Results 9,841-9,860 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Would Deputy Stanley make that advice available to us on foot of what I have said today?

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: If he could make it available to us, we will read it in the context of Report Stage next week. That is the advice I have got via the Office of the Attorney General. It is the best legal advice available to me but if the Deputy has a contrary view, I am happy to read it. We have considered this amendment in detail.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: With all due respect to the Deputy I have said that on foot of his furnishing me with his advice we will consider it. I wonder why he is pressing the amendment if I am prepared to consider it.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will examine the advice provided to Deputy Stanley on foot of my comments today.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I thank Deputy Dooley for tabling the amendment and Deputy Lawless for speaking to it. Deputy Lawless is correct that the resourcing of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is an important issue. While I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue and fully agree with the intent of the proposed amendment, I must reject it for a number of reasons. I am fully cognisant of the need...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I will go through the note I have here but I agree with what Deputy Ryan talks about regarding his first amendment. There is huge merit in it. We are engaged at European level at the moment with the Commission on these very issues and I hope we will sign up by the end of this year to a new market design for the electricity market right across Europe. Many of the issues that Deputy Ryan has...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am talking about two separate things. In terms of Europe, we are developing a single European energy market and are driving forward with a European energy union. We need it more than anyone else in Europe. I was talking to my Portuguese and Spanish colleagues earlier this week, and they are also very anxious about interconnectivity. The reality is we import a substantial amount of...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Let me finish. We do not need legislation to do so. If it pointless to give communities access to the grid if they do not have the financial resources to connect to the grid or to build the renewable energy, whether it is biogas, wind, biomass or whatever the case may be. We need a comprehensive approach that will assist communities in getting a co-operative up and running, developing the...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I am focused on this country but I also know that we import, and will continue to import, a lot of electricity. I hope that in the near future, we will be a net exporter of electricity-----

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: -----and community-generated electricity. We import a lot of gas and we will continue to do so. Presumably, Deputy Eamon and myself would disagree on whether we should be a net exporter of gas but that is not the case at the moment. I must be conscious not only of the current situation but also the impending situation on foot of the UK's exit from the European Union and the fact that we...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: We will examine it as well between now and next week.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: In response to Deputy Stanley, this is the point when one examines legislation. Deputy Bríd Smith talks about community generators and she is correct. Deputy Stanley talks about microgeneration, and he is correct as well.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Yes. We must ensure that whatever is put into legislation will not cause a problem for either or both of those. At present, the commission is reviewing its connection to the grid system, how that is done and how it is prioritised. I have very strong views on this. I have always had them; this is not something I have approached quite recently. If people wish to check the Dáil record...

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I do not believe that is the problem. I do not believe that what the Deputy is raising as the problem is the issue at present. It is far broader than that.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I have said we will examine this again on Report Stage. The Commission is examining its connections policy at present and it would be appropriate to explore that with the Commission as well.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Exactly, that is my point.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Yes, I know.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Yes.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Yes, it could take two years.

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources: Energy Bill 2016: Committee Stage (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Deputy would admit that some of the definitions in the amendment are vague. We would need to examine the wording in terms of inserting it in the 1999 Act. I do not disagree with the thrust of the Deputy's suggestions. Many of them can be accommodated within the current legislative structure. Section 9(4)(b) refers to integrating large and small scale production of electricity and gas...