Results 2,081-2,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Electric Transport. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: I have one or two other brief questions.
- Electric Transport. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: To clarify, the Minister has stated that over the next three years, we will deploy 6,000 vehicles and then, over the following six years, he intends to deliver 244,000 vehicles. This is what Members are being told because the target for 2020, which is only ten years away, is to have 250,000 such vehicles. My concern is that although Ireland is engaged in pilot projects, it should propose...
- Electric Transport. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: Three thousand vehicles. Is that it?
- Radio Broadcasting. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: When will the budget increase?
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report to the Houses of the Oireachtas on the progress made in the development of commercial digital terrestrial television channels here. [10456/10]
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: This is the same answer the Minister gave previously.
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: At least we now have some dates. On 26 January, the House got the same answer from the Minister in terms of the process, in that he hoped it would conclude as soon as possible. It is not encouraging for the myriad of industries that depend on a decision. It will be almost impossible for RTE to pay for the roll-out of free-to-air DTT services unless it has a revenue stream from a commercial...
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: We are not in a selection process.
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: We certainly are.
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: For the first time the Minister has conceded that this process may not work out. If that happens the Minister says the BAI will be responsible for finding a way forward. I reject that. This is the Minister's responsibility. It is his obligation to ensure that we can have analogue switch-off by the end of 2012. He should not try to transfer responsibility to the BAI. Is it realistic to...
- Digital Terrestrial Television. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: There is a debt attached to that which must be repaid. It is â¬100 million.
- Gas Storage Facilities. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: Question 55: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself with the capacity to store gas here in the context of energy security concerns and an over reliance on imported gas from the UK. [10457/10]
- Gas Storage Facilities. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. Regardless of a number of planned projects to which the Minister has referred, Ireland's reliance on imported fossil fuels makes us extremely vulnerable at present. More than 90% of the gas we use on this island is imported. Let us not forget that 55% of all of the power generated in Ireland is now fuelled by gas. Almost all of that comes from...
- Gas Storage Facilities. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: I agree with much of what the Minister said. However, will he take action to require increased storage capacity rather than talk about the opportunities which exist in empty gas fields off Kinsale or in Northern Ireland or about potential storage of liquefied natural gas in places like Foynes? We need a Government decision. We have the capacity to store 55 days of oil. Some of this is...
- Telecommunications Services. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: The Minister should not spin the numbers.
- Telecommunications Services. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: People are buying mobile phones.
- Bio-fuels Market. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: I understand Ireland can take three specific measures in conjunction with the legislation to promote the indigenous bio-fuels industry. Different countries take different views on import tariffs, with Germany and Britain taking different approaches. Which country's approach does the Minister favour? The French have decided to ignore the issue of import tariffs by requiring localised...
- Bio-fuels Market. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: The Minister failed to answer my questions on two of the three issues I raised. Irish farmers do not have a problem competing with other European countries in the area of ethanol production. Competing with sugar cane plantations in Brazil is making life potentially impossible for them. The Minister raised the prospect of importing unrefined ethanol from other European countries. The Irish...
- Telecommunications Services. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: At least we finally have some acknowledgement from the Minister that there is a problem with speeds. Every time he is questioned about broadband, he starts reeling off penetration figures. They are impressive but all they suggest is that people want broadband. Unfortunately, however, they have to use second-rate broadband by and large. Deputy Kathleen Lynch's question concerns how we...
- Telecommunications Services. (2 Mar 2010)
Simon Coveney: I have raised the issue of open access to ducting with the Minister before and he said he was considering it. What conclusion has he drawn as to whether we should be regulating to require open access to ductings so that people can lay fibre to deliver high bandwidth, high-speed broadband into people's homes and businesses?