Results 2,121-2,140 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There are six staff employed in the private office of the Minister of State at my Department. The details are as follows: one higher executive officer and three clerical officers, all of whom are permanent civil servants; and two civilian drivers, who are appointed directly by the Minister of State. The annual salary cost of the Minister of State's private office is €206,109. In the year to...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (13 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I announced the selection of Advantica consultants on 25 August, following a tender competition, to carry out the independent safety review of the onshore, upstream section of the Corrib gas pipeline. Advantica presented a draft of this independent safety review to the local community on 8 December in Belmullet and a discussion was held, chaired by the mediator, Mr. Peter Cassells. The...

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (13 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware, my Department is preparing an energy policy paper. I will consider publishing the Deloitte & Touche report in the context of that paper.

Written Answers — Public-Private Partnerships: Public-Private Partnerships (13 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: No public private partnership arrangements have been in place from 2004 to date, in so far as the programmes within the aegis of my Department are concerned.

Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2005: Financial Resolution. (14 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of certain fees on— (a) applications for the registration of sea fishing boats or for the removal of such boats from the Register of Fishing Boats, and (b) the grant of certain sea-fishing boat licences, and sea-fishing licences, authorisations and permits.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Department is currently responsible for 30 commercial, non-commercial and regulatory State bodies, ten port companies and 14 harbour authorities. The bodies are comprehensively listed in Appendix C of my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007. I have arranged for a copy of the statement of strategy to be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (14 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The precise locations of post offices closed in the past 12 months are set out in the table. This pertains to post office closures from 1 December 2004 to 1 December 2005. Sub-Office County Aghabog Monaghan Ardlogher Cavan Brickens Mayo Broadford Kildare Cadamstown Offaly Clooneyquinn Roscommon Coolbawn Kilkenny Cregganbaun Mayo Four Mile House Roscommon Inch...

Order of Business. (15 Dec 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Bring back the press.

Written Answers — Employment Protection: Employment Protection (15 Dec 2005)

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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Technological advances have brought broadband to the forefront of communications in just a few years, but the service providers have not...

Energy Resources. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: While Ireland does not currently maintain a strategic gas reserve, commercial reserves of natural gas are held by licensed natural gas shippers and suppliers, including BGE. Several other EU member states, including the United Kingdom, operate a similar regime. I have been informed by BGE that, at current levels, its Kinsale reserves would supply 50% of non-daily metered customer...

Energy Resources. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Regarding the question on strategic reserves, at present it is in terms of 50% of non-daily metered customer requirements, which includes small businesses and domestic, for up to 50 days. We use approximately 15 million to 20 million standard cubic metres per day during the winter gas demand period. Of that, approximately 9 million to 12 million standard cubic metres per day is power...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services and the development and roll-out of telecommunications technology is primarily a matter for the industry itself. The telecommunications market is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, in accordance with the provisions of the Communications...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Provision of broadband services in Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom roll-out, which began considerably earlier than our own. As the Deputy mentioned, there is now 100% availability in the North. However, the figures for uptake of broadband technology there are no better than those for the Republic. It may be the case that one can bring the horse to water but one cannot make it...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not aware of the target to which the Deputy refers. Since my predecessor's time, the target in my Department has always been 400,000.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I challenged the industry because I believe it can deliver 500,000 connections by the end of next year. There have been many challenges in this regard. The regulator attempted to expedite the local loop and bundling, and that ended up in the High Court. No matter how good the regulation, the system in place from a European point of view and from our national legislation point of view is that...

Postal Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 130, 180 and 188 together. The development and continued viability of An Post and the post office network is, in the first instance, a matter for An Post's board and management. An Post will continue to have a key national role in the delivery of mail and as a quality service provider of Government and financial services through its nationwide network of...

Postal Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not aware of any plans to go back to an SDS type operation in respect of parcel post. That service was set up a few years ago and had to be closed quickly. The work on the closing of that service was completed only in the middle of last year. I am not aware of any decision to revert. I am aware An Post will aggressively market its parcel service through the normal post and is seeking to...

Postal Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The board of An Post is the body responsible for changes in management. I do not have any plans to interfere in that process and it would not be a healthy exercise. I am sure several Deputies would accuse me of creating jobs for the boys if I decided to do so.

Postal Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I will not interfere in that process. The Deputy is correct in saying the term of office of the chief executive ends in the middle of the year but, as I have said, that is a mater for the board. On the question about the embargo on recruitment, that is a matter for An Post but my understanding is that agreement has been reached. The Labour Court recommendation has been accepted by both sides...

Postal Services. (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I withdrew the Bill because no ESOP was going to take place in the current circumstances. I hope we can resume with the Bill when the company gets back into profit, but I do not anticipate that will be done in the lifetime of this Government.