Results 7,461-7,480 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

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

Denis Naughten: The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment was established on 6thMay 2016.  Accordingly, I will include information on legislation prepared since that date. In 2017, the Law Reform Commission, with the assistance of my Department, published an official revised version of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. This is an administrative consolidation of the Electricity...

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

Denis Naughten: Penalties for serious dumping offences provided for under the Waste Management Acts are substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €5,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or...

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

Denis Naughten: I understand that between 2000 and 2015, a total of approximately €210 million was provided to Local Authorities for the building and operation of bottle banks and civic amenity sites. With declining resources in the Environment Fund to provide subventions to Local Authorities and conclusion of the EU-supported capital schemes, my Department’s support for local reuse and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing particulate...

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...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1313 and 1314 together. The current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications allows for the application of a Universal Service Obligation (USO) in respect of fixed voice services. This framework has, in my view served consumers well over several decades and ensured that householders can get an affordable fixed voice service, regardless...

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

Denis Naughten: The oil prices used for the National Energy Projections by SEAI are based on the ESRI COSMO (Core Structural Model of the economy) oil price.  The COSMO oil price in turn comes from the UK NiGEM (National Institute Global Econometric Model) model which is maintained by the UK National Institute of Economic and Social Research. The rationale is to have a price that reflects global...

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

Denis Naughten: My Department is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity for all staff and supports the “Code of Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Civil Service” published by the Department of Finance in 2007.  My Department reports each year to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the number of staff who have disclosed a...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1333 and 1334 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 speed...

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

Denis Naughten: I have met with the CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI), on numerous occasions since my appointment as Minister for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. I have held scheduled formal meetings with the CEO on three occasions: - 6thJuly 2016 - 13thApril 2017 - 2ndMay 2017 As is to be expected the CEO and I attend a number of the same events and conferences...

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

Denis Naughten: Authorisations to carry out hydrocarbon exploration and production activities in the Irish Offshore are granted under the Petroleum and other Minerals Development Act, 1960. The terms and conditions under which any such authorisation is granted are set out in the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Development and Production 1992 and 2007 and in the...

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

Denis Naughten: Ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provided for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the independent regulator responsible for the oversight of compliance in relation to broadcast content in the State. Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to draw up, and from time to time revise, Broadcasting Codes on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (16 Jan 2018)

Denis Naughten: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provided for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the independent regulator responsible for the oversight of compliance in relation to broadcast content in the State. Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 requires the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to draw up, and from time to time revise, Broadcasting Codes on the...

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

Denis Naughten: My Department receives over 33,000 external emails per week on average. All incoming email is scanned for the presence of malware and spam. Any email that is suspected of being spam is sent to a quarantine area where staff interaction is necessary to verify the validity of the message. If an email is found to be appropriate it can be removed from quarantine and sent to the appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or the ‘smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, has proved very effective in reducing particulate matter and sulphur dioxide levels within the areas it applies, with an associated significant improvement in public health. Research indicates, for example, that the ban has resulted in over 350 fewer annual...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Commencement of Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are two Acts for which all sections have yet to be formally commenced by my Department. The details are set out in the following table.: Title of Act Section(s) not yet commenced Purpose of section(s) Reason for delay in commencement Energy Act 2016 Provisions not yet commenced are sections 8 and 19 Section 8 of the Energy Act provides for a revised legal definition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (14 Dec 2017)

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: National Broadband Plan Implementation (14 Dec 2017)

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. This is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by...