Results 8,821-8,840 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

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

Denis Naughten: As Minister, I am responsible for the administration of the EU Packaging Directive, which is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014.Under the Regulations, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland, published by the EPA in May 2016, show that Ireland has met and exceeded...

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

Denis Naughten: The land-spreading of manures is controlled by the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations, 2014, as amended. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the replies to Question Nos. 34 and 41 on today's Order Paper. In line with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015, I am required to prepare and submit a National Mitigation Plan to Government for approval no later than 10 June this year. This will be the first in a series of successive National Mitigation Plans which will set out, on an ongoing basis,...

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

Denis Naughten: The mission of my Department, as set out in our Statement of Strategy 2016 -2019, is to support economic and social progress and help the country reach its full potential by: - facilitating the development of communications and energy infrastructure and markets; - leading the national transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient economy; - protecting and improving our...

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

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1153, 1157 and 1158 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including mobile phone services, is a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market regulated by the independent Regulator of the telecommunications sector, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).  In that regard, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed broadband to all businesses and households in Ireland  through policy and regulatory measures by acting as a catalyst to commercial investment and by State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.  Since the publication of the NBP,  investment by...

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

Denis Naughten: The Waste Management Act 1996and the Waste Management (Licensing) Regulations 2004govern the process under which waste licences are applied for and maintained. Once granted, each waste licence defines the nature of environmentally acceptable activities that can take place at a waste facility, including the acceptable types of waste that can be received. This is done by the conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos.  34, 41 and 71 on today’s Order Paper. Under the 2009 Effort Sharing Decision No. 406/2009/EC, the target set for Ireland is that emissions should be 20% below their value in 2005. The latest available greenhouse gas emissions projections for the period to 2020, published by the Environmental Protection Agency in March 2016, indicate that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Environmental Protection Enforcement (21 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Rigorous implementation of environmental policy and legislation, underpinned by the principle of proportionality, is the appropriate approach to adopt in protecting our environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for protecting the environment in Ireland. The EPA performs a wide range of statutory functions in fulfilment of its...

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

Denis Naughten: Ambient air quality monitoring in Ireland is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC) and the Fourth Daughter Directive (Directive 2004/107/EC of 15 December 2004). These Directives also include rules on how Member States should monitor, assess and manage ambient air quality. The Environmental...

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

Denis Naughten: No Minister or Minister of State in my Department has claimed overnight expenses since 2011 for staying in Dublin.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Recycling Data (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 to 317, inclusive, together. Ireland has met every target prescribed by the European Union under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive to date and I am satisfied that my Department has put in place the legislation and supporting structures and systems required to ensure that all future targets will continue to be met. Each Member...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telephone Call Charges (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 322 together. EU "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) will give Irish and EU consumers the ability to use their mobile devices, within other EU countries, at domestic rates, subject to Fair Use Policy, from 15 June 2017. Throughout negotiations at EU level on this initiative, including at the EU Council of Ministers, Ireland has been fully supportive of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 to 321, inclusive, together. The Better Energy Programme which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department consists of the Better Energy Homes Scheme, Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme and Better Energy Communities Scheme. The Better Energy Homes (BEH) Scheme provides grant aid to private homeowners who...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Freedom of Information Requests (9 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: No Freedom of Information requests received by my Department over the last three years and to date in 2017 have been referred to the Chief States Solicitor's Office and therefore the issue of costs does not arise.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Davitt for raising a very valid question on an important issue. From a telecommunications perspective, Ireland favours easy access by our citizens to mobile communications on the basis that such access is of benefit to society. There is currently no Irish legal requirement to register the personal details of owners of SIM cards. Where mobile service providers are extending...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: To bring in a law on mobile phones, we have to ask what a mobile phone is. It is a mobile device not a mobile phone. Most of the tablets we have now also have SIM cards or are linked up to mobile phones. My children have tablets in school. The school has purchased them. I was in Roscommon Community College during the week and rather than having e-books and using e-learning, the children...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Of course they do. I do not agree with the Senator's proposal to have a ban on the use of mobile phones at particular ages. The only way we could do that is to have a ban on the use of the SIM card rather than the device as a result of the way technology is changing. With the wider use of the internet, we will see a situation where very small children will have a bracelet with a SIM card...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Quality (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I thank Senator Kieran O'Donnell for raising this issue with me. A number of important EU directives seek to protect our environment from the harmful effects of air pollution and maintain the quality of the air we breathe. The current air quality standards are contained in the clean air for Europe directive of 2008 and the fourth daughter directive of the European Union. The directives...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Air Quality (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The location in Limerick city will be one that will best reflect the air quality in the city as a whole. Currently, the EPA has 31 stations to try to give a read across the country, which is virtually impossible to do. By doubling the number of stations, it will be able to give a far more accurate national read and it will be able look at locations in our cities that can best and accurately...