Results 1,741-1,760 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: While the matter raised by the Deputy in not one in which I, as Minister, have any statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland recently decided to close its scheme which had offered a micro-generation feed-in tariff since February 2009. No other electricity supplier had chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they had been invited to do so...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: Wind generation will continue to play a critical role in meeting our commitment to achieve 40% of our electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020, as part of our overall EU obligation to meet 16% of our total energy demand from renewables. There is currently approximately 2,200 MW of wind generation capacity connected to the grid. It is estimated that a total of between 3,500 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Workplace Relations Services (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: My predecessor previously enquired into concerns raised in relation to workplace matters in Bórd na Mona. He was assured earlier this year by the Board of Bord na Móna that there are appropriate systems in place to deal with such issues. In the absence of specific details in the Deputy's Question, I am not in a position to comment further. However, if the Deputy provides me with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together. In common with Irish euro coins, the Seal of the President of Ireland, and a range of national symbols, Éire is used as the only name of the Irish state on postage stamps. This is partly a reflection of the very limited space that a postage stamp affords to display an appropriate design, the national designation (Éire) and a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: An Fhoireann Rannach (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: Is féidir liom a dheimhniú go bhfuil sé tugtha le fios ag 13 ball foirne i mo Roinn go bhfuil scileanna Gaeilge acu. Is ionann sin agus 5% de líon iomlán na foirne. Ní féidir liom figiúirí a thabhairt do na blianta sular cruthaíodh an Roinn Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha sa bhliain 2007.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (9 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a smaller contribution. There are already a number of supports in place for the deployment of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Dec 2014)

Alex White: As the Deputy is aware, wave and tidal energy is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally. While promising experimental devices have been developed, much research, development and demonstration is required to bring wave energy technology to commercial viability. As I outlined in response to the Parliamentary Questions on this matter on 23 October, policy action...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (3 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this issue. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is an independent statutory body which has as one of its functions under section 26 the Broadcasting Act 2009 the preparation of broadcasting codes or rules. Accordingly, I, as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, have no function in this matter and my Department has no role in the...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: I have no wish to trespass on the particular issue, but where there is a difference in point of view there is likely to be a controversy. The fact that we have a particular viewpoint on an issue and others have a different view would seem to point to the existence of a controversy. The fact results from people disagreeing with a particular decision. I am at pains to emphasise that I am not...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Financial Resolution (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: I move:THAT Section 125A of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 (No. 31 of 1999) be amended to provide for the specified rate of stamp duty in respect of an insured person in respect of relevant contracts renewed or entered into on or after 1 January 2015 and on or before 28 February 2015 and on or after 1 March 2015 in the manner and to the extent specified in the Act giving effect to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The Independent Expert Panel, established in January to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects, has met on several occasions since then to consider and approve the terms of reference for comprehensive, route-specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are required to include...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: EirGrid’s public consultation process in relation to Grid Link is a matter for the company and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function. However, I have been advised by EirGrid that submissions for the third round of public consultation for the Grid Link project closed on January 7, 2014. Over 38,000 submissions were received, and each one has been considered...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: As Minister for Energy, I am responsible for the formulation and implementation of energy policy. The data to which the Deputy refers in this question is operational in nature. Therefore, I have no function with regard to its collection or application. However, I can advise the Deputy that, where such data is required by either the Transmission System Operator, EirGrid, or the Distribution...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is the independent Regulator responsible for the oversight of the broadcasting sector. Section 25 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the BAI and its statutory committees, in performing their functions, shall endeavour to ensure that the number and categories of broadcasting services made available in the State best serve the needs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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.On the 24 November last, I launched a public consultation on the National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The rollout of the fibre based broadband services by the recently-established joint venture company formed by ESB and Vodafone is an operational matter for the companies concerned and I have no statutory function in relation to decisions around the timing and location of investment decisions. I understand however that the European Commission has recently approved the creation of the joint...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control in the oil sector and it is Government policy to encourage price competition and consumer choice. I have no statutory function in the setting of oil, petrol or diesel prices. Previous surveys have shown that prices charged by Irish retailers for oil products...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The Government's 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.On the 24 November last, I launched a public consultation on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (2 Dec 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) 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...