Results 7,781-7,800 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Estimates for Public Services 2017: Referral to Select Committee (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I move:That, notwithstanding Standing Order 182(1) or (2) of the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business and the Resolutions of the Dáil of 15th December, 2016, and 30th May, 2017, the following Further Revised Estimates for the Public Services for the year ending 31st December, 2017, be presented to the Dáil and circulated to members on 17th October,...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: First, it is not the case that we lack ambition. Ongoing negotiations are currently taking place and we are not going to undermine Ireland's position in regard to them while we are in the middle of them. Specifically, in regard to the flood forecasting, this is something about which we are all very anxious. We are looking at ways in which this can be expedited. Met Éireann has been...

Order of Business (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: We are statutorily bound to have this ready for 10 December and we are working to that date. I have been given no indication as to why that will not happen. It is our intention to do that. It would then be a matter for each of the State agencies and local authorities to put their own adaptation plans in place. We, along with the Government, will be assisting them in doing that.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Media Mergers (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Media Mergers process was created as a result of amendments made to the Competition Act 2002 by the Competition & Consumer Protection Act 2014. All media mergers must be notified to me as Minister, and I must make a determination whether or not the proposed merger may proceed based on an assessment of its impact on the plurality of media in the State. This process cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Climate Change Policy (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 Effort Sharing Decision 406/2009/EC established binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for EU Member States for the period 2013 - 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 to reduce its emissions by the order of 20% by 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies Data (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are 17 State bodies under the aegis of my Department operating in the commercial, non-commercial and regulatory spheres. The Board members of these bodies are suitably qualified to carry out their roles on the respective Boards. All appointments to State Boards are made in accordance with the 2014 Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. A Public Appointments Service (PAS) process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Question refers to two different targets, one relating to greenhouse gas emissions reduction and the other to renewable energy. In relation to the former, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (17 Oct 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 pollution, in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (17 Oct 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 high speed broadband and this footprint is expanding....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Illegal Dumping (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The cost of illegal dumping is not collated by my Department as it includes local authority enforcement, disposal and legal costs and also involves costs for other State agencies such as An Garda Síochána. Penalties for serious dumping offences provided for under the Waste Management Acts are already substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bord na Móna (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matter raised by the Deputy regarding land ownership is operational in nature and not one in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. Nonetheless, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to Bord na Móna and asked that they respond to the directly to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 459 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (17 Oct 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. The Map is searchable by Eircode and address. - The BLUE areas on the Map represent those areas where commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electricity Generation (17 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting its renewable energy contribution to EU-wide targets out to 2030. The new RESS will provide pathways for delivering on the 2015 Energy White Paper commitment to ensure communities and citizens are at the centre of the future energy transition in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (12 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the National Postcode System "Eircode". The Eircode Finder is a free to use online app that members of the public and businesses use to find Eircodes for addresses and get directions to address locations using the Eircode.  Increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Bituminous Fuel Ban (12 Oct 2017)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department is engaged in an on-going procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network for the State led intervention under the National Broadband Plan. This procurement process has now reached its final stages following receipt of "Detailed Submissions" from two bidders last month. Following the conclusion of the procurement...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Government seldom has all the solutions and never has enough resources. However, with what it has, when used wisely, it can make a positive difference to individual lives one issue at a time. When those issues lead to co-ordinated action, substantial change can come. The economy, our climate, the communications networks that link us together and support our jobs, enhance our quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Pollution (11 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Vehicle emissions are a key source of negative health impacts from a range of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) , particulate matter (PM), black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly in urban areas. Though petrol and diesel road vehicles have met progressively tighter EU emission limits since the early 1990s, a number of factors, including the increase in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fuel Poverty (11 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: At the Energy Action conference on fuel poverty earlier this year I announced that deep retrofits would, for the first time, be made available under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme. The Warmer Homes scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades completely free of charge to people who meet the eligibility criteria. Up until my announcement, the scheme focused on relatively shallow...