Results 7,481-7,500 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Advisory Council (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Climate Change Advisory Council was established by Ministerial Order (S.I. No 25 of 2016) on 18 January 2016 pursuant to section 8 of the Climate Change and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The Advisory Council consists of eleven members appointed by Government, acting in a part-time capacity, four of whom are ex-officio members. The overall costs associated with the operation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Data (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 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: Electric Vehicle Grants (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 594 together. The electric vehicle purchase grant, introduced in April 2011, provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). Other hybrid vehicles do not qualify for support under the scheme. From the introduction of the...

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

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No. 397 of 29 November 2017. The position is unchanged. 

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

Denis Naughten: The total TV licence fee receipts to 30 November is €198m. This figure includes funding provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) of €48.8m in respect of free TV licences issued under the Household Benefits Scheme and receipts from An Post for direct licence sales of €149.2m. The total receipts for 2017 will not be known...

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

Denis Naughten: In Budget 2018, I secured €107m in capital funding for energy efficiency, an increase of over 40%. This capital increase is complemented by an increased current expenditure allocation that will allow the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the expansion of our highly successful energy efficiency schemes bringing the total allocation for energy efficiency schemes...

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

Denis Naughten: There is currently no provision in the Broadcasting legislation for a bursary scheme for journalists and, as such, the issue of a 2018 budget does not arise. As the Deputy is aware, one of the amendments that I have proposed to the Broadcasting Act, 2009 is to amend the provisions of section 154 to allow for the creation of a new funding scheme that would allow the granting of bursaries...

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

Denis Naughten: Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive (94/62/EC). This Directive is transposed by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. In accordance with these regulations any producer placing packaging on the Irish market is obliged to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 605 together. My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas,...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 604 together. The policy of selection and contracting of photography services for my Department is carried out as part of competitive procurement processes in line with Office of Government Procurement guidelines. Where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs The following table sets out the...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.   The use of the government jet by Government Ministers is subject to the authorisation of An Taoiseach. Since being appointed as Minister to my Department in May, 2016, I utilised the government jet twice, as set out below. On both occasions the jet had already been requested by colleague Ministers. ...

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

Denis Naughten: My Department administers a very diverse, complex and technical brief across critical and strategic sectors of the Irish economy. While it has a total complement of around 388 full time equivalent staff of whom a number are technical personnel, the technical, commercial, legal complexity and evolving nature of sectors with which the Department deals requires access to external professional...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together. My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas,...

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy has done so.

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Am I allowed to respond to the points raised?

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is a lot of work going on and people are working late.

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I also suggest that this should only happen once the key investigations into recent events have been completed, including those of the US House of Representatives and the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. It is critical to note that we are far from defenceless against any future attempt to manipulate democracy here. Leaving aside the rules in place regarding political funding...

Online Advertising and Social Media (Transparency) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: Attempts to thwart democracy are as old as democracy itself. There is a long and less than distinguished history of state and non-state actors alike engaging in such activities. Moreover, many states, including Ireland, have adopted a series of measures to reduce the risk of this occurring, including rules on the transparency of media ownership and the use of funds from international...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Senator for having his finger on the pulse. No more than his office, my constituency office is now receiving queries on electric vehicles, charging points and the national network. This is a positive development. At long last, people are beginning to see the significant benefit of electric vehicles, particularly people with two cars and relatively short commutes. The average...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electric Vehicles (13 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: It will feed into a task force that has been established between the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and my Department, namely, the low-emissions vehicle task force, which I will discuss in a moment. In May, the Government approved the publication of the National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030. This framework sets an...