Results 921-940 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As we are discussing amendments Nos. 1 and 10 together, I will address both amendments. Section 66C(2) clarifies that section 6A of the Data Protection Act 1988, in other words, the principal Act, which relates to the processing of personal data that is likely to cause damage or distress, which is the issue Deputy Colreavy raises, does not apply where the processing is necessary to undertake...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I repeat the point that I must respectfully disagree with Deputy Colreavy's suggestion that the complaints procedure here would be, to use his phrase, replicating the role of the Data Protection Commissioner. That is not true. It is simply not the case. The Data Protection Commissioner's powers under the principal Act remain and they are considerable. Absolutely nothing is being taken...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I do not understand the Deputy's point.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The answers to the Deputy's question is that, as stated in the Title, this is a Bill entitled An Act to amendment the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011; and to provide for related matters. Section 1 states: "In this Act [the] "Principal Act" means the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011." That is what we are amending here but all of the existing data...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Deputy is correct that this reflects on some of the discussion we have already had. The complaints procedure set out in the Bill refers to the process that owners or occupiers of property can follow with a postcode-related complaint. The complaints procedure is set out in the postcode contractor's code of practice and, as I indicated earlier, the postcode contractor has consulted the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Yes. It is on our website and was put there some time ago.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Yes, it is the privacy impact assessment that I directed should take place. There is no statutory requirement to do it but the Deputy is correct in that it is good practice in a development like this.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: 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. Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan is delivering high speed broadband to every home and business in Ireland regardless of its location. This is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. Last November I published a national high speed coverage map for 2016. This map is available at . The map shows Ireland with two colours, BLUE and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: This is an operational matter for the consortium involved and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As I outlined to the Deputy in my recent reply to him, my Department has been active in engaging with as many stakeholders as possible during the planning phase for the state intervention under the National Broadband Plan. This includes many community and voluntary groups as well as Local Authorities and various agencies tasked with promoting regional development. All have been very...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Expenditure (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The State only becomes involved in investing in the provision of broadband services in instances of clear market failure such as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme. Such interventions require EU clearance to ensure that the State’s investment does not adversely distort competition. Under the former National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which expired in August 2014, some...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (17 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The Government recognises that access to high quality, high speed broadband is important for businesses and households throughout Ireland and is critically aware of the issues raised by IBEC in the Midwest and Kerry region and elsewhere in Ireland. The National Broadband Plan aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the day the initial report of the post office network business development group has been published for consultation. I established the group which is led by the entrepreneur Bobby Kerr in January to explore commercial and public service opportunities to secure the future of the post office network. It has found that a disproportionate...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I have met the chairman, the chief executive and the board of An Post. As the Deputy may be aware, Mr. Christoph Mueller has decided to retire from the position of chairman. We are now in the process of appointing a new chair of An Post, which will happen in the coming weeks. I look forward to the new chair being appointed and the opportunity I will undoubtedly then have to engage with him...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: The national broadband plan aims to ensure 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. I will make the reply available to Deputies rather than read it all because time...

Other Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: As I understand it, the Deputy is proposing a database to monitor the availability of broadband services. It would not, in the first instance, be the responsibility of the Department. ComReg also has certain statutory duties and a role pursuant to legislation. My focus is on spreading access to high speed broadband across the country, in particular rural areas where the commercial sector...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I largely agree with the Deputy's comments. The problem from the point of view of political discourse is that with an issue like climate change, people too often regard it as something to be dealt with by someone else, somewhere else and at some other time. In fact, it is an issue that affects all of us, and it is already impacting our planet and must be addressed. To direct the Deputy...

Other Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I will take on board Deputy Colreavy's insights in regard to TTIP and ISDS. To answer Deputy Wallace's question, I support the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, in bringing forward the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. That legislation constitutes progress. In fairness, however, notwithstanding its importance, it is only one...

Other Questions: Energy Conservation (16 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Certainly Deputy Wallace's expertise is welcome and I have taken a note of what he has said. It is most helpful, as are the insights from other colleagues. As Deputy Colreavy said, it is right that we should have a sense, as best we can, of the extent of the issue. Deputy Moynihan also mentioned the point about older local authority schemes. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...