Results 8,841-8,860 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030' sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and My Department is currently developing a proposed new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist Ireland in meeting these RES-E targets. The Programme for Government contains a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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 telecommunications sector and a State Intervention in those areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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 telecommunications sector and a State Intervention in those areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: 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 the Roam Like at Home principle, and, in particular, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in White Paper on Energy and Programme for Government and will be the primary support mechanism in the heating sector designed to meet Ireland’s renewable energy obligations. The aim of the RHI is to build on the progress already made in the renewable heating sector and to help reach Ireland’s 12% target...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan, aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every household, school and business in Ireland. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and for those areas that will not be covered by commercial operators the State has committed to intervene and subsidise a network build, so that nobody is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (8 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The current EU and national regulatory framework for telecommunications allows for the application of a Universal Service Obligation (USO) in respect of fixed voice services. This framework has, in my view served consumers well over several decades and ensured that householders can get an affordable fixed voice service, regardless of where they are located. There are no provisions in...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Section 28(1) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 sets out the principles with which the universal postal service provider's tariffs must comply. These principles are enshrined in Article 12 of EU Directive 97/67/EC, as amended by EU Directive 2008/6/EC, and provide that the tariffs must be,inter alia, affordable and cost orientated. These directives are transposed...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: It would take more than two Senators to replace Senator Leyden.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: A number of issues have been raised. I will deal with the most significant one first, which was raised by Senator Boyhan. I echo what Senator Lombard said. There is no realisation here of the issue with which we are actually dealing. Senator Leyden also raised a number of issues, which I will come to in a minute. If these amendments are accepted here today, our debate is pointless. We...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Senator Boyhan is missing the point. I have come to the House as the Minister. I have answered the questions and given my justification. The Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, gave the justification on Second Stage and Committee Stage in the House because I was physically not able to attend. My difficulty is that I have set out logically the reason this does not make sense. There is not...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I know Senator Boyhan is a new Senator but-----

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: Other than on Second Stage, it is not normal for a speech of a Minister to be circulated. The normal process on Committee and Report Stages is to move the amendment, have the argument and hear the response of the Minister. The Senator is not the person who has drafted these amendments, which I accept. I am quite willing to give him the reason I cannot accept the amendment and let him...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: ComReg already has a role in regard to terminal dues and, as recently as June last year, ComReg published a review and assessment of An Post's terminal dues agreements in the context of compliance with section 29 of the 2011 Act. Terminal dues are rates paid for delivery of international inbound mail items. I was mindful of the concerns expressed in regard to the impact of terminal dues on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: To protect our environment with regard to air quality, a number of EU Directives set out standards for a wide variety of pollutants. The current standards are contained in 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Government considers the NBP to be one of the most significant investments in rural Ireland for decades, and one which will transform society, akin to rural electrification in the last century.  The strategy for broadband roll out,  the National Broadband Plan (NBP), which is a key priority for my Department, aims to deliver high speed broadband services to every city,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The State invested in the construction of 88 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), covering 94 regional cities. This MANs infrastructure provides a link between national backhaul networks and the “last mile” access networks that deliver telecommunications services to citizens and businesses. These wholesale, open access fibre networks are operated and managed in a commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Energy White Paper 'Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030' sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and sets out a number of actions to support this aim. My Department is currently developing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) which will be designed to assist us meeting these RES-E targets. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 742 to 744, inclusive, together. Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the National Postcode System "Eircode". Capita with the approval and on behalf of the Minster have developed the Eircode brand name, trademarks and website. The Eircode...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Carbon Budget (7 Mar 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 745 and 746 together. The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is one of the main policies of the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a cost-effective manner. Emissions Trading is a "cap and trade" scheme, whereby an EU wide cap or limit is set for participating installations. This cap is reduced over time so that total emissions are...