Results 1,341-1,360 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (31 Mar 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: Post Office Network (31 Mar 2015)

Alex White: In February, I established the Post Office Network Business Development Group to explore potential commercial opportunities for post offices. The Terms of Reference for the Group are to: - examine the potential from existing and new Government and commercial business that could be transacted through the post office network; - identify the new business opportunities for the post office...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Legislative Process (26 Mar 2015)

Alex White: To date there have been no Bills initiated in my Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutinyprocedure in the Oireachtas, which was introduced with effect from November, 2013. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications will be meeting with my Department in April to undertake pre-legislative scrutiny in relation to the Minerals Development Bill. There...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (26 Mar 2015)

Alex White: As I indicated in my reply to Questions 185 and 186 of 20 February last, these are operational matters for Ervia and not an area in which I have any role or function. I understand that the company has written to the Deputy in recent days to arrange a meeting in order to provide a comprehensive briefing on the pay model and exactly how it is applied in the company.

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

Alex White: Improving energy efficiency in the public sector offers a key opportunity to reduce both public expenditure and harmful emissions, while improving value for money and public service delivery. This is why a target of improving public sector energy efficiency by 33% by 2020 has been set as part of Ireland's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Public lighting is one of the larger areas...

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

Alex White: As with other countries, Ireland's information society increasingly relies upon the Internet and Internet based services to conduct everyday business. The State, critical infrastructure, businesses and citizens depend upon the reliable functioning of information and communication technologies and of the Internet. Any significant disruption to these systems, regardless of the cause, poses a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (26 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I am advised that in June 2014 EirGrid provided the Independent Expert Panel with a description of the comparative analysis carried out by EirGrid of the underground cable and the overhead line options considered for the North South project. This description included information specifically requested by the Panel in respect of EirGrid's consideration of the suitability of public roads as a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Mar 2015)

Alex White: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company referred to in the Deputy's question since the establishment of the Department in 2007. It is not possible from the information supplied to fully confirm whether a contract was awarded to a joint bid or consortium including the said company. Only the lead contractor in such a case would appear on the Department's financial records...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (25 Mar 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: Postal Codes (25 Mar 2015)

Alex White: Section 66 (3) of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 provides for the terms and conditions relating to the development, implementation and maintenance of the national postcode system and in particular the following: (a) The conditions subject to which the Eircodes will be made available. Organisations that plan to use Eircodes can buy a user licence whereby they pay a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts (25 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the information sought as the details provided are not sufficient to enable my Department to provide an accurate and complete reply.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Data (25 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. There are 18 State Bodies, including Regulatory Authorities, under the aegis of my Department, the majority of which are not funded directly by the taxpayer as they are either commercial semi-State companies or are funded by industry levies. Some bodies also generate their own revenue in addition to being funded by the Exchequer. I am,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income home owners experiencing energy poverty. Measures available include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation. These energy efficient upgrades are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 928 and 934 together. The Whitegate Refinery is operated by a private company, Phillips 66. The company recently sold the Whiddy Island oil storage facilities in Bantry to Zenith Energy Ireland Limited but continue to operate the refinery at Whitegate. The company has confirmed that no decision has yet been taken in respect of its future. In July 2013, a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services occurs within a liberalised competitive market. ComReg, the independent market regulator, can intervene in the market to ensure the provision of basic telecommunications services, including voice, fax and basic internet access, is universally available at fixed locations, in response to all reasonable requests, under fair terms and conditions....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The Whitegate Refinery is operated by a private company, Phillips 66. The company recently sold the Whiddy Island oil storage facilities in Bantry to Zenith Energy Ireland Limited but continue to operate the refinery at Whitegate. The company has confirmed that no decision has yet been taken in respect of its future. In July 2013, a report on the strategic case for oil refining on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: An Independent Expert Panel 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. While the North South Transmission Line project is outside of the Panel's Terms of Reference, the Panel agreed to provide an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The internal energy market is a key policy goal for the European Union and its Member States. The delivery of the internal energy market is crucial to achieving the key goals of energy policy - energy security, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. The methodology for harmonisation and integration of cross border electricity markets is set out in the 2009 "Third Energy Package"...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (24 Mar 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 (24 Mar 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...