and investment required in the public EV charging network. A key outcome of the decision is that the charging...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department funds a number of incentives and supports for businesses to become more energy efficient, thereby controlling their cost base, supporting them to become more energy efficient and act on climate change. These are operated through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and include the supports below. The EXEED (excellence in energy efficiency and design) scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Economic Competitiveness (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The National Competitiveness Council annually publishes its recommendations on policy actions required to enhance Ireland's competitiveness position.  My Department contributed to the report for 2017, which contained a number of recommendations. Implementation of these recommendations is underway and is described below: Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (30 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: Ireland is making progress on improving the energy efficiency of our residential sector, with a view to maximising progress towards our national target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. Up to now there has been a focus on shallow energy efficiency measures in the residential sector. Such measures deliver energy efficiency savings for the lowest cost, and have helped build public...