Results 7,421-7,440 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (17 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: There is no stratospheric aerosol geo engineering being conducted here, and I am not aware of any plans to commence such activity, or to examine its feasibility. I would add that there is no credible information or evidence that the trails from aircraft passing over Ireland are anything other than normal contrails, the appearance of which is known to vary according to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (17 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 162, 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 166, inclusive, together. The calculation of the health impacts of pollution is derived from large scale statistical analysis of pollutant loads and epidemiological studies. The European Environment Agency (EEA) publishes an annual report on Air Quality in Europe with estimates on health impacts. The latest report, covering the year 2014, was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department’s policy commitments and investment priorities across key areas of national strategic importance are central to the delivery of many of the Strategic Outcomes detailed in the National Planning Framework: Ireland 2040 Our Plan.  My Department will oversee a significant programme of capital investment during the lifetime of the National Development Plan 2018-2027,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bullying in the Workplace (17 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: There have been no bullying or sexual harassment claims lodged within my department in the period since 2011. The Dignity at Work Policy was introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2015 across the Civil Service to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace.  The main purpose of this policy is to ensure all members of staff  are ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bioenergy Strategy (17 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 172, inclusive, together. The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of motor fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of national annual fuel sales.  It is a certificate based scheme with two certificates awarded per litre of sustainable biofuel if that biofuel is produced from...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 176, inclusive, together. Ireland aims to meet our 2020 target for the renewable energy share in transport (RES-T) of 10% predominantly through the increased use of sustainable biofuels, with electric vehicles and electrified rail also making a contribution. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland estimates that electrified rail...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (17 Jan 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. My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in areas where commercial operators will not provide this service. That procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: A Dairy Sector Pilot Project run by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in collaboration with Teagasc, and funded by my Department, was conducted in 2017.  It targeted areas of high energy use and supported installation of variable speed drives on vacuum pumps and milk pumps in milking parlours which can reduce energy consumption considerably on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The increased use of renewable energy  is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In Ireland, renewable energy projects are supported under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy through a charge on all electricity customers as determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The legal basis for the PSO and its method of calculation by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1258, 1274, 1302 and 1343 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Mobile Telephony Services (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1259 and 1260 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: Renewable Heat Incentive (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1263 and 1273 together. The development of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat has involved detailed economic analysis, extensive engagement with industry and two public consultations. The scheme was approved by Government last month and €7 million has been allocated to the scheme this year. The Sustainable Energy Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland via a combination of commercial investment and State Intervention.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecommunications sector so that to date over 1.5m or 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Speeds (16 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1266 and 1267 together. In response to the challenges facing An Post, the Board has overseen the preparation of a comprehensive strategic plan, the objective of which is to secure the long term viability of both the post office and mails businesses and return the company to a sound financial footing.  Government is fully supportive of An Post in its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Renewable Energy Exports (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: As the Deputy may be aware, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Co-operation with the UK Government in January 2013, a joint programme of work was undertaken to consider how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the mutual benefit of both Ireland and the UK. Economic analysis conducted by the Department at the time clearly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Speeds (16 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: My Department has not made any payments during the period concerned to the organisations set out in the list provided by the Deputy to my officials on 12th January 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (16 Jan 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 so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...