Results 1,561-1,580 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector (3 Feb 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 (GL) and Grid West (GW) projects. On 2 May 2014, the IEP finalised the Terms of Reference for the studies and published the Terms of Reference on 7...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Feb 2015)

Alex White: Biogas, which is produced by anaerobic digestion, can be utilised to generate electricity, heat or as a transport fuel. In addition, biomethane, produced by removing impurities from biogas, can be used as a substitute for natural gas and can be injected directly into the gas grid. Electricity and combined heat and power produced from biogas is already supported under the REFIT schemes and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commission for Energy Regulation (3 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is Ireland’s independent energy regulator. The CER was established in 1999 and has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in the energy sector. The CER is also Ireland's economic regulator of the public water and wastewater sector.While the CER is entirely independent in the execution of its statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (3 Feb 2015)

Alex White: The Commission for Energy Regulation's (CER) primary economic responsibilities in energy are to regulate the Irish electricity and natural gas sectors. There is free entry to the Irish oil market, no price control and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. As the Irish oil sector is completely privatised, liberalised and deregulated, the CER has no role...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (3 Feb 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 national high-speed coverage map published on the 24th November last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (3 Feb 2015)

Alex White: My Department has an economic unit which is responsible for the provision of economic analysis across the Department. Electricity price statistics for Ireland and EU Member States are publicly available. SEAI publishes biannual reports on electricity and gas prices in Ireland. The reports analyse electricity and natural gas price data, as published by Eurostat and collected for Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (3 Feb 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 national high-speed coverage map which I published on the 24th November...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (3 Feb 2015)

Alex White: All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in Semi State Companies have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies. While the information sought by the Deputy regarding payments made to CEOs in Semi State Companies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each company, I will ask the bodies to provide this information...

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I emphasise that I as Minister have no role whatever in the setting of prices, the determination of prices, or instructing or otherwise requiring companies to change their prices. We all have our views about the legal framework that has been put in place, but this is a fully liberalised market in which the energy companies to which Deputy Maloney referred are in competition with one another....

Topical Issue Debate (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The Minister for Education and Skills will be here next Tuesday.

Topical Issue Debate: Motor Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: We all want to see the benefits of international oil price reductions translated into cheaper prices for Irish consumers. Our transport sector is almost completely reliant on oil, which is the most prominent heating method for Irish homes. All our oil is currently imported, and this dependency makes Ireland particularly vulnerable to global price volatility. Ensuring a balanced and secure...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I want to assure both Deputies that this is a priority for me and the Government. We are expediting this matter, but as I have already told colleagues, if anybody has an idea how we can do it more quickly, I am all ears. We are pressing this literally on a daily basis in my Department where I am consulting with my officials. This is a huge priority for me and we will deliver it. In...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: In December 2013, a ten year contract was signed with Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited to develop, roll-out and operate the national postcode system, following a public procurement process. The design for the national postcode system was approved by Government in April 2014. The Eircode brand was launched for the national postcode system on 28 April 2014. The project is...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Just in case there is any doubt arising from what the Deputy said in respect of emergency services - we can also talk about other services and interested groups - my Department has briefed all the emergency services on this project. The code will be available to all emergency services at whatever stage their systems are ready to exploit it. The national ambulance service is already...

Other Questions: Postcode Implementation (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I repeat what I said about the emergency services. The national ambulance service has welcomed the introduction of Eircodes and is fully geared up to use them. I am not sure what the issue was concerning a cross-over that the Deputy raised. However, if he wishes to raise it with me after this morning's session I will be happy to address it for him. This will be a huge advance for the...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: Regarding the expert panel's report, I expect to have an opinion on the Grid West and Grid Link projects at some time in the first and third quarters, respectively, of this year. I am expecting a report on EirGrid's ongoing review of the Grid25 programme in a matter of weeks. I cannot give the Deputy an exact date, but I would say weeks and not months.

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: That is what the report will tell us. It involves a needs analysis. The question of what capacity needs to be developed has arisen many times during the discussions on and controversies surrounding the grid. As the Deputy is aware, the level outlined in the 2007 analysis was reduced in 2010. EirGrid is projecting future need in the context of 2015. The Deputy is right in that as soon as...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The national broadband plan will deal conclusively with rural connectivity issues so that current and future generations will have guaranteed access to high-quality, high-speed broadband. The network we wish to see built will, therefore, have to be scalable and capable of meeting future anticipated traffic growth. Whatever the technology used, it must ensure that users have a minimum...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: I did not quite pick up the Deputy's last comment. Be it in Donegal or any other county, broadband has been and is provided by the private sector, not the State. However, the State will intervene to fill the gap in those areas that the commercial sector will not service. This is an important role for the State. Regarding the timeline, we launched a mapping consultation process in...

Other Questions: Energy Policy (29 Jan 2015)

Alex White: The May 2014 Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland covers a broad range of energy issues, including an exploration of all possible fuel options for securing a balanced, sustainable and secure energy mix. It is in this context that any current discussions on nuclear energy policy are taking place. It is important to note that there are currently no plans to introduce nuclear power in...