Results 7,941-7,960 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The review process referred to in the Green Paper has to date involved analysis undertaken at the instigation of my Department in relation to the existing licensing terms. This analysis included the following: An evaluation of the current fiscal framework as an efficient means of increasing long term investment and revenue generation in the petroleum sector for the benefit of both the Irish...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no statutory function in relation to the quality of postal services. Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post. In addition, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg is responsible under the European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002 for monitoring quality of service...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity (RES-E) in the internal electricity market aims to increase the overall consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources within the European Union (EU) from 14% to 22% by 2010. Analysts have pointed to the rapid development of renewable energy sources to date within the EU market but continue to question...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matters of post office closures and the automation of post offices are, in the first instance, operational matters for the Board and management of An Post and ones in which I have no function. In relation to Postpoint, this is a separate non-post office network and therefore not operated directly by An Post. I understand that the total number of post offices that have closed nationwide...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: 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 Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) of a natural gas transmission...

Green Paper on Energy: Statements. (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There are four already.

Green Paper on Energy: Statements. (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Whips for organising this debate so soon after the publication of the Green Paper. I think it is important that we have such a discussion in this House and perhaps, towards the end of the consultation period, it may be opportune to discuss the matter further. There have been many policy papers and a great deal of analysis of the Irish energy sector in recent years. Following...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: 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. There are many areas of the country where, for demographic or other reasons, the private sector has been slow to respond to demand for broadband. In cases where the market is seen to have failed, my Department is...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: No applications have been submitted or received for grant funding under the group broadband scheme since the previous phase of the scheme closed. Accordingly, a waiting list of interested potential applicants has not been maintained. However those who have made enquiries have been informed that any further developments in relation to the scheme will be publicly announced in order to ensure...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The amount of installed wind generation at the end of 2001 was 123MW, at 2002 it was 136MW, at 2003 it was 210MW, at 2004 it was 341MW and at 2005 it was 493.5MW. The amount of installed wind generation currently amounts to 598.6MW. EirGrid publishes lists of renewable projects connected to the networks and other projects which have signed connection agreements but have not yet connected on...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: All support programmes operated by my Department for new renewable energy powered electricity generating plants separated wind energy proposals by size into large and small-scale categories. The price offered to small-scale projects is higher than is permitted for large scale projects in recognition of the higher unit costs incurred. The small-scale wind category is designed to support...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no record of any staff member from the Petroleum Affairs Division availing of any such corporate hospitality as outlined in the Deputy's Question.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Pilot Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Scheme, which commenced in August 2005, will see the production in Ireland of all 16m litres of biofuels in the two-year period to 2007 by the eight companies awarded excise relief under the scheme.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (4 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. The majority of towns now have at least one provider offering...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Green Paper on Energy Policy, launched on 1 October identifies the co-firing of up to 30% biomass including wood products at the peat fired generating stations by 2015. The Ministerial Task Force on National Bioenergy Strategy is developing the overall framework for cohesive deployment of bioenergy resources including biomass.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: 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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Green Paper on Energy Policy published on 1 October envisages a target of 30% of electricity consumed to be produced from renewable energy sources by 2020. This is double the 15% target already announced by for 2010. It is expected that wind powered technology will make the key contribution to achieving the target.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Support programmes put in place by the Government have more than doubled the capacity of renewable energy powered electricity generating plants connected to the electricity network in the last two years. I recently announced an ambitious programme to treble the contribution by renewable energy sources from 5.2% of gross electricity consumption in 2004 to 15% by 2010. There is no...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: In the 26 week period up to 25 September 2006 since the Greener Homes Scheme was launched, a total of 7,716 applications have been received for grant aid and of these 6,842 offers of grant aid have issued.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: 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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the...