Results 7,341-7,360 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There is no such proposal on the table. The Green Paper on Energy Policy has articulated the need to enhance competition in the electricity market as an immediate priority. Structural change to deliver meaningful competition and reduction of market power in generation are clearly signalled as key objectives. The strategies to deliver this are being developed in the context of the consultation...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 97 and 178 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The role of Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 389 together. I am working with all relevant Ministerial colleagues including the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Transport to ensure a fully cohesive national strategic approach to delivering on energy efficiency objectives both in terms of EU obligations and directions as well as...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 123, 138 and 143 together. My Department is currently undertaking a review of the licensing regime under which offshore exploration companies operate in this country. Indecon International Economic Consultants Indecon has been engaged to assist my Department in this regard and is due to report to my Department by the end of this month. I have had...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 145 and 425 together. A number of innovative alternative energy programmes are in place as part of a €65m initiative announced last year. The programme is being rolled-out over a five year period and provides funding for the domestic, commercial, services and industrial sectors as follows: The €27m 'Greener Homes' domestic renewable heat grants...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 158 together. Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the central and regional fisheries boards. Funding is allocated directly to each fisheries board from the vote of my Department. These funds are applied by the fisheries boards towards...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of post office closures is, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of the company and one in which I have no function. According to An Post the number of Post Offices that have been closed in the past five years stands at 211. The number of Post Offices converted to postal agencies in the same period stands at 279. One new Post Office opened during this...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The timeframe for considering foreshore lease and licence applications depends on a number of factors, including the precise nature of the activity proposed, the observations from expert consultees and issues arising from the public consultation process. The Foreshore Acts do not provide for appeals against decisions on foreshore lease and licence applications, and there are currently no...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Alternative Energy Requirement programme (AER) and its successor, the Renewable Energy feed-in tariff programme (REFIT), are designed to support the construction of new renewable energy powered electricity generating plants which would not otherwise proceed to build and operate. Both programmes are subject to EU State aids clearance. A condition of the State aids clearance for the AER...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is firmly of the view that there is strategic value in maintaining a strong, commercially viable ESB into the future. Retaining the natural monopoly networks in State ownership is also stated Government policy. Structural reform is nonetheless essential and urgent in the interests of the development of a competitive market in electricity, providing consumer choice and driving...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My officials are aware of a number of studies in relation to male infertility and mobile phone usage, including the recent preliminary results from a study carried out in Cleveland. To date the balance of scientific and medical evidence does not support a causal relationship. I am guided in these matters by the advice from international expert bodies, such as the World Health Organisation...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: As set out clearly in the Programme for Government, this Government and the Board of An Post are committed to the objective of ensuring the continuation of a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network. In line with this objective, I asked the company to ensure that any strategy for the development of the company should ensure the long-term viability of the post office network. It...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to the provision of postal services are in the first instance a matter for the board and management of An Post. The standards of service delivery in the postal sector are set out in the two European postal directives, which outline the universal service obligations to which universal service providers including An Post, must comply. The USO currently requires the provision of...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 39126 of 21st November 2006.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 150 together. The generally accepted definition of a postcode is a unique, universal identifier that unambiguously identifies the addressee's locality and assists in the transmission and sorting of mail items. The introduction of a postcode system in Ireland would assist with improving efficiencies in the sorting and delivery processes for postal items...

Written Answers — Gas Network: Gas Network (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I can advise the Deputy as follows: The position is that, since 2002, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. The construction by Bord...

Written Answers — Energy Supply: Energy Supply (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 126 and 148 together. Security of energy supply is a key imperative for Ireland and the European Union. The relatively small size of the Irish electricity market underlines the need for greater interconnection as a means of enhancing security of supply, promoting competition and integrating the Irish electricity market into the wider European market. The...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that I and my Department have considered the Forfas Statement on the Costs of doing Business in Ireland. I note the findings of this report that, on average, labour costs dominate business costs (59%), followed by property costs (11%), utility costs (9%), transport (4%), with all other costs accounting for 17% of the total costs. I have also noted the finding that utility costs,...

Written Answers — Fish Quotas: Fish Quotas (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Earlier this year, after extensive investigation, the UK authorities reported undeclared landings of mackerel into Scotland by Irish vessels in 2005 to the EU Commission. As a result, the EU Commission deducted 6,578 tonnes from Ireland's 2006 mackerel quota under Commission Regulation No. 742 of 2006, as 'payback' for the 2005 undeclared landings. Following extensive consultations with the...