Results 2,121-2,140 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: A total of 89 staff in my Department availed of TaxSaver Commuter Tickets in 2007.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together. Based on the information supplied by the contractors working for my Department, the table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department's premises at Leeson Lane, Adelaide Road and the Geological Survey of Ireland at Beggars Bush. General Waste Cardboard Newspapers Timber Compost Paper Mixed...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. The Programme for Government commits to the development of an Irish biofuels industry and to the overall development and deployment of indigenous bio-energy resources. In this context, it is intended to introduce a Biofuels Obligation in 2009, which will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is primarily a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg are responsible for the compiling of statistics on broadband uptake. I understand that these statistics are collected on a national basis only. Details are...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: My Department's policy in this area has the aim of maximising the benefits to Ireland from exploration for, and production of, our indigenous oil and gas resources, while ensuring that these activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land or sea users. Earlier this year I announced revised terms for oil and gas exploration and production....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. There are still some parts of the country where the...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (5 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government believes that nuclear power is neither sustainable nor the answer to Ireland's energy needs. The use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in Ireland is statutorily prohibited under Section 18(6) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999. Furthermore, Section 3 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 states that "Nothing in this Act...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: It is a privilege to be here to speak on the budget, sandwiched as I am between the Lenihan brothers. Little did I ever think I would end in such a privileged position. I am very glad to share these benches with my colleague Ministers.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: It is indeed. Change will be the content and the subject of my speech.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Change is coming and change is something we need to welcome and steer in the right direction. There is no doubt we are facing into difficult and different economic times globally from what existed during the past ten or 15 years. It is clear from the broad economic picture that what we have seen in recent years is a very significant increase in energy prices, in oil and gas, in the...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: That is good news. Oil prices will go up and down but, in general, the characteristics of the global economy in recent years are that high energy prices have, in turn, led to high flows of money between the oil producing companies and the rest of the world, but they had a considerable inflationary effect. The way in which the world economy works in an integrated way has led to interest rate...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I exclude Deputy D'Arcy from my comments. The response at that time was evacuation from the country. There was widespread emigration to other economies, to America, Australia——

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The point I am making is that our response this time, as a people and as a country, will be different for a number of reasons. We are more confident, more capable and have more resources and better infrastructure to allow us face a difficult economic climate if it exists. I believe the budget indicates a steering of the economy in the right direction and indicates a response that is...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: ——are of fundamental importance because they show there is a mental change. There is a recognition that we have to set policies which steer the country to a cleaner, greener future where we reduce our CO2 emissions. I commend the Minister for his support and on the introduction of a range of different measures, which is the start of a process we have to go through of decarbonising our...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: That investment by the Minister for Finance and ourselves fits exactly into the overall strategy on improving our productivity, providing social equity and tackling environmental issues.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to using that 43% increase in the energy budget to provide for significant new development and supports in the ocean energy area, where we may have an opportunity to set an international example and to lead. I look forward to being able to deploy such a budget in the further development of the greener homes scheme to make sure new technologies we might want to introduce and...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward, as a Green Minister in Government, to establishing a new home insulation grant which will provide an innovative new approach to helping householders do what is difficult at present, namely, to know the right thing to do to make their houses energy efficient. I look forward to being able to amend the refit schemes in the area of electricity and to support new offshore wave and...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to working with the Minister for Finance on spending the €1.7 billion to which he referred yesterday on electricity and gas networks so we can turn key businesses like the ESB and Bord Gáis towards this crucial new agenda, which is to reduce our use of energy to achieve the productivity gains to which the Minister referred. I look forward to working in Government to deliver...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I visited Google last week at the invitation of the company to talk with them on a number of issues in this area. It was interesting to note that despite the company having 1,600 staff, there were just 20 car parking spaces at its plant, half of which were empty, whereas there were hundreds of bicycles lined up outside. I said to myself — that is the future; that is where we will go as a...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Eamon Ryan: That is an attractive example of what can be done when we steer this economy in a greener direction. I look forward to working within the budget increases that have been allowed to TG4 to deliver programming which allows us to look back at ourselves and our country, as well as to question, entertain and look outside. I look forward to working with RTE. I commend the budget increases we are...