Results 1-20 of 450 for long speaker:Alex White

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Speeds (26 Jan 2016)

Alex White: I propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together. The Government strongly supports the importance of high quality Broadband connectivity as an enabling infrastructure for long term economic and social sustainability. The Government’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure that every citizen and business, regardless of location, has access to a high quality, high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...downward pressure wind puts on energy prices in the wholesale market. On the question of sustainability; there is little doubt that the use of indigenous renewable generation is a more sustainable long-term approach for energy security and economic competitiveness than importing fossil fuel energy. In 2014, renewable electricity generation in Ireland is estimated by the SEAI to have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Policy (15 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind. These schemes are open to all interested parties, including relevant semi-State companies. The ESB has a long history of successfully delivering hydro power, made significant progress in divesting much of its older inefficient thermal plants, is building its renewables portfolio based primarily on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...detail. As the committee is aware, I intend to publish the energy White Paper later this month. This White Paper will set out Ireland’s energy policy framework up to 2030 in the context of our long-term ambitions to 2050 and beyond. A key element of the White Paper will involve putting citizens and community engagement at the centre of energy policy. This approach was reflected...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...out some technical work on the exact implications of having certain setback distances. We can be pretty clear on the need to do something on noise and shadow flicker. The issue concerns very long setback distances. Some of those advocated, not by my colleague but by others, would have the effect of closing down onshore wind energy production, despite what some commentators might...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...querying why we would continue with oil and gas at all. The White Paper will emphasise that we are in a transition. There will not be a moment next year, the year after or almost certainly for as long as any of us might have a chance of being in this House that we will be able to say that we have turned off the tap on all of the fossil fuels or that we will no longer have any reliance on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Energy Policy: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (3 Dec 2015)

Alex White: ...of tidal, wave and ocean energy. Of all the developments of interest for the future, offshore production of renewable energy seems to be the most exciting. It is important to note that there is a long lead-in period associated with all of these technologies. What the Government is concerned with is supporting and funding research. That is our major contribution in this area. It is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Energy Council: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: Next year might be soon, it is not long under way but the timeframe is the next year or two years. On the question of the economics of renewable energy, I can assist the Deputy and other committee colleagues when I return next week with some background figures and data. Quite a lot of data are available in respect of the success of onshore wind as a cost-effective form of renewable energy....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Energy Council: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (24 Nov 2015)

Alex White: ...in ten years time. If that is scaled up to the level of governments and policymakers, the same problem exists. It is a tragedy of horizon. The members of this committee can see that these are long-terms calls that have to be made. The Deputy made a comment on wind energy and we might talk about this again next week. Onshore wind energy is proven to be cost effective. It is...

Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (10 Nov 2015)

Alex White: ...was subsidised. I have praised previous Governments for recognising the importance and cost-effectiveness of onshore wind energy. It is a question of not getting in too early and not waiting too long. Our success in regard to onshore wind energy is clear. We just have to be careful. Solar energy is certainly becoming much cheaper. The Deputy is absolutely correct that prices are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: North-South Interconnector (22 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The position is that the project is at planning stage and before An Bord Pleanála. As the Senator is aware, the project has a long history. From as far back as 2007, there have been a number of processes involving and providing for consultation. When my predecessor, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, held this ministerial portfolio, he set up an expert panel to advise and to report to him and...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2015)

Alex White: ...before time, the recovery is finding its way through to the homes, business, communities and citizens of this country. The improvements are modest. That is accepted by the Government. It has been a long time coming, which is also accepted by the Government. As somebody said on a television programme last night, there is a long way back after the economic collapse and crisis we...

Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2015)

Alex White: The fact is that any decisions on the use of the GPO are entirely and exclusively a matter for An Post, and the Deputy has been around here long enough to know that perfectly well.

Seanad: Broadcasting and Media in Ireland: Statements (7 Oct 2015)

Alex White: ...dismissive of any of the issues being raised but a temporary reduction in funding means a temporary reduction in services. It affects staff, jobs, programmes and services, what goes and for how long it should go. It means all of those things. We just need to look at the implications of any of those proposals. I agree with the points Senator Ó Clochartaigh made on TG4 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Expenditure (6 Oct 2015)

Alex White: ...x20ac;275 million allocated to the NBP in last week’s Capital Review is not the full cost of the programme. The contract will require the delivery of the full network by 2020, plus its operation for a much longer period – potentially up to 20 years. It is our intention to spread the payments for the project over the longer period to maximise service quality over the long...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Functions (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: .... It includes: The development of an Energy White Paper, for publication in October 2015, which takes account, inter alia, of energy and climate change objectives and targets over the medium and long term, specific obligations to 2020 in relation to renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency, and the need to ensure security of supply and competitiveness in our energy system;...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (16 Jul 2015)

Alex White: ...to begin in late 2016, and it will take 3-5 years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected. This complex national infrastructure project will definitively address the long-standing challenge of deploying a resilient and high-quality broadband network in rural parts of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (15 Jul 2015)

Alex White: ...to begin in late 2016, and it will take 3-5 years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected. This complex national infrastructure project will definitively address the long-standing challenge of deploying a resilient and high-quality broadband network in rural parts of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (14 Jul 2015)

Alex White: ...build of the network to begin in late 2016, and it will take 3-5 years to fully complete – depending on the details of the bid or bids selected. This complex national infrastructure project will definitively address the long-standing challenge of deploying a resilient and high quality broadband network in rural parts of Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Codes (8 Jul 2015)

Alex White: ...awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop and implement the National Postcode System. My Department has been advised by Capita that they have no plans to launch an alternative code along the lines outlined in the Question. The carrying out of business by Capita, its former employees or its sub-contractors is a matter solely for them so long as it does not infringe any of the...