Results 9,481-9,500 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Theory is one thing, practice is another. To put things in perspective, there are 1,443 jobs in the midlands associated with Bord na Móna and the three peat-fired power stations in Lanesboro, Shannonbridge and Edenderry. The Edenderry plant is the first to come before the planning process. There are many families who are reliant on employment in the three plants involved. The...

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: This will allow for the maintenance of existing job levels in the region and create a cash crop for local farmers. We are trying to sustain employment. There is no point talking about closing plants until such time as we have in place an alternative. There reaction thus far to proposals put forward by environmental groups has been negative because people tend to forget that we are talking...

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: As I said earlier, I am working with Bord na Móna to put in place a bio-energy plan that will create alternative employment.

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: Let me finish. I am working with Bord na Móna to put an alterative system of employment in place in the midlands. I have already made decisions in that regard. We will be announcing a consultation document on the renewable heat incentive scheme before the end of this year, which will create demand for bio-energy crops in this country and will build up the capacity needed to convert...

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: In regard to the Deputy's suggestion, I invite him to visit the midlands, including Deputy Troy's constituency and my constituency, to talk to the people and hear what they have to say about it.

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: It has not been abandoned.

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: There are opportunities not only in Mayo but across every other county in Ireland. As Minister, I am prepared to support the development of the renewable energy sector, on which I will not be lectured by Deputy Wallace.

Other Questions: Telecommunications Services Provision (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am actively engaging with ComReg on these issues. I have got a positive response from ComReg on putting a map in place which would show the 2G, 3G, 4G and, in the future, 5G, coverage available. This would fit in with what we are doing with the national broadband plan and allow people to see what services are available. Such a service is available in Northern Ireland through Ofcom....

Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The public service obligation, PSO, levy has been in place since 2001. The PSO levy consists of a set of support schemes designed to facilitate the national electricity policy objectives for renewables, indigenous fuels and security of supply. The PSO has supported the connection of over 2,000 MW of renewable energy to the electricity grid. It will continue to support the...

Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The overall impact of the levy on consumer bills depends on what happens with the other components in electricity prices. The wholesale price of electricity makes up 50% of a bill, while the network charges make up 30%. That would be a higher factor than would be the case in most other EU countries, purely because we have a dispersed rural population. Up to 30% of our population is on 97%...

Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have to smile. Deputy Timmy Dooley is legitimately questioning network charges, while Deputy Eamon Ryan is arguing we should increase the charges with smart metering.

Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have to be conscious of all the costs. When I make decisions, I need to make them in the interests of consumers. Deputy Eamon Ryan is correct that the intention would be to ensure people reduce their bills rather than increase them. It would also help in reducing consumption through energy efficiency. Regarding the regulatory capacity of CER, we are looking at an independent review...

Other Questions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The extent of the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in line with our EU and international commitments, is well understood by the Government. This is reflected in the national policy position on climate action and low carbon development, published in April 2014, and now underpinned by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, enacted in December 2015. The...

Other Questions: Energy Conservation (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy is correct that the interface between digital and clean energy technology needs to be examined. It has changed dramatically in the past decade. I want to be sure that if we charge every ESB customer €400 for a smart meter that, first, they will benefit from them and, second, that it is the most cost effective way of making this investment. I want to establish whether...

Other Questions: Telecommunications Services Provision (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy is getting value for money from his question. The national broadband plan aims to make high speed broadband available to all premises in Ireland through investment by commercial companies and a State intervention in areas where a commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. In December 2015 the procurement for the State intervention...

Other Questions: Telecommunications Services Provision (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: I would need a week to address that question. We will have the most modern network in the world when the investment programme is completed. The national broadband plan provides that Ireland will be the first country to bring fibre broadband to the home extensively in rural areas. This has not been done anywhere else in the world to date. It will deliver speeds up to 1,000 Mbps to homes...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The objective behind the dialogue on climate change is to take the concern and convert it into action. We have had concern over the past two decades and we have not seen the action. Now we need to convert it into action and have real engagement with communities throughout the country rather than the approach that has been taken until now to lecture people on it. With regard to the...

Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: We are in the process of drafting the national mitigation plan. The draft will be completed before the end of the year and will go for public consultation. It will be finalised next year. This will set down the blueprint and not just in my Department with regard to energy. It will also involve the built environment, with regard to the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local...

Other Questions: Energy Conservation (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The national smart metering programme, which includes electricity and gas meters, is managed by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. The EU's third energy package sets out the need to roll out smart meters based on economic assessment and provides that in the case of electricity, "where roll-out of smart meters is assessed positively, at least 80% of consumers shall be equipped with...

Other Questions: Energy Conservation (26 Oct 2016)

Denis Naughten: The cost benefit analysis available to me was completed by PricewaterhouseCoopers in September 2013. The results of the updated cost benefit analysis, which is available on the CER website, shows that net present value is minus €59 million for electricity meters only. 5 o’clock Where electricity and gas meters are included, the net current value is estimated at minus...