Results 1,061-1,080 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, together with obtaining all of the necessary consents, are the principal factors that will determine the date for first gas. Construction and testing of the infrastructure is ongoing with first gas anticipated later this year.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: During the course of the Dáil Éireann debate on 9 July 2013 on the May 2012 Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, my predecessor indicated his intention to seek independent expert advice on the “fitness-for-purpose” of Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal terms. Following a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (9 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: North-South Interconnector (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1147 and 1148 together. I have taken note of the Motion referred to by the Deputy in his Question. In January 2014, an Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link (GL) and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1149 and 1150 together. The General Employees' Superannuation Scheme is a defined benefit scheme for clerical and management staff of Bord na Mona. It has been in deficit for a number of years and has failed to meet the Minimum Funding Standard laid down under the Pensions Act. Without an amendment to the Scheme, this deficit is expected to rise to an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commissions of Investigation (9 Jun 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1151 to 1153, inclusive, together. There have been no Commissions of Investigation established by my Department during the periods in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme (28 May 2015)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. I am advised by SEAI that the provision of appropriate heating controls is an integral part of any heating system upgrade and that such controls are essential to realising the energy efficiency features of efficient boilers. Accordingly, the supports available under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (28 May 2015)

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. Provisional figures provided by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) indicate that at the end of 2014 some 6.6% of heat demand was met by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (28 May 2015)

Alex White: The generation of electricity from renewable sources is an important element of Ireland’s transition to a lower carbon energy system. Hydro electricity makes a significant contribution to our renewable electricity. In April 2015 there was 2,576MW of renewable electricity connected to the Irish Grid, 238MW of which was from hydro. Onshore wind contributed 2256MW, and biomass contributed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (27 May 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. Following a public procurement process, my Department appointed Environ UK Ltd to assist the Department in monitoring compliance by the developers of the Corrib gas project with the conditions of the consents granted in February 2011 to construct the Corrib gas pipeline and an addendum of modifications to the already approved Corrib Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (27 May 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 is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I thank Senator Whelan for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to address Senators on the topic. The Senator referred to Ireland's national renewable energy action plan, NREAP, which states that we aim to meet our overall 16% renewable energy target by 2020 by achieving 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources, as well as 10% in transport and 12% in heating. I agree...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I reassure the Senator that the scheme will be introduced as soon as possible. We must put together relatively complex elements of a new scheme in terms of how to incentivise and how to fund it.We have to apply for state aid approval in respect of many of these types of measures, as the Senator will be aware, but there has been no delay in bringing the scheme forward. I appreciate his...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (26 May 2015)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. I am currently in the process of developing a new Energy Policy Paper which will set out Ireland’s energy policy out to 2030. The Public Service Obligation (PSO), and the levy associated with it, are matters for consideration, along...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (26 May 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 is being achieved through a partnership between Government and commercial telecommunications companies. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5 billion in network upgrades and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (26 May 2015)

Alex White: Following a public procurement process, my Department appointed Environ UK Ltd to assist the Department in monitoring compliance by the developers of the Corrib gas project with the conditions of the consents granted in February 2011 to construct the Corrib gas pipeline and an addendum of modifications to the already approved Corrib Plan of Development. Environ’s role includes, but is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (26 May 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Homes Scheme, Warmer Homes Scheme, and the Better Energy Areas and Communities Scheme are all administered on behalf of my Department by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Travel (26 May 2015)

Alex White: I have set out in the following table details of all official foreign trips currently scheduled that I will be undertaking between now and end 2015. Date Location Duration Purpose 8 June Luxembourg 1.5 Days Attendance at EU Energy Council 22 – 23 September Luxembourg 2 days Attendance at Informal Meeting of EU Energy Ministers 26 November Brussels 1.5 Days Attendance at EU Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (26 May 2015)

Alex White: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. A new Energy Policy Paper, which will set out Ireland’s energy policy up to 2030, is being developed. To facilitate the development of the new Policy Paper, a Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland was published in May 2014 opening...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (26 May 2015)

Alex White: The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) is the State agency dedicated to creating an international centre of innovative, technology-based enterprise in the Liberties area of Dublin 8. Its property portfolio comprises circa 9 acres, on which it has over 100,000 sq. feet of commercial office space, as well as a number of derelict, protected buildings fronting onto several streets in this...