Results 7,821-7,840 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: In response to the Chairman's question, it is difficult to know at this stage the type of penalties we face. The significant penalties will accumulate as a result of our failure to meet our renewables targets rather than our emissions targets. We have a big job still to do in that area. Deputy Dooley raised the matter of heat targets, which is 12% by 2020. During the current year we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I think I will have answered nearly all of the questions by the time I have finished responding to Deputies Brian Stanley and Eamon Ryan and Senator Joe O'Reilly. Deputy Brian Stanley asked about the successful Brexit event in Boyle. He is right when he argues that there is a great deal of merit in having a much broader debate. This suggestion which was made on foot of the White Paper...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: It will be a qualified majority vote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: France and Germany have taken a strong position on the matter, on which I have had bilateral meetings with the German authorities. My officials have been to Paris and Berlin for a number of discussions on it. There is an appreciation and an acknowledgement of the difficulty in which Ireland finds itself. We need to find a mechanism to deal with it and that is what I will be discussing with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I hope not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I will deal with the straightforward question first and then come back to the broader comments made by Deputy Smith and Deputy Lawless. Our overall renewable energy target for 2020 is 16%. For energy efficiency it is 20%, for renewable electricity it is 40%, for renewable heat it is 12% and for renewable transport it is 10%. The 10% target is legally binding; the overall 16% target is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Yes. Coming back to the broader question that Deputy Smith and Deputy Lawless asked about the communities aspect of renewable energy, I was appointed 16 months ago as Minister and I think in the first interview I gave I made this very point: that we need to engage with communities more and we need to broaden the renewable energy portfolio and not put all our eggs into one basket. I think...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The closing date for the consultation process is next month and it will be finalised by the end of the year. It will be done in tandem with the renewable electricity support scheme.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: It will be a condition of the renewable electricity support scheme. Any project developer looking for funding under the new renewable electricity scheme has to comply with the new community engagement and community dividend conditions. The renewable electricity support scheme is out for public consultation at the moment and the closing date is also next month. Communities are very much to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I cannot answer Deputy Stanley's second question off the top of my head but I will get my officials to furnish him with an answer. My understanding is that the contract for the strategic environmental assessment has gone to tender but I am not absolutely sure of that. The guidelines cannot be retrospectively applied to existing wind farms. However, because we are considering noise rather...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The purpose of Programme F is to promote the protection of our natural environment, the health and well-being of our citizens and the transition to a resource-efficient circular economy in support of ecologically sustainable development, growth and jobs. The environment and waste management programme includes an allocation of €31.5 million towards staff costs, non-pay current as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I will answer the Chairman's question first. There is a certain lead-in time required for projects of this nature. Budgeting and procurement usually take place in the first half of the year. As site work can only take place in favourable weather conditions, it is expected that the main part of the expenditure from this allocation will happen in the second half of the year. The household...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: We have looked into the deposit return scheme and the costs involved are phenomenal. I am on the record as saying if I had that money there are other ways that I would spend it. However, let us see what comes out of this. Deputy Stanley is asking - this is one of the issue we have to look at - how do we broaden the environmental fund and what areas do we go into in regard to it. There...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Appropriations-in-aid are income receipts into my Department other than from the Exchequer. The vast majority of receipts - €222 million of the total of €238 million - are a pass-through of the television licence funds to RTÉ, TG4 and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland along with a collection fee to An Post. The balance is made up of mining and petroleum income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Environment Fund was established by the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and comprises revenue generated from levies that were introduced in respect of plastic bags - currently 22 cent - and waste sent to landfill sites - currently €75 a tonne. A sharp decline in landfill levy is projected from 2018 onwards, reflecting the commencement of the Dublin waste-to-energy Poolbeg...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Estimates for Public Services 2017: Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Resumed) (5 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I acknowledge and echo the sentiments that have been expressed by my two colleagues. The one thing which one could always say about Mr. Liam Cosgrave was that he had integrity. He was the epitome of integrity. He served as Taoiseach during a very difficult time in our history and he did an exemplary job at that time in very difficult circumstances.

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have a lot of respect for postmasters and postmistresses across the country. I should declare an interest, namely, that my aunt in Galway who is also my godmother is the postmistress in Killimor. It is something in which I have a significant interest. I was one of five Members who bothered to make a submission on the Kerr report because I felt so strongly about the issue. Many services...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: To answer Deputy Niamh Smyth's question, I am the Minister in charge. There may be technical issues, but the buck stops with me. An Post is accountable to me as Minister and I am accountable to the House for An Post. I disagree with Deputy Mattie McGrath. It is not a question of sabotage. In my contribution I outlined why I had to increase the price of a stamp. I will not do what my...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Energy Policy (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: It is a problem. I spoke at the International Energy Agency meeting in Paris before the summer and talked about the pilot warmth and well-being scheme. It took me half an hour to get down through the auditorium afterwards given the number of Ministers who were coming up to me from right across the globe in regard to this. With regard to the warmer homes scheme for 2017, up to the end of...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (4 Oct 2017)

Denis Naughten: Deputy Smyth is picking on me all day.