Results 1,981-2,000 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. Any proposals by a commercial operator, in a fully liberalised market, to acquire or merge with another company is a commercial decision for the company.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in regulating of pricing for telecommunications services. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulating of pricing for telecommunications services, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations which transpose the EU...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: An Post has been through one of the most intensive industrial relations processes imaginable. At this stage, the dispute at An Post has been before every industrial relations body that the State has to offer. Following the 14 day notice of industrial action served on the company by the CWU, which expired on Friday, 4 November, the national implementation body, NIB, at my request, has engaged...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 134, 160, 179, 276, 284 and 285 together. My Department regularly reviews all aspects of the broadband market and holds discussions with broadband interest groups, both public and private, to listen to their concerns. These discussions are ongoing, occasionally involving the State bodies referred to by the Deputies, and typically cover a range of issues...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 183 and 310 together. The terms governing petroleum exploration and development are kept under constant review by my Department. These terms are designed to encourage interest, exploration and development. Unfortunately, prospectivity in the Irish offshore is low, as four successful exploration wells out of 121 wells over 34 years demonstrates, and...

Written Answers — Television Reception: Television Reception (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: RTE's mandate to provide radio and television services is defined in section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2001. This Act states that the national television and sound broadcasting services required to be maintained by RTE shall have the character of a public service, continue to be a free-to-air service and to be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 151 together. In late 2004, the Government set a target of 400,000 broadband subscribers to be achieved by the end of 2006. Subsequently, broadband subscriber numbers have grown by 75%. The current rate of new take up for broadband is in the region of 10,000 per month and continues to grow across a range of technologies. The Government's broadband...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 246 together. The promotion of renewable energy technologies in electricity production is a key priority of this Government. This priority is shared by EU Community institutions which have addressed a directive in the matter to all member states, Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market. There...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have made no announcements, nor do I have any proposals, regarding the privatisation of An Post and I wish to see An Post continue in State ownership playing a significant role in the Irish postal sector. I have however, highlighted to the company, the unions and consumers that the EU postal directives, transposed into Irish law, envisage full liberalisation, subject to political agreement,...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function regarding national grid access, which is primarily a matter for ESB National Grid, which is in turn regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation. The relevant legislation is the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and I have no power to issue directions of the type referred to.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 168 together. At a bilateral meeting in November 2004, Mr. Barry Gardiner, MP, the then Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and I endorsed plans put forward by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation for the construction of a second North-South electricity...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 132, 149, 178, 182, 194, 263, 264, 265, 266 and 301 together. In August 2005 I appointed Advantica consultants to conduct a comprehensive health and safety review of the proposed Corrib gas onshore pipeline. This study currently under way is in addition to the comprehensive assessment undertaken both within the Department and by an independent pipeline...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill is currently being drafted by the Parliamentary Counsel. I expect to seek Government approval to publish the Bill shortly. With regard to the CER, the Bill will expand the commission's functions to underpin its work on the development of an all-island energy market, provide for the regulation of the electrical and gas contracting sectors and safety...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The review by the European Commission of the television without frontiers directive is ongoing and the Commission's proposals for a revision of the directive are not expected until 2006. Until such time as the Commission has made a formal proposal for a revision of the directive, it would be premature to address the matters raised by the Deputy. I expect, however, that before making any...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Internet governance is one of the main issues that is scheduled to be discussed at the forthcoming world summit on the information society, WSIS, in Tunis. At the first world summit in Geneva, in December 2003, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan requested that a working group be set up to look at Internet governance. While the working group published its report in July 2005, there remain a...

Written Answers — Departmental Policy: Departmental Policy (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 277 and 313 together. My Department's statement of strategy 2005-07 sets out goals, objectives, strategies and performance indicators relevant to the development of broadcasting, telecommunications and other utility services for which my Department has overall responsibility. The statement of strategy gives particular focus to strategies to enhance...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My core broadcasting policy objective is to promote the existence of an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTE. This is likely to be best achieved by having in place an appropriate regulatory framework that provides for the licensing of independent television and radio services and by providing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no statutory function in this matter.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There is no grant or financial assistance available to single residences for the installation of solar panels. I am reviewing all options for innovative approaches to propagating best practice in cost effective energy provision and use but am not in a position to make any commitments today. Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established as a statutory agency in May 2002, implements a...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (16 Nov 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of recent comments made by IBEC on dividends of semi-State companies. Decisions on annual dividend payments to shareholders are a matter for the board of ESB in the first instance. ESB operates in a fully liberalised competitive market and it is important that it is treated in all respects, including the dividend issue, as would be the case for its competitors. The determination of...