Naughten, Denis

Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage

I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

I commend the Energy Bill 2016 to the House. On my first occasion addressing the energy part of my portfolio in this House, I am pleased to have this opportunity to present the Energy Bill 2016....

I will open the debate by describing the sections of the Bill in detail and regarding its main provisions set out some background and why they are needed. Given that there are quite a number of ...

Since this is my first time addressing an energy issue in the House, I first intend to take the opportunity to refer to the energy and climate change aspects of the programme for Government. I, ...

Having reiterated our energy and climate policy challenges and noting that the Bill does not deal with these big picture issues, I will devote my remarks to the Bill's subject matter. The Bill w...

The Bill is important in its own right and in the overall context of the further development of Ireland's energy regulatory sector. The provisions on administrative sanctions and on the wholesal...

Before I proceed to outline the detail of the Bill, section by section, I will spend some time explaining the background to the four elements I listed, namely, the administrative sanctions regime...

Energy Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Continued)

Currently, the CER possesses a range of enforcement powers, including powers to issue directions, determinations, fines in certain limited circumstances and to revoke licences. However, it is miss...

They also include a transitional provision to allow the regulators to continue operating under the current SEM definition while developing the new EU-compliant market rules in preparation for the g...

Departmental Functions

Was asked: if he will respond to issues raised by a person (details supplied) regarding the reconfiguration of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and his Department; and if he w...

A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be rename...

Better Energy Homes Scheme

Was asked: the grant-aid available for the deployment of solar energy panels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Sustainable Energy Authority (SEAI) administer the Better Energy Homes Scheme on behalf of my Department. The Scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households which include ...

Tax Yield

Was asked: the revenue that would be raised by increasing the taxes on exploration and drilling for oil and gas by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%.

There have been four commercial natural gas discoveries since exploration began offshore Ireland in the early 1970s, namely the Kinsale, Ballycotton and Seven Heads (Kinsale Area) producing gas fie...

Profits from the three Kinsale Area gas fields and the Corrib gas field are taxed at a rate of 25%.

In addition royalties from the Kinsale and Ballycotton gas fields are payable to the State at a rate of 12.5% of the fair market value of the gas at the well head. The combination of tax, royalt...

The rate of tax that will apply to profits arising from any future commercial discoveries made under an exploration licence or licensing option granted prior to January 2007 will be 25%.

The rate of tax that will apply to profits arising from any future commercial discoveries made under an exploration licence or licensing option granted from January 2007 to May 2014 will be betwe...

The rate of tax that will apply to profits arising from any future commercial discoveries made under an exploration licence or licensing option granted from June 2014 onwards will be between 25% ...

The level of profits arising from a field depend on a combination of factors including the volume of recoverable gas or oil, the cost of developing and operating the infrastructure, the price of ...

The operation of the taxation system and the receipt of taxation are matters for the Revenue Commissioners. As a consequence I am not in a position to provide the Deputy with the current positio...

I would also point out that it is both Government policy and the view of the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, as expressed in their May 2012...

Sustainable Energy Communities Scheme

Was asked: the national spend under the sustainable energy communities scheme; and if he will extend the scheme.

The Sustainable Energy Communities scheme is a support network, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and dedicated to community organisations that want to develop a susta...

26 community groups have become members of the Sustainable Energy Communities support network and 100 more have expressed an interest in becoming members.

As a first step in the process, SEAI enters into a 3 year partnership agreements with communities, during which SEAI provides technical supports for groups to identify, plan, implement and review...

For 2016, €500,000 in capital funding has been made available to support the Sustainable Energy Communities network and my intention is to develop a multi-annual pipeline for the scheme that will...

Electric Vehicles

Was asked: the spend under the Aran Islands electric vehicle project; and if he will extend the scheme elsewhere.

The Aran Electric Vehicles (EV) Trial involved the operation of eight EVs for just over three years on the Aran Islands from January 2011 to April 2014. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...

The tests results showed that energy imports to the islands could be reduced by 68% using an EV when compared to a comparably sized diesel car.  Should the islands produce their own electricity, ...

Broadband Service Provision

Was asked: his views on the provision of broadband in County Donegal, given correspondence from a person (details supplied) and the announcement of a former Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Res...

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the del...

The High Speed Broadband Map 2020, which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie shows the extent of the State Intervention area, which is the subject of procurement. The areas marked BLUE represen...

While I have no statutory authority or shareholder role to compel any network service provider to provide services in a given area my Department continues to actively monitor the progress of comm...

Over 750,000 premises are the focus of the procurement process, which formally commenced in December 2015 with the publication of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire ( 'PQQ') and Project Informat...

The second stage in the procurement process will be a formal invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to shortlisted bidders. I expect that my Department will move to this stage in the next ...

As part of the competitive process, the Department will engage with winning bidder(s) on the best roll-out strategy, in order to target areas of particularly poor service, business needs and/or h...

The Programme for a Partnership Government commits also to measures to assist in the roll-out of the network once a contract is awarded.  In this regard, Minister Humphreys will lead on the estab...