Results 9,901-9,920 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and in order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. The Government has adopted a range of support measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: UK Referendum on EU Membership (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: While the result of the UK referendum is not the one that we hoped for, we fully accept and respect the outcome of the democratic process in the UK. Ireland has always been highly dependent on imports of energy products. In 2014 Ireland had an import dependency of 85% with energy imports costing circa €5.7 billion. Indigenous energy sources from renewable energy and natural gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Ensuring the participation of communities in Ireland’s future energy transition is a key commitment in the 2015 Energy White Paper and the recent Programme for Government. National energy policy sets out a framework to encourage community participation in energy policy formation, the design of enabling measures and project supports. Access to the national grid for community designated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020 and in order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, 12% renewables in the heating sector and 10% in transport. The Government has adopted a range of support measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The composition of the Board of SEAI is provided for by section 10 of the Sustainable Energy Act 2002. The legislation makes particular provision as to the competence of persons to be appointed to the Board of SEAI and provides that appointees must have experience or competence in areas specifically related to the functions of SEAI. Amongst the competencies listed at Section 10.(3) of the Act...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for Government sets out that Ireland’s long-term interests are best supported by further decreasing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy.This is underpinned by the Energy White Paper which sets out a long-term vision and a framework to guide Irish energy policy up to 2030 including a range of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Pluralism (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the BAI Report on Ownership and Control of Media Businesses in Ireland 2012-2014, which is the first of its kind. Under the revised Competition Act 2002 the BAI are required to produce a report every three years that details the ownership and control arrangements of media business in Ireland and to describe any changes that may have taken place in the intervening years. In this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The White Paper on Energy Policy sets out a vision of a low carbon energy system in Ireland, where greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector will be reduced by between 80% and 95%, compared to 1990 levels, by 2050, and where alternative and renewable energy will play a dominant role in Ireland’s future energy mix. In addition, the Programme for Government sets out a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. Delivery of high speed broadband is a strategic priority under the Programme for a Partnership Government.  This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: UK Referendum on EU Membership (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: While the result of the UK referendum is not the one that we hoped for, we fully accept and respect the outcome of the democratic process in the UK. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive and they operate within national and European regulatory regimes.  I have no statutory function in the monitoring or setting of gas or electricity prices. Responsibility for the regulation of the gas or electricity markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers.  A well balanced fuel mix that provides reliable energy, minimises costs and protects against supply disruptions and price volatility, is essential to Irish consumers as we make the transition to a low carbon energy system. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Mergers (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: Under the revised Competition Act 2002 proposed mergers or acquisitions that meet certain criteria must be notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The CCPC must then examine the notification and decide if the merger may proceed on competition grounds.Media mergers, as defined in the Act, which have received the CCPC’s determination must also be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Pluralism (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2014 gives the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the responsibility for assessing proposed media mergers, and empowers the Minister to prevent any merger that is deemed likely to be contrary to the public interest in maintaining the plurality of media in the State. This process is additional to the Competition and Consumer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Emergency Call Answering Service, which takes emergency calls made to 112 and 999 numbers, has integrated Eircodes into their systems and updated their processes to enable the use of Eircodes when presented by callers. The National Ambulance Service have also integrated Eircodes into their Computer Aided Dispatch System and this went live in February 2016. The National Ambulance...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicles (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Though Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels, the increasing use of electric vehicles will also make a small contribution. Responsibility for the regulation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects. This commitment builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar photo voltaic (PV) also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. It is widely...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: While I cannot comment on an individual Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) application, I can confirm that my Department is still working to assess the viability of a number of REFIT applications received up to the closing date of the REFIT scheme on 31 December 2015. It is normal practice that a REFIT applicant would liaise directly with officials in my Department to receive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sports Events (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: The Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air in this jurisdiction. Under the 2009 Act, I as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 Jul 2016)

Denis Naughten: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together. The National Broadband Plan is a priority for Government. The Plan is being delivered through a combination of investment by telecommunications operators and a State Intervention in areas where commercial investment is not forthcoming. This is reflected in the High Speed Broadband Map, atbroadband.gov.ie. The areas marked...