Results 9,021-9,040 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Mitigation Plan (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The 2014 National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development, which is underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, provides the high-level policy direction for the State to move to a low-carbon economy by 2050. The development of sectoral mitigation measures for the electricity generation, the built environment, transport and agriculture...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 68, 556 and 559 together. The all-island Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive, and secure market for customers since its establishment in 2007. The governance framework that applies to the all-island Single Electricity Market remains in place and is based on national legislation adopted by the Oireachtas and the British...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Ireland will contribute to the Paris Agreement via the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which has been submitted by the EU on behalf of its Member States, and which commits the EU to a 40% reduction in EU-wide emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. This commitment for 2030 is based on EU-wide reductions in the emissions trading system (ETS) sector of 43%, and the non-ETS...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: RTE Staff (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: My Department has consulted RTÉ on the matter and I am advised that, in compliance with the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, all RTÉ Board members and management are required to declare potential conflicts of interest and that appropriate procedures are in place to monitor and manage such matters. I am further advised by RTÉ that no such...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Programme for Government Initiatives (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I refer to the reply to Question No 35 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Waste Disposal Charges (7 Feb 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. Matters relating to consumer legislation fall under the remit of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Notwithstanding the above, a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Official Engagements (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have not had any engagement with the new US administration, nor have I had any discussions or correspondence with the incoming Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, or the acting Secretary of Energy Grace Bochenek.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 67 together. On 21 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the north-south interconnector in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over a 10 week period from March to May last year. The planning process in Northern Ireland is still ongoing, with a planning...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. The SEAI estimates that the cost of installing a basic energy efficient window package is €6,000 per home. If this measure were to be included in the Better Energy Homes scheme as a grant-funded measure, the resulting demand could be very large...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The introduction of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a commitment in the 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 by 2020. In 2015, 6.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November 2016, aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an ambition of 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Agreement is designed to meet this objective through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted by all parties to the agreement. In this regard, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I have met with EirGrid and have been briefed on the development of their grid development strategy, planned major projects and their work in relation to community engagement. Officials in my department are also in ongoing contact with EirGrid in relation to these matters. As the designated Transmission System Operator, EirGrid’s role includes the operation, maintenance and...

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

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) represents a very significant capital investment project for the State and aims to deliver high speed 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. A formal procurement process is in train to select a company who will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (7 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Pluralism (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 78 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Since the 2009 National Energy Efficiency Action Plan public sector bodies have an obligation to achieve 33% energy efficiency by 2020.  Considerable progress has already been made.  The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's Annual Report on Public Sector Energy Efficiency performance shows that by end 2015 public sector bodies had achieved a 21% improvement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The Programme Government includes a commitment to establish a National Dialogue on Climate Change.  This builds on the commitment in the Energy White Paper to establish a National Energy Forum to maximise and maintain consensus on the broad policy measures set out in the White Paper required to ensure the transition to a low-carbon energy future. It is my intention that the National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Meetings (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: As the Deputy is aware one of the main avenues available for me to meet my European counterparts is through the EU Councils and Informal Councils, of which I have attended five since the Brexit vote. I ensure that I hold a number of discussions on the margins of these meetings with my European counterparts to stress the unique challenges faced by Ireland in the wake of the Brexit vote. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: The proposed North-South Interconnector is an integral part of the evolution of the all-island Single Electricity Market. It remains a strategic imperative, intended to provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (7 Feb 2017)

Denis Naughten: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and the natural gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. Pay As You Go meters are offered free of charge to energy consumers experiencing financial difficulty. Since their introduction in 2011, more than 180,000 electricity and gas PAYG meters have been distributed....