Results 8,481-8,500 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (17 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department has not used agencies to employ staff.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts Data (17 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: No external agencies or consultancies were used by my Department for industrial relations, hiring or interviewing. My Department uses the Public Appointments Service for external appointments.

Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill 2017: First Stage (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: There was an interesting article in the Sunday Independentabout this issue.

Minerals Development Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Financial Resolutions (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I move:THAT provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of application fees for a mining licence. andTHAT provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of fees for holding, and working minerals under, a mining licence.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Noise Pollution (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Current legislation in the area of noise does not specifically address the use of bird scarers (also referred to as crow bangers), and I have no plans to introduce such legislation.  There is provision, however, under sections 107 or 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992 to deal with the issue of nuisance noise from a range of sources, including...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand 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 transport target also being legally binding. While good...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Funding (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Beginning this year €84.5m will be provided in co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme. My Department also continues to explore ways to avail of EU funds in the form of financial instruments, which would be re-payable to the EU. It is necessary to bring forward projects of significant scale, with robust business...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the service providers concerned which operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I am, however, critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme provides energy efficiency upgrades completely free of charge to people who meet the eligibility criteria. Typical measures that are provided include attic and cavity wall insulation, low energy light bulbs, lagging jackets and energy advice. To date, the scheme has upgraded more than 120,000 homes throughout the country.   Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (16 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The prosecution process for non-payment of the TV Licence is dealt with under Sections 148-151 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and I have no plans to amend these sections. As the Deputy will be aware, I have obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009, including amendment to allow for the tendering...

Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: We are proceeding with Deputy McLoughlin's Bill on fracking. My understanding is that, with the consent of the Business Committee, the intention is to take Report Stage in the House the week after next. I intend to bring the legislation to the Seanad as quickly as possible and to have it enacted before the summer. That was the commitment I gave to the House at the end of last year when the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Deputy Eugene Murphy is correct. This is most frustrating. The previous maintenance on the Shannon was carried out under a different authority in a different Parliament. This is a complex issue. All of the semi-State companies are now sitting down with the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. There is significant engagement ongoing. A number of those semi-State companies...

Questions on Promised Legislation (11 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Troy for his questions. As he knows, this is something very close to my heart. First, in regard to the post office network, I am one of the five Deputies who made a submission to initial review for the Bobby Kerr report and it is something I articulated when I was on the other side of the House in regard to constructive reform of the network. The issue of the mail centres is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Management (11 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The charges applied by waste management companies are a matter between those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. My Department is currently reviewing, together with the regulatory authorities and industry representatives, the introduction of an incentivised...

Seanad: Litter Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have sympathy for Senator Rose Conway-Walsh. She has difficulty in standing up, while I have difficulty in sitting down. Between the two of us, we would make up one normal person. I thank Senators for drafting the Bill, in particular Senator Catherine Ardagh. I really appreciate the fact that she has taken this initiative. While I have some concerns about the detail, I welcome the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: On 19 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May last year. The planning decision is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: While Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998 and the matters raised by the Deputy are operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function, they are nonetheless matters of concern to me. In the first instance I have encouraged the company to maintain engagement with employees and Unions as this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I recognise the important role that independent broadcasters play in our society and the service they provide. Section 33 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the making of a levy order by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for the purposes of meeting the expenses of the Authority and its Committees in undertaking the performance of its statutory functions. The funding...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Mitigation Plan (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together. I refer to the answers to Questions Nos. 300 of 6 April 2017 and 1298 of 2 May 2017. As I set out in reply to those questions, I am open to considering further work on the role of wetlands in the context of the National Mitigation Plan, building on the experience ​of research already undertaken. A number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Official Engagements (10 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The forty-sixth sessions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Body for Implementation and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, as well as the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement, take place from 8 to 18 May 2017, in Bonn, Germany. These meetings take place annually and are key to making progress on a range of...