Results 1,881-1,900 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Other Questions: Wind Energy Generation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: It is hard for me to see how that could be true but I am not going to dismiss any argument on my feet here. These are the kinds of issues that it would be helpful for the Oireachtas joint committee - it is not my role to say what the Oireachtas joint committee should do - to have witnesses in, for example, Dr. White of the sustainable energy authority and all the others who are involved in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: It is in the nature of a subsidy because if the prices these plants can obtain in the wholesale market for their product go down, they have been given a guarantee that the price will be kept at a certain level. We do that for a public interest reason, not just to put money in the pockets of independent commercial people but to ensure we keep up our production of renewables in the country....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I have no political connections with any of the companies-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: -----and I am not aware that my party or any of the parties in government have such connections. I can give the Deputy a table - there is no point in reading it out here - of different entities and bodies that benefit from the public service obligation, PSO, contract and the various relevant figures for 2014 and 2015, and for 2010, 2011 and 2012. I have that in front of me and can furnish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: These are essentially price guarantees. I come back to my earlier point. There is a public interest in ensuring we produce renewables and that this occurs in our system. Effectively, it is a price guarantee. The oversight the Deputy is calling for is to ensure the money that comes out of the fruits, so to speak, of the PSO achieve what it needs to achieve, and I am satisfied that it does....

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The 2009 renewable energy directive set Ireland a target of meeting 16% of total energy demand from renewable sources by 2020. I will skip over the figures I gave earlier to the House. There is currently over 2,400 MW of renewable generation connected to the Irish grid. It is estimated that a total installed capacity of between 3,500 and 4,000 MW will be required in 2020. This is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: That is the second new public service obligation the Deputy has advocated since 9:30 a.m. Public service obligations of course must be sustained and must be paid for by somebody and whether it be the customer or the State, someone must carry the cost. That said, I understand the Deputy's point. I had a good meeting with representatives of the Irish Postmasters Union some weeks ago and they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I have met representatives of An Post and I do not accept or certainly have no information available to me to suggest that a game of any kind is being played, as suggested by the Deputy. All Members wish to achieve the same outcome and want a service to be available as universally as possible nationwide. However, one must recognise the changes that have taken place in the pattern of living,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Yes, I had noticed that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: While a healthy scepticism is always important, in this case I believe being suspicious is going a little too far. However, I thank the Deputy for the question and will explain to him as best I can. The public service obligation, PSO, levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for electricity generation constructed for security of supply purposes, including peat...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: That is okay, it is just for the record. The levy is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by PSO-funded producers. The PSO levy is vital to enable Ireland meet its 40% target for electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020, which in turn is important for the achievement of Ireland's 16% EU 2020 target...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: This is a timely question, what with the European Council meeting today and tomorrow about targets, so I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The 2009 EU renewable energy directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, to be achieved through 40% renewables in electricity, 12% in heat and 10% in transport. Policy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I am interested in all of the issues that the Deputy raised and I genuinely thank him for doing so. The Green Paper on energy was published this year by my predecessor, Deputy Rabbitte, and we are moving towards having a White Paper in the middle of next year. I want the involvement of all Members across the House in this issue. Deputy Boyd Barrett is right about the concerns,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The Deputy's argument is a compelling one, but the other aspect of this debate that we must understand is that biomass, unlike wind, is a scarce resource. We published a bioenergy plan some time ago. Perhaps the Deputy might read it. The view is that biomass is more likely to have a significant role in the heat and transport sectors as opposed to the areas the Deputy is advocating. I am...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high-quality postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The network stands well positioned to become the front-office provider of choice for Government and the financial services sector for both electronic transactions as well as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Unfortunately, it is not the kind of initiative that simply passing a law will make happen. While I agree with the Deputy that this is urgent and important - we can all agree with that - I am aware that the passing of legislation, of itself, will not make this happen. The Deputy knows it is more complex than that. I am not sure what precisely he is proposing when he suggests there should...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Absolutely. We have made very good progress in the secondary school system.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Absolutely. Broadband is a critically important requirement for communities, citizens and businesses right across the board. We will deliver it. People are probably looking for fewer announcements from me and more delivery

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Through the national broadband plan, NBP, the Government 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 €2.5 billion in network upgrades and at least 1.6 million of the 2.3 million...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan Implementation (23 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I did not say I would make any particular announcement this week. I said we would publish the results of the consultation and the various submissions we received on the website this week. In respect of the map I said it would available shortly. I expect that to be during the month of November. The state aids aspect could not be new to the Deputy. The state aids rules are well known and...