Results 7,521-7,540 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: We ratified it last year.

Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I wish to share time with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Damien English, and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Andrew Doyle.

Climate Change: Statements (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 requires that an annual transition statement be presented to both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is the second such statement under the 2015 Act. In addition to this oral report, I am arranging for a written statement to be laid before both Houses. As reported by the Environmental Protection Agency last week, Ireland's emissions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have no specific role in relation to the print media. The Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman were established by industry to safeguard and promote professional and ethical standards in Irish newspapers and magazines. These bodies have been formally recognised under s. 44 of the Defamation Act 2009, which falls under the responsibility of my colleague, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (7 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 and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (7 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) Levy is a charge on all electricity customers without exception, and is determined by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The legal basis for the PSO and its method of calculation by the CRU are set out in Regulations made under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 (S.I. 217 of 2002). The levy has been in place since 2001, and consists...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Closures (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The information requested is an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 214 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: Waste Management Regulations (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I recently announced, for the first time ever, a single, national standard list of items that can go into the recycle bin. The list of suitable material is now simply paper, cardboard, rigid plastics, tins and cans. Details of the materials which can be now be placed in the mixed dry recycling bin collected at kerbside are available on This national standard list of items will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Ministerial Meetings (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: As a matter of course I, as Minister, meet with the Boards and CEOs of bodies under the aegis of my Department from time to time. I can confirm that I last met with the Chair and CEO of the station referred to by the Deputy in October 2016 for a general discussion. I last met with the Chair and Director General of RTÉ in February,2017 and met with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Schemes (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Warmth and Well-being scheme is a pilot scheme which aims to measure the health and well-being impacts of improving the energy efficiency of a person’s home. The scheme is being piloted in Community Healthcare Organisation 7 and is open to people aged 55 and over or aged 12 and under who are living with chronic respiratory conditions in households that are in receipt of the Fuel...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Usage (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Smart Metering Programme in Ireland is managed by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). In a digital age, Smart Meters are the next generation of electricity and gas meter, and are being rolled out across Europe and internationally, replacing older, mechanical meters. By 2020, in Ireland, almost three quarters of a million of existing meters will be more than 40...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: RTÉ Staff (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: While I am aware of ongoing concerns relating to this matter, it is not one in which I have a statutory function. RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster established under the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114(1) of the Act sets out the objects of RTÉ including the objective 'to establish and maintain orchestras, choirs and other cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Expenditure (6 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department has been reconfigured on several occasions during the period 1997 - 2011. The information sought in the Question is not readily available and it's compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time to compile.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (6 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 65% 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: Waste Disposal Charges (5 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 422, 425 and 430 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 customers...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Television Licence Fee Yield (5 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The licence fee is distributed in accordance with Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to both RTÉ and TG4 in order to facilitate the pursuit of their public service objectives, which are also set out in the 2009 Act. An Post pays the Department all TV licence revenues collected from direct sales of TV licences and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Radio Broadcasting (5 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is responsible for the licensing of independent radio broadcasting services in Ireland, including the licensing of community broadcasters. I have no function in the licensing of broadcast services. Further information about the number of Community Radio stations in Ireland can be found on the BAI website at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (5 Dec 2017)

Denis Naughten: In the period since 2014, my Department provided funding under the BenefIT Programme to one of the entities listed in the Deputy's Question.  The BenefIT Programme, which operated between 2008 and mid-2016, funded the provision of the basic digital skills training by community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to citizens to promote digital inclusion. Details of the...