Results 221-240 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I have informed the House of my intention to bring forward proposals to establish a new agency with responsibility for all maritime safety and coast guard matters. The proposals will include locating the agency headquarters in Drogheda. The decision to locate the agency in Drogheda was taken for operational reasons. It also reflects Government decentralisation policies. The agency will be...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The development of a landing place on Ireland's Eye is a matter for its owners. My Department has no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: My Department's regional broadband programme includes plans to roll out broadband to more than 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and over between now and 2006. Kenmare is one of the towns listed for inclusion.

Written Answers — Feasibility Studies: Feasibility Studies (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In March 2002, an application was submitted under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan for funding towards a feasibility study for a marina at Schull, County Cork. However, the grant scheme was suspended in December 2002 due to lack of funding and each of the applicants were so notified. No funding was available to the grant scheme in 2003 or in 2004. In light of...

Written Answers — Geological Surveys: Geological Surveys (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the company undertook a drilling based geological survey on the lands to the south of the existing dolomite mine at Maddoxtown, Ballyreddin, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, in 1996. The lands were acquired some years earlier. Arising from this work the company identified a potential resource area which was the subject of further limited drilling and geophysical studies. As...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that in April 2004 I announced the go ahead for the construction of a metropolitan area network in the six north eastern towns. This project is now at the planning stage. The MANs will be built in Dundalk, Drogheda, Kingscourt, Carrickmacross, Monaghan and Cavan. Construction of the Drogheda and Dundalk MANs will commence later this year. I recently announced the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: As I previously outlined to the House, the overriding objective of the Government is to preserve the salmon resource in its own right and for the coastal and rural communities that it helps to support. The economic goals for a sustainable commercial salmon fishery based on quality and value rather than volume and the development of salmon angling as an important tourism product are both fully...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The most recent approved target for renewable energy technologies, under the alternative energy requirement programme, was to support the construction of 500 MW of new electricity generating capacity. Subsequently I announced a proposal to award contracts to support the construction of an additional 218 MW. However, I cannot allocate any of this additional capacity formally until EU...

Written Answers — Land Ownership: Land Ownership (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: My Department would not know who is the owner of the particular stretch of land as described by the Deputy. Record of title to the property in question would be a matter for the Land Registry.

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In July 2002 my Department requested all coastal local authorities to submit proposals, in order of priority, for consideration in the context of the 2003-2006 national coast protection programmes. Kerry County Council submitted a proposal for coast protection works at...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The establishment of future targets and support mechanisms and the associated additional costs to increase the production of electricity from renewable energy sources are a matter for Government on my recommendation. As part of that process my Department, in consultation with Sustainable Energy Ireland, will advise on costs. My view is that until future targets and support options are settled...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Upgrades to the electricity network generally are matters for the network operators in consultation with the Commission for Energy Regulation. Grid upgrade requirements for the connection of wind farms are specific to the location and capacity of the proposed wind farms and interaction with other proposed wind farms in close proximity. As a general rule to date, even where wind farms secure...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: As prescribed by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 the requisite consent of the Minister for Finance to the terms and conditions of employment, including remuneration, applicable to the two additional members of the Commission for Energy was received last week. My Department, since then, requested the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission to host a competition for...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Sustainable Energy Act 2002 formally established Sustainable Energy Ireland as the statutory independent agency with responsibility for promoting the development of sustainable and renewable energy in Ireland. The board of Sustainable Energy Ireland was constituted with effect from 1 May 2002, when the Authority was formally established. There are 12 members on the board, including the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: There are no vacancies at present on the board of Sustainable Energy Ireland.

Written Answers — Compensation Payments: Compensation Payments (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Responsibility for the administration of the revitalisation programme for the Castlemaine harbour bottom mussel fishery was vested in Bord Iascaigh Mhara. All decisions were taken by BIM and accordingly it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In March 2002, Mayo County Council in association with Westport Town Council and Westport Harbour Commissioners submitted an application for funding under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan, for the proposed marina, 46 berths. However, as the applicants had not obtained the necessary statutory permissions, that is, planning permission and foreshore lease, as...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Following the granting of two aquaculture licences for the bottom cultivation of mussels in Lough Swilly, local oyster fishermen claimed that parts of the licensed areas overlapped with wild oyster beds in the lough. In light of these complaints, the aquaculture initiative was asked to carry out a survey of the lough. This examined the location and size of the oyster beds and sought to...

Written Answers — Lighthouse Service: Lighthouse Service (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Commissioners of Irish Lights, CIL, provide a service of lighthouses throughout the whole island of Ireland. CIL have vested in them under section 634 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 the responsibility of superintendence and management of all lighthouses and other aids to navigation in respect of the State and the adjacent seas and island. The UK Merchant Shipping Act 1995, section...

Written Answers — Departmental Audits: Departmental Audits (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: A list of internal audit reports completed since January 2001 follows. Sixty-two reports have been completed in this period. All internal audit reports are made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is the constitutional officer of the Oireachtas for audit issues as per Article 33.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. 2001 1. Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and...