Results 1,361-1,380 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

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

Alex White: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our overall energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. In 2013, 7.8% of Ireland's overall energy requirements were met from renewable sources, with energy from biomass accounting for 3.2%. To date...

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

Alex White: The assessment and development of any potential site for the generation of electricity, regardless of the energy input (natural gas, coal, peat, wind, hydro, etc.) is a matter for the project developer. I understand that the source, quality and quantity of data inputted to developers' assessments would likely be influenced by the stage of development of a project. I am further advised that...

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

Alex White: Planning policy is a matter for the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. I have no role with regard to the independent process through which applications for planning permissions for renewable energy installations are considered or enforced. Wind Energy Planning Guidelines were published by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in 2006. The...

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

Alex White: The primary support mechanisms for renewable energy, including wind farms, are the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) schemes and the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes were introduced to incentivise the development of the renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to allow Ireland to meet its renewable energy targets, including a target of 40% of...

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

Alex White: During the course of the Dáil Éireann debate on the 9th of 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...

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: Wind Energy Generation (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The development and operation of a wind farm in Ireland requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority. It also requires an Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct a Generating Station and a Licence to Generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The issue of planning permission is a matter between the developer of a wind farm and the relevant planning...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the recruitment of staff by Ordnance Survey Ireland, is an operational matter for OSI directly and I have no function in this regard.

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

Alex White: I am advised by Ervia that an accident occurred near to the N7 Limerick-Dublin Road on Friday 27 February 2015. Sadly, the accident resulted in a fatal injury to one person working at the site. The incident is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Health and Safety Authority. While the Commission for Energy Regulation are responsible for gas safety, in this instance gas was not...

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

Alex White: It is not possible to provide a precise measurement of the carbon footprint of any individual wind turbine, taking into account the transport, materials and installation process involved as this is dependent on a number of factors, including the sourcing of the turbine, the nature of the development site and access to it. I would refer the Deputy to the website of the Sustainable Energy...

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

Alex White: The Secretary General of the Department has not been involved in the clearing or approval of material for release in any case under the Freedom of Information legislation since the start of 2014.

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: Pension Provisions (24 Mar 2015)

Alex White: I am aware that the Department of Social Protection is engaging in a pilot exercise in relation to payment methods. However, such issues are a matter for the Minister for Social Protection. The post office network is facing significant challenges given changes in technology and evolving customer preferences. However, it is also well positioned to become the front office provider of...

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

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 952 to 954, inclusive, together. All applications to EirGrid and ESB Networks seeking connection to the Irish Grid are listed on the EirGrid website at the following link: The processing of all applications for connection to the Irish Grid is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of...

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

Alex White: The General Employees Superannuation Scheme (GESS) and associated Spouses' and Children's Contribution Pension Scheme are defined benefit schemes. The Schemes cover certain employees of Bord na Móna, mainly clerical, administrative and middle managerial staff. The schemes currently have a significant deficit. I understand that it has been agreed in principle between the company and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (12 Mar 2015)

Alex White: There are a number of sources of European Union funding that could be available for renewable energy projects led by commercial sector developers, including commercial semi-State companies. These sources include the Connecting Europe Facility, European Structural and Investment Funds, and the recently announced European Fund for Strategic Investment. These funds are available to major...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (12 Mar 2015)

Alex White: As Minister for Communications, I fully support an open Internet that ensures equal access to all content and applications, free from discriminatory practices based on price. At present there is currently no legal impediment to operators blocking access to internet content. However, this, however, is being addressed at EU level, where net neutrality provisions form part of the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (12 Mar 2015)

Alex White: Investment in telecommunications technology is primarily a matter for industry, which operates in a liberalised market. The provision of mobile telephony services, is subject to a requirement to secure access to the required radio spectrum by way of licence. The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff Scheme Implementation (12 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. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources, including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Based around Power Purchase Agreements between generators and electricity suppliers, REFIT schemes...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (12 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...