Results 1,281-1,300 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464, 467 and 468 together. 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 focused post offices in the community. I note the recent publication of the 6-point plan by the Irish Postmasters’ Union. It aligns with this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (28 Apr 2015)

Alex White: On 27 March 2015 Eirgrid published, for public comment, a discussion paper on Ireland's grid development strategy - "Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow." The paper, which reviews, inter alia, the Grid Link, Grid West, and North South Transmission Line projects, confirms that Ireland’s overall energy transmission needs may be met with less new infrastructure build than previously...

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

Alex White: The ESB defined benefit scheme is a contributory pension scheme through which pensions for the majority of employees in the electricity business are funded. The fund is vested in trustees nominated by ESB and its members for the sole benefit of employees and their dependents. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme and is registered as such with the Pensions Authority (formerly the Pensions...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Neither I nor my Department was represented at the conference to which the Senator referred. I did not receive an invitation to the event. I examined the organisers' publicity materials after receiving notice of this matter and I now understand that the objective of the conference was to discuss problems and solutions associated with wind turbine noise. The House will be aware that the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Wind Energy Generation (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I was asked who represented my Department or the Government at a certain conference in Glasgow which we first learned about when the Senator raised this issue. My answer to that question was that nobody represented the Department and, therefore, I was unable to answer the Senator's other question on the extent to which it would inform public policy. I answered the question I was asked. I...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consumer Protection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: There are statutory provisions in place in both general consumer law and sector specific legislation to protect retail users of electronic communication services from incurring arbitrary charges for the provision of electronic communications services, including charges for receiving unsolicited texts which do not form part of a contracted service.Under current European regulations, electronic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational one for Bord na Móna. Bord na Móna is facing significant business challenges in the context of the deregulation of the electricity market and increasingly competitive and challenging environments across all its business areas. I understand that in order to ensure its continued success, the company is implementing a programme to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: In accordance with Section 142 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, any premises at which a television is located requires a TV Licence regardless of its use. Therefore, owners and controlling management companies of all holiday home accommodation premises, which include a television set, are required to purchase a separate TV Licence for each accommodation unit.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 196 of 16 April 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Through the National Broadband Plan, the Government 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.The commercial telecommunications sector is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (22 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The Irish oil sector is completely privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. I have no function in the setting of petrol and diesel prices. The Consumer and Competition Commission (under the aegis of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation) has a role in ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (22 Apr 2015)

Alex White: Capita Business Support Services Ireland were awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System. The design for the System was approved by Government in April, 2014 and the ‘Eircode’ brand was also launched at that stage. The project is currently in the implementation phase and due to go live this summer. The Eircode website, , was...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (22 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 680 of 21 April 2015. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. The schemes operate by guaranteeing a minimum price for renewable energy generation over a 15 year period. The technologies supported include onshore wind energy, hydroelectricity, landfill gas, waste-to-energy and biomass...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (22 Apr 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. These are national targets and are not disaggregated on a county basis. The total amount of renewable generation connected to the grid at the start of March...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (21 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 676, 680, 684 and 685 together. Issues relating to the commercial activities of An Post, including the provision of postal services, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function. I note the recent publication of the 6-point plan by the Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU). It aligns with this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Payments (21 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The sale of TV licences and the associated inspection process is an operational matter for An Post as the Minister's statutorily appointed Agent under the Broadcasting Act 2009.I have asked my officials to bring the circumstances of the case as presented by the Deputy to the attention of An Post.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Apr 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.The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (21 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 244 and 245 of 26 February 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (21 Apr 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.The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately...