Results 8,521-8,540 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I will conclude by citing a number of figures. The applications to provide solar power would deliver 3.9 GW of solar power to the grid. National demand for electricity in summer stands at 3.6 GW, while total national demand in winter is 4.5 GW. This means applications to provide solar energy almost match total energy demand, which is not realistic.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Solar power has a role to play. I had the piece on solar power written into the programme for Government. Anyone who claims I am not positively disposed towards this form of energy is wrong. Nevertheless, I will not have a scenario in which farmers are tied into contracts which bind them to solar power companies for five years when, in real terms, the chances of the project getting off the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Two issues arise. The matter raised by the Deputy is one for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government who deals with the planning process.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I spoke to the Minister on this matter prior to the comments and decisions by An Bord Pleanála. While the ultimate decision in this matter is one for the regulator, I have publicly expressed my concerns about current access to the grid through gate access where a secondary market has been established in which connections are regarded as assets and traded as such. I do not want this to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: National Mitigation Plan (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Part of the development of the national mitigation plan has been the preparation of robust technical, environmental and economic analysis to evaluate a variety of impacts of a range of different mitigation options.  Environmental analysis, through strategic environmental and appropriate assessments, is being carried out by RPS Group on behalf of my Department. In this...

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy said the target is hardly excessive. The cost-effective target for Ireland, on which the Commission has published information, was 7%. Our target was set at 20%, so it was an excessive target. However, leaving that aside, that was the target that was set and to which the Government signed up at the time and we need to try to get as close as possible to it and plough ahead to...

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: Deputy O'Sullivan has hit the nail on the head, particularly regarding onshore wind. We have put far too many eggs in the one basket in respect of onshore wind, and she is right that most of the beneficiaries have been offshore in that regard. The new structures we will put in place in respect of planning guidelines and the renewable electricity support scheme will very much be oriented...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 73 together. To clarify, my understanding is that it is €5 million between the two companies and the State is not putting money into the project. If there are any supplementary questions, I will deal with them in a minute. As Minister with responsibility for energy and climate action, I am fully aware of the major challenge facing...

Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (9 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 11 weeks from March to May of last year. The planning decision is currently the subject of judicial review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the...

Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The terms of reference fulfil the central point of the motion that was passed in the House, which was to "examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South interconnector, taking into account the most recent developments in technology and experience gained from existing projects abroad". As the Deputy knows, at the meeting on 8 February, an example was given...

Priority Questions: North-South Interconnector (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: An Bord Pleanála has made its decision and the Deputy is aware that there are a number of applications for judicial review - I am a named party in one of them - before the courts at the moment. It is not possible to quantify the impacts with any degree of certainty in relation to this and, therefore, it is a qualitative assessment. The statutory planning process, which includes An Bord...

Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for this question. The 2009 EU renewable energy directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020.  Good progress has been made to date but the target remains challenging, particularly in light of economic growth and a growing demand for energy.  Figures provided by the...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: We are engaging with local authorities both in respect of the mitigation plan and through the forthcoming adaptation plan. Specific reference was made to reaching our targets on transport. The vast bulk of those targets will be made up with the biofuels obligation. However, we are looking at further low-emission vehicle incentives. We are looking at how we can stimulate the electric...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: First, Deputy Bríd Smith is right. There are people who deny the existence of climate change. However, no one who came to my constituency during the winter of 2015-2016 would deny the issue of climate change. I have seen the impact of it, just as Deputy Stanley has seen it. We know the exact nature of that impact. Deputy Dooley has seen it in his constituency as well. Deputy...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am glad Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of agriculture. In today's Irish Independentfarming supplement, this issue came up in the context of Brexit. An article pointed out that Brexit will force farmers to look at competition issues and how efficient beef production is in this country compared to other European and international players. Colleagues in the House from rural Ireland...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 47 together. If I might first respond briefly to Deputy Stanley's point, I am taking responsibility for the post office network but legal responsibility has not yet formally transferred over. I was quite willing to answer questions on An Post and had replies prepared for it but that is a decision that was made outside my control. Ireland has...

Priority Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I take the Deputy's point about binding sectoral targets. We are engaging with my colleagues, the Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Transport, Tourism and Sport and Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to give consideration to putting a process in place. I do not think we should be looking at binding targets at the moment. It is a long way to 2030 and 2050. It...

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: It is 85 weeks now.

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: The aim of the national broadband plan is to deliver high-speed broadband to every single premises in the State on a commercial and non-commercial basis. Because of the work being done on the national broadband plan we have now ensured that commercial companies, on a commercial basis, are spending €1.7 million every single day and they have been spending that for the last four years....

Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (9 May 2017)

Denis Naughten: I assure Deputy Dooley that we are getting action because I am not waiting around at all. This is why, as part of the negotiations for the programme for Government, I ensured that we established a mobile phone and broadband taskforce to look at areas where we could fast track the investment of wireless mobile broadband right across the State. This is happening currently. There is not a...