Results 1,941-1,960 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects such as the Shannon LNG project. I and my Government colleagues have consistently been supportive...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The National Broadband Plan 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 Ireland's 2.3m premises are expected to have access to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (22 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (21 Oct 2014)

Alex White: While this is a matter for the management and staff of the ESB, and not a matter in which I have a function, I welcome the opportunity to address the matter. The ESB General Employees’ Superannuation Scheme is the scheme through which pensions for the majority of employees in the electricity business are funded. The fund is vested in trustees nominated by ESB and its members for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Redeployment (21 Oct 2014)

Alex White: My Department has no record of any employees who have designated County Mayo as their preference for a transfer. No member of staff in my Department has transferred to Mayo since 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (16 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being achieved through measures designed to accelerate commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Broadcasting Issues (16 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital radio in Ireland. This Act gives RTÉ the power to establish and operate a multiplex for the purposes of providing a digital sound broadcasting service and gives the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) responsibility for licensing spectrum in respect of digital sound broadcasting services. In addition, it...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: How much time do I have?

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Budget 2015 is the first recovery budget. The era of tax rises affecting low and middle-income earners and cuts in public services is now over. Budget 2015 will help secure employment and a sustainable economic and social recovery for Ireland and our people. Its reliefs are targeted at low and middle-income earners, especially families who have borne such a heavy financial burden over the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Irish Water is a subsidiary of BGÉ, a State-owned company which has developed a telecommunications business through the laying of ducting alongside its gas pipeline network. Drawing on the considerable experience of BGÉ, it is a matter for Irish Water to decide, in the first instance, whether there is a commercial case for entering the liberalised telecommunications market. Any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: There were no performance related payments made to any staff of my Department during the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (15 Oct 2014)

Alex White: It is Government policy that An Post remains 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. The Board of An Post is required to approve rolling five-year business and financial plans each year in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas in cases of clear market failure, as was the case with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (14 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. To meet this obligation Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heat and 10% of transport from renewables. Provisional figures indicate that, at the end of 2013, 7.7% of Ireland’s energy came from renewable sources. There is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: My Department participates in the climate adaptation process through the steering committee for sectoral adaptation plans, which is chaired by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. A key factor in the timing and progress of sectoral adaptation planning was the publication in April 2013 of an EU Strategy on adaptation. Action 1 of that Strategy states that by 2014,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bioenergy Strategy Implementation (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: Last week I published a Draft Bioenergy Plan which is available on my Department’s website (). The draft Plan is to be subject to Strategic Environmental and Appropriate Assessment, including public consultation, which will inform the shape of the finalised Plan. These assessment processes will commence shortly. The draft Plan sets out the broader context for the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas in cases of clear market failure, as was the case with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together. The Government’s Statement of Priorities for the period 2014 to 2016 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a State-led broadband intervention in rural areas. Through the National Broadband Plan (NBP) the Government aims to ensure that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses in Ireland. This is being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: This Government, almost immediately on establishment, made important changes in relation to appointments to State Boards with new arrangements widening the opportunity to participate on such Boards by extending a wide invitation for people to submit expressions of interest to serve on the boards of public bodies. In accordance with the Government Decision of 12 April 2011, my predecessor...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Rehiring (14 Oct 2014)

Alex White: I can confirm that four persons in receipt of civil or public service pensions were employed in my Department during 2012; five during 2013 and five during 2014. The abatement principle was applied in all cases and all were employed in a temporary capacity.