Results 9,021-9,040 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: I am certainly on the same page as the Deputy as regards exploring all potential alternatives. A reliance on one source, especially onshore wind energy, as a single solution for sustainability is not the way forward. I recently met a company looking to invest in Donegal in tidal energy, which was fostering the community approach in order to get community buy-in from day one. In the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: One cannot go to a community and say, "This is going to be the way, and you have to accept that." Mistakes were made on the part of private industry, but I am certainly not going to speak on its behalf. We have to learn from the mistakes that were made and bring communities with us. Communities have to be at the heart of the solution for sustainable rural economic models. That is why it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The European Commission’s energy union package is aimed at enhancing energy security, sustainability and competitiveness throughout Europe. It proposes that EU member states work collaboratively and intensively on a list of actions in pursuit of common energy policy goals. Included in the package is a Commission communication on achieving interconnection of at least 10% of installed...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: As the Deputy may be aware, in June 2013 EU member states authorised the European Commission to commence trade and investment negotiations with the US. These negotiations are ongoing. Their purpose is to reduce barriers to trade and investment in order to generate jobs and growth. Ireland stands to gain significantly from this because of the existing significant flows of trade and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: In fairness, the Deputy's question was well thought out and I commend him on exploring whether there is a connection, but the answer is in black and white. In terms of the research into hydraulic fracking, the two main pillars for ensuring that the study is done comprehensively and in line with the consultation are the environment and health. The Deputy referred to the importance of people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Trade Agreements (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The exploratory licences were granted. Although the European Commission will not necessarily set rules in respect of each country, it will have an important role in ensuring an EU-wide approach to anything that will affect the environment, for example, EPA studies and environmental impact assessments. Every private company can use court proceedings at a broad level. The significance of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Projects (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A well-balanced fuel mix is essential to meeting these objectives for consumers and businesses. Onshore wind contributes significantly to achieving these objectives. A 2014 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The national digital strategy, which was launched in July 2013, focuses on driving digital adoption in three key areas: enterprise, citizens and education. Implementation of initiatives across these three strands is progressing well. The trading online voucher scheme aims to get 2,000 small businesses trading online. More than700 businesses have been awarded vouchers of up to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for his supplementary. It is important to point out that the new national broadband plan has to be technology neutral in terms of EU state guidelines. There has been much communication and consultation at European Union level. The Deputy's last question was about possible European Union funds and strands of funds. Consultation is under way to look at a combined package...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Service Provision (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The track record in terms of trying to get broadband roll-out for the whole country was 4 Mbps to 5 Mbps in certain instances under the previous programme. However, in trying to roll out a minimum of 30 Mbps to every house, the biggest challenge for Government is to ensure that it follows EU competition guidelines. That is where the urgency and the focus have been in terms of ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The proposed State intervention under the National Broadband Plan represents a very significant capital investment project for the State. The Minister has undertaken to complete a detailed intervention strategy that will be submitted to Government in mid 2015. This process is complex and will include close examination of issues such as: - The appropriate ownership model for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: An extensive consultation process was undertaken on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland following the publication of the Paper on 12 May 2014. This process included: - a public written consultation process where members of the public had ten weeks in which to lodge their submissions; - six seminars, one on each of the policy priority areas identified for consideration in the Green...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: An Mol Digiteach (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: D’fhógair an tAire ar 16 Eanáir 2015, d’fhonn plean an Rialtais i gcomhair cuíchóiriú Gníomhaireachtaí Stáit a thabhairt chun cinn, go mbunófar an an Ghníomhaireacht Forbartha don Mhol Digiteach mar chomhlacht neamhspleách faoi Chomhairle Cathrach Bhaile Átha Cliath. Is é an fhís do chomhlacht nua an Mhoil...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The Minister published a Draft Bioenergy Plan in October 2014 which will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments to inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s biomass sector, and the current status with regard to the range of policy areas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: In October 2014, the Minister published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of a finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland’s bioenergy sector, and the current...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Tourism Promotion (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The LIFE Programme is the EU's financial instrument supporting environmental and climate action projects throughout the EU. I understand that, nationally, the lead contact for the programme is the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I understand that funding is not allocated to Departments or Agencies for their discretionary reallocation to projects. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Mergers (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: In June 2014, the Government decided to streamline and refocus the commercial operations of Bord na Móna and Coillte, primarily in the bioenergy and wind energy sectors. The decision requires Bord na Móna and Coillte to proceed with a partial merger in four key areas: wind; biomass; tourism and recreation; and shared services. An Interdepartmental Steering Group, comprising...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (12 Mar 2015)

Joe McHugh: The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed broadband service. This will be achieved through a combination of commercial investments and a State led intervention in areas where commercial services will not be provided. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...