Results 1,321-1,340 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: EirGrid published its latest review of its Grid25 programme in the form of a new draft grid development strategy entitled “Your Grid, Your Views, Your Tomorrow”on the 27th March 2015. The draft is shaped by three key pillars: open engagement with communities; making the most of new technologies; and a commitment to make the existing grid work harder before building new...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (2 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: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: An Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established in January 2014 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 and Grid West projects. The studies and reports are to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 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: Broadband Service Provision (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 259, inclusive, and 261 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The regulation of retail charges for roaming services is implemented by way of EU Regulations. The first such EU Regulation commenced in 2007, followed by amending Regulations adopted in 2010 and 2012 to further reduce the maximum permitted wholesale and retail roaming charges within the EU. The Regulations also introduced measures to protect users from bill shocks when roaming. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: 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 Grid West (GW) projects. While the North South Transmission Line project (N/S) is outside the IEP's Terms of Reference, the Independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (2 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The recent appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the statutory Committee were made by the Government in accordance with Section 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.The appointment of members to the Compliance Committee does not come within the new arrangements on Appointments to State Boards. With regard to the appointments to the BAI, I issued a press release last October...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (1 Apr 2015)

Alex White: I thank the Senator for his remarks.  I understand he framed his question prior to last Friday.  He will understand, therefore, that in my initial remarks I will respond to his question, as framed, and that we may have an opportunity for a further exchange thereafter.  

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Electricity Transmission Network (1 Apr 2015)

Alex White: The first point concerns how the new EirGrid draft strategy will fit with the work of the expert panel. The review identifies three potential options for Grid Link and four possible solutions for Grid West. It is a draft document for public consultation and, as I said, there are three potential options for Grid Link, one of which the Senator regards as preferable. The consultation process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No 927 of 24 March, 2015. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The Deputy will have noted in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 1 October 2014 that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department and that I have no function in relation to individual grant applications or appeals. Queries in relation to individual applications are an operational matter for the SEAI and a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Tax Reliefs Availability (31 Mar 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: Energy Prices (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The 2012 EU Energy Efficiency Directive imposes an obligation on Member States to achieve energy savings each year from 2014 to 2020 of 1.5% of the amount of energy sold annually to final customers. The Directive also requires the involvement of energy distributors and retailers in meeting this obligation In Ireland's case, achieving this target requires annual energy savings of 1,102...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: Operational matters, including the automation of post offices, are a matter for the Board and Management of An Post. However, it is Government policy that An Post is in a position to provide a high quality postal service and while changes in technology and customer preferences present significant challenges, they also provide opportunities to innovate. Post offices were fully computerised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The EU has set a target of a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. While the target is not binding, implementation of a comprehensive range of measures set out in the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive is obligatory and supports the rationale for a national energy improvement target of 20%. This target is equivalent to 31,925 Gigawatt hours (GWh) and includes a target of 33% for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: This Government is committed to our citizens’ safety both on and offline. It is important that there is a cohesive Government response to coordinating this regulatory function and my Department is at the forefront of this response. In late 2013, an independent, expert Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (the ICGA Group) was established to report to the then Minister on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The EirGrid Smart Grid Strategy addresses the power system challenges of the large scale deployment of new technologies – both new energy sources and new energy uses - and is not broken down into individual county initiatives. In developing the electricity grid, EirGrid works to ensure that the latest Smart Grid technologies are deployed to enhance the overall efficiency and capability...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Gas Grid (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gaslink, which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned fibre networks which are located in 94 regional cities and towns. These networks are managed, maintained, operated and marketed on behalf of the State by a private company, enet. enet is required to provide services on a wholesale, carrier neutral and open access basis to licensed telecommunications operators who connect to the MANs and in...