Results 1,821-1,840 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (13 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1087 of 4 November 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water Staff (13 Nov 2014)

Alex White: As I indicated in the reply to Question No. 249 of 6 November 2014, the employment terms and conditions for Ervia employees, other than the Chief Executive, are an operational matter for the company and not a matter in which I, as Minister, have any role or function. In order to assist the Deputy further in her enquiries, my Department will ascertain if the information sought is available on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (12 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I recently published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (). The draft Plan will undergo Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessments, including public consultation, which will inform the content of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The analysis underpinning the draft Plan is that an additional bioenergy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (12 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6 million of the 2.3 million addresses in Ireland are...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I thank Deputy Kitt for his additional comments on this very important matter. I share the Deputy's views about the importance of the post office network and the affection with which it is regarded, especially by small communities in provincial and rural areas. I assure the Deputy that An Post will continue in its endeavours to retain and obtain business opportunities for the network,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Wind Energy Strategy (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I was responding to the specific question I was asked in respect of the framework. In terms of myself and my responsibilities and my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, and his responsibilities, of course we are in discussion. Of course we have discussed these issues, particularly in the context of the planning guidelines which are...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I would like to reassure the Deputy that the Government is committed to a strong and viable An Post and supports the maintenance of the maximum number of economically viable post offices providing high quality services on a nationwide basis. As stated by Deputy Kitt, the board of An Post is required to approve rolling five-year business...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: National Wind Energy Strategy (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: Aontaím leis an Seanadóir gur ábhar an-tábhachtach é seo agus is maith an rud é go bhfuil seans againn é a phlé inniu. My Department is currently developing a renewable electricity policy and development framework, which will be underpinned by a strategic environmental assessment and what is called an appropriate assessment. The proposed framework will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electric Vehicle Grants (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 547 and 548 together. The Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme was opened in April 2011 to incentivise and support, through grants of up to €5,000, the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland. These grants are in addition to the vehicle registration tax (VRT) reliefs of up to €5,000, and it was the early policy ambition in Ireland that 10% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I am aware of the issues raised in the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. My Department has recently replied to a query on this matter from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications. This reply explained that, while I do not have responsibility for the recognition of maritime qualifications, my Department is working with colleagues in relevant Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland administers the Better Energy Homes scheme on my behalf. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 555 together. While this is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no statutory function, I am aware that Electric Ireland has been offering a micro generation feed in tariff since February 2009. No other electricity supplier has chosen to provide such a tariff, to either domestic or commercial customers, though they have been invited to do so by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Efficiency (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: There are no direct grants available for retrofitting of the approximately 109,000 commercial buildings in Ireland. However, a wide range of policy and financing initiatives addressing the barriers to retrofitting works in the commercial sector have been implemented in recent years. The main policy focus is on the promotion of new business models to deliver energy efficiency projects...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Masts (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I refer the Deputy to the response to Question 426 of 30th April 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland, through a combination of commercial investment and a State-led intervention. The commercial telecommunications sector is currently investing approximately €2.5bn in network upgrades and at least 1.6m of the 2.3m addresses in Ireland are expected to have...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: This Government is committed to keeping our children and young people safe online. To that end, the Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group was established in December of last year to review existing policy and practice across the full range of issues that arise in this space and to make recommendations on same. The ICGA Group’s report was brought to Cabinet and published...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (11 Nov 2014)

Alex White: The Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG) was formed in December 2013 to provide my Department with expert, independent advice in forming legislative, policy and regulatory recommendations to Government on a range of internet content governance issues for which responsibility is spread across a number of Government Departments. The Group conducted a public consultation on the...

Topical Issue Debate: Green Paper on Energy Submissions (6 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. The report referred to in the question from the Deputies is the ESB submission on the energy Green Paper. It is one of over 1,240 submissions received earlier this year during the period of public consultation on the Green Paper. That submission, like all those received is a useful contribution to the process of developing a definitive energy...

Topical Issue Debate: Green Paper on Energy Submissions (6 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I reiterate that the ESB submission to which the Deputies referred will be considered, together with all of the other submissions received as part of the consultation process, and will contribute to the develop of a new energy policy for Ireland. It is important to understand ESB and EirGrid are fully in agreement on the need for critical energy infrastructure, including both transmission and...

Topical Issue Debate: EU Directives (6 Nov 2014)

Alex White: I will deal with this matter on behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. As the Deputy is aware, the hen harrier is a protected but endangered bird of prey, listed in Annex 1 of the EU birds directive. Ireland is, therefore, obliged under European law to protect and conserve this species. The position of the hen harrier was a major factor in a judgment of the European...