Results 7,661-7,680 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 492 together. The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emissions targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 to 2020. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their level in 2005. This will be Ireland’s contribution to the overall EU objective...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 488 together.   The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development sets out an ambitious long-term commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland by at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors; and in parallel, to pursue an approach...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Official inventories of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions are prepared annually by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The most recent data, for the year 2015, were published on 13 April 2017 and are available on the EPA's website at . According to this data, the breakdown of emissions by sector in 2015 is as follows: Sector Mt CO2eq. % of total 2015 emissions Agriculture 19.81...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 486 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Environmental Policy (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Our use of plastic has increased exponentially in recent decades. Plastics feature across a wide range of applications and products, such as packaging, construction, electrics and electronics, agriculture, medical and health.  The last waste characterisation study carried out by the EPA showed that 12.4% of our household waste, by weight, was plastic. The effects of plastic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services Provision (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 487 together. I recognise the need to ensure that Ireland is well positioned for the future in having a fit for purpose and future proofed telecommunications sector. The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) will ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Priority Questions Nos 37 and 40 on today's order paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 494 together. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland is committed to achieving this target through meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewable sources of energy, with the latter target also being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Landfill Sites (21 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: European, national and regional waste policy are all predicated on the management of waste in line with the waste hierarchy, whereby the prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling and other recovery of waste are preferred (in that order) to the disposal of waste. For instance, collectors of waste must conduct their activities in accordance with the relevant legislation and the conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (21 Nov 2017)

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, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (16 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. The contract to operate the Emergency Call Answering Service was awarded to BT Ireland in 2009, following a public procurement process. In this regard and as permitted under the terms of the Concession Agreement, BT has a contractual arrangement with Conduit Global Ltd. to assist in the delivery of the service.  Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Gender Balance (16 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: The information requested in the Question is set out in the following table. A complete list of all current members and vacancies is available on the State Boards website at . State Body Male % Female % An Post 67 33 Bord na Móna 83 17 ESB 67 33 Inland Fisheries Ireland 67 33 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 55 45 EirGrid 60 40 RTE 50 50 TG4 ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (16 Nov 2017)

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, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that to date approximately 1.5m or 65% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland can get access to high speed broadband and this footprint is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: While there are no specific incentives for companies to purchase products from Irish manufacturers along the lines indicated in the question, it is Government policy to promote the use of qualifying energy efficient products, equipment and technologies. For example, the 2018 Finance Bill confirms that the existing accelerated capital allowances (ACA) scheme for energy efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Closures (15 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post. Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, including the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post. I appreciate that there is concern regarding the potential closure of post offices and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (15 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: In April I published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The Map is searchable by eircode.  The map shows Ireland with three...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Service Provision (15 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: On the 26th of September this year my Department received "Detailed Solutions" from two bidders as part of the ongoing procurement process to select a bidder, or bidders, who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network for those areas that will not be served by commercial operators acting alone.  These bidders were Eircom Limited and the Granahan McCourt, enet,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Recycling Policy (15 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: Textiles and clothing are valuable commodities and I recognise the importance of ensuring that this value is preserved for the benefit of our economy and our communities.  These materials provide an excellent basis for demonstrating the purpose, benefit and potential of a circular economy. My Department supports a number of measures in this area. Since 2004, funding has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Building Regulations (14 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: At the outset I should point out that issues to do with Building Regulations, including for the hospitality sector, are a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. There has been increased recognition of the risks that carbon monoxide can pose, and that is why I recently launched Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week 2017. This is a coordinated campaign, across many...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (14 Nov 2017)

Denis Naughten: As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I am responsible for the postal sector including the governance of An Post. Operational matters relating to the company’s retail business, including the post office network, are matters for the Board and management of An Post. I appreciate that there is concern regarding the potential closure of post offices and the...