Results 8,101-8,120 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Disposal Charges (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: NSAI Legal Metrology is responsible for the implementation of the Metrology Acts 1980-1996 and related Regulations. It does this through certifying and inspecting measurement instruments and the quantities of pre-packaged products.  A wide range of measuring instruments, including bin weighing systems on refuse collection trucks are subject to legal metrological control when used for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: As outlined in the National Mitigation Plan, which I published on 19 July 2017, I am open to considering further work on the role of wetlands as carbon sinks in the context of the mitigation of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. In order to build on the experience ​of research already undertaken, my Department intends to engage with a number of relevant Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Carbon Budget (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: The long term vision for the agricultural sector is based on an approach to carbon neutrality, but which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. A key consideration in the move towards carbon neutrality will be cost effective technology and continued research and development. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) publishes and maintains a Triple E Register...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: No employees of my Department are currently suspended from work. 

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Protected Disclosures Data (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am advised that my Department received one protected disclosure from a staff member in 2017, which is currently being examined. This is the first protected disclosure made to my Department since the introduction of the relevant legislation in 2014. My Department treats any concerns raised with the utmost discretion, consistent with the legal requirement to safeguard the identity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff Data (26 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are no actuaries employed in my Department.

Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: There is no point in trying to hold the tide back. The digital economy is growing, and either An Post will be a part of that or it will not. More State and non-State services will go online. If we intend to use the old An Post model, then An Post will be in very serious difficulty. The digital economy presents significant opportunities. This is not just a question of providing...

Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and welcome the opportunity to outline the position on it. The Deputy is correct that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, has spoken to me about it. As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, I have responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post to ensure the company is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: A protected structure is defined by Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as a building that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view. Each planning authority maintains a list of such structures on a Record of Protected Structures. Any buildings so...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: International Conventions (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: I note the findings and recommendations adopted by the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee on 19 June 2017, with regard to communications ACCC/C/2013/91 and ACCC/C/2013/92, concerning compliance by the United Kingdom and Germany with their obligations under the Aarhus Convention in relation to public participation in the transboundary environmental impact assessment procedure for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: The conflict with state aid rules that would be presented by a Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy system based on a per kwh charge is set out most recently by the European Commission in correspondence with the Department on the State Aid re-notification for the PSO related to peat stations, C (2013) 5832 section 3.4 (49) “Compatibility with other Treaty provisions.” In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: The charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. Waste collection prices vary across the country and between service providers. Therefore, estimating the approximate cost of collecting 650 kg of waste is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management Expenditure (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: In 2016, approximately €28,000 was provided to the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices (RWMPOs) for the preparation of an awareness campaign for the proposed introduction of a per kilogramme pay by weight on 1 July 2016; it was decided in June 2016 not to proceed with the introduction of pay by weight at that time. To date in 2017, approximately €500,000 has been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Expenditure (13 Jul 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 use of the National Postcode System "Eircode". The cost to date for establishing the National Postcode System (NPS) is €21.48m (VAT inclusive) and is broken down as follows: Contractual Costs Expected Cost to Exchequer over...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Data (13 Jul 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 345 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, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 997 and 998 together. The 2015 Energy White Paper and the 2016 Programme for Government recognise that Ireland’s long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy. To support the delivery of this ambition, my Department is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Process (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: Directive 2014/61/EU on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks requires operators of communications, district heating, electricity including public lighting, gas, transport and waste water networks to negotiate agreements to share their network physical infrastructure with public communications networks operators, if requested, unless...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: I recognise the important part that public service broadcasters play in our democratic society and the consequent importance of stable and adequate funding to ensure the continued delivery of their role in this regard. While the TV Licence system faces a range of challenges, including the current unacceptable levels of evasion, my Department is continuing to work with An Post and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: As the Deputy will be aware, I have obtained Government approval to draft a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act, 2009, including amendments to allow for the tendering of TV Licence fee collection, and the proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (13 Jul 2017)

Denis Naughten: EU Roam Like at Home took effect by way of EU Regulation on 15 June 2017 and is now in force EU-wide. That includes in Northern Ireland as part of the UK. Therefore until the UK leave the European Union, this EU law has full effect in the UK, including Northern Ireland. As stated previously, it is not yet possible to say what impact Brexit will have on cross-border roaming charges once...