Results 9,661-9,680 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 858 and 859 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality postal service and maintain a nationwide network of customer focussed post offices. Insofar as the commercial and operational activities of the company are concerned, the Board and management of he company are constantly working to ensure that the services they provide...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: Telecommunications service providers operate in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg. Notwithstanding the independence of ComReg, I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Mergers (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: While I am aware that the proposed purchase of Celtic Media, including the Anglo Celt newspaper, by Independent News & Media is currently being considered by the CCPC, I have no role in relation to the proposed transaction until the CCPC has made its determination in this case. Should the proposed purchase receive clearance from the CCPC, it must then be notified to me as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 863 and 864 together. The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: Telecommunications service providers operate in a fully liberalised market under licences provided by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg. Notwithstanding the independence of ComReg, I am critically aware of the frustration currently being experienced across Ireland, where mobile...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: The passive house standard is a voluntary standard developed by the private sector for new dwellings. Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings requires EU Member States to ensure that all new buildings (including dwellings) will be nearly zero-energy buildings by 31 December 2020. Ireland’s current energy performance standard for dwellings under Building...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (27 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Better Energy Homes programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department. It provides funding for insulation and heating system upgrades, helping to make homes more comfortable and cheaper to run, and reducing harmful emissions.  These grants are available to all owners of homes built before 2006. The programme does not provide any...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the opportunity to engage with the joint committee on the Estimate for my Department and consider the mid-year expenditure and programme indicator outturns where they are available. I am happy to outline my priority areas for expenditure in the three year period 2017 to 2019 and also interested in hearing the views of members on the areas and programmes they would seek to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: We raised this issue last June when we appeared before the committee. The subhead in the Estimate for the Department includes the allocation of €7.5 million for next generation broadband services. By the end of June €2.547 million had been spent under the subhead. The total Estimate allocation for the year is €16.7 million. Approximately €900,000 was spent...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: To clarify, that was 75% and 94% of profile, so it would have been to that point in the year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will deal with the broadband issue first because it was raised by a number of members. At present, we are at stage 3, commencement of the detailed, technical and financial negotiations with the qualified bidders. There are three qualified bidders or consortia. The process started in July. We have a draft contract of approximately 2.2 million words - it is estimated that there will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: Deputy Eamon Ryan asked about cyber security.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: There is a certain amount I cannot say and a certain amount I can say. A national cyber security centre has been established. In the next few weeks, it is moving out to a purpose-built facility in UCD. It includes computer security emergency response functions and is also involved in implementing the EU directive on network and information security. That places a number of significant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: It reports to my Department. Any serious incident involving cyber security would be reported directly to me as the relevant Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: What percentage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: It is nearly 14%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will deal with the last point first. Naturally enough, if there is a reduction in funding, it makes things more challenging. It was a challenging year for RTE in any event with the Olympics, the European Championship and the 2016 commemorations. There has been a lot .

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: There was an election as well and, in fact, every single count was broadcast live on RTE, which was some achievement. No other broadcaster in the world has done that. We all appreciated the provision of that particular service by RTE. As such, there was a great deal of additional expense on RTE. There is a challenge and it is not just one for RTE. I have met not only with RTE, but with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (21 Sep 2016)

Denis Naughten: Technology is changing dramatically and has changed over the past number of years. The Deputy is correct in that regard and I am quite willing to hear the committee's views if it wants to come back with a proposal and we can explore it. It is important to remember that the fall in income from the television licence does not just affect RTE. It affects TG4 and the independent broadcasters...