Results 8,781-8,800 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 54, 55 and 61 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority.  This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Emergency Plan (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Ireland has a detailed National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents (NEPNA), the central purpose of which is to minimise the impact on Ireland and its people in the event of a major nuclear accident abroad, including in the UK. The Plan, which is currently under revision, can be viewed at .  Naturally, Ireland takes a particular interest in nuclear matters in the UK, as our...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Question Nos. 57 and 58 together. The Electric Vehicles Grant Scheme provides grant aid of up to €5,000 towards the purchase of a new Electric Vehicle (EV) and is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.  These grants are in addition to the VRT reliefs of up to €5,000 that also apply to EVs.  Budget 2017 extended VRT...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Networks Ireland (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 1114 together. The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (21 Mar 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. Any concerns relating to contract and consumer legislation should be directed to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Brexit Issues (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 78 together. Energy is a priority sector for Government in considering the impact of Brexit. The energy systems of Ireland and the United Kingdom are interdependent with a large amount of Ireland’s energy supply being imported from the United Kingdom, and the Single Electricity Market in operation across the island of Ireland. The four key...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) was published in August 2012. I provided a comprehensive update on the progress of the plan to the Deputy in my response to Question No 72 on 6 December 2016.  Progress continues to be made in delivering on this Government’s commitment to ensure every household and business in Ireland has access to high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile networks are not always delivering the services people expect. As the Deputy is aware, I specifically included in the Programme for Government a commitment to a Mobile Phone and Broadband Task Force. In July 2016, I established this Task Force together with Minister Humphreys to identify...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord na Móna (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Bord na Móna is a commercial State company operating under the Turf Development Acts 1946 to 1998. The matters raised are operational in nature and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No. 737 of 28 February 2017 on this issue and to the replies to Question Nos. 34 and 41 on today's Order Paper. For each year between 2013 and 2020, Ireland has a Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) emissions reduction target under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) No. 406/2009/EC. For the year 2020 itself, the target set for Ireland is that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Code of Conduct (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies was published in August 2016 by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and all State bodies, including RTÉ, are required to be fully compliant in respect of the first full financial year following publication. In this regard, my Department is engaging with all State bodies under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Mergers (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Following approval by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, notification of the proposed merger referenced in the question was received by me as Minister on 21 November 2016. I had 30 working days from the notification deadline of 24 November 2016 to conduct an initial, or Phase 1, assessment of the case on media plurality grounds. This examination was guided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I recognise the important part that public service broadcasters play in our democratic society. The provision of stable and adequate funding is essential to ensuring the continued delivery of their role in this regard. I am very much aware, however, of the challenges that face the existing TV Licence system, including the current unacceptable levels of evasion.  While the rate has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Closures (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Matters relating to the closure of post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of An Post and not ones in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements 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 target also being legally binding. The Sustainable Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1108 and 1140 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Offences (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1109, 1117 and 1118 together. The Office of the Attorney General provided advice to my Department in the course of a review of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 in February. My Department advised Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) of the relevant position. It should be noted that anyone who commits an offence is still liable to be prosecuted under the Act. Amending...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2015 White Paper on Energy Policy recognises the important contribution that technologies such as Anaerobic Digestion (AD) can make to Ireland’s future low carbon energy transition. Over the last year, my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) undertook a detailed assessment of the costs and viability of supporting a range of renewable energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1111 and 1129 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2016 recently passed through all stages in the Oireachtas and has now been signed into law by the President. The legislation provides for the repeal of the current price cap mechanism which will enable An Post to implement the proposed price increases....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: There are no proposals to provide financial assistance to An Post and consequently the need to consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard has not arisen. My Department is, however, in regular contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the financial challenges facing the company; the Minister for Public Expenditure and...