Results 2,441-2,460 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, is a North South Body, which was set up under the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999 and is still in existence. The Act provided for the setting up of a North South Body, which would take over the functions of the Foyle Fisheries Commission and the Commissioners of Irish Lights. While the Loughs Agency took over the functions of the Foyle...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 729, 742 and 750 to 752, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy relates to subsidiary companies of RTÉ and Raidió na Gaeltachta. RTÉ was established under the Broadcasting Acts, 1960 to 2007, and is an independent statutory body. Board membership is a matter for RTÉ and I have no function in the matter. Name of company Date of...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Advisory Committee on InfoComms was established by the Minister for Public Enterprise in June 2001. The Committee was charged with advising on a strategy to position Ireland as a key global centre in advanced information and communications technology. The Committee reported in 2002 and is no longer in existence. The Committee had 9 members.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Energy Advisory Board was a non-statutory advisory committee, which met during the period of the Department of Public Enterprise to advise the Minister on general energy matters. This advisory committee is no longer in existence.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The working group referred to by the Deputy is the Post Office Working Group, which no longer exists. The role of this group was to determine a basis for the sustainable operation of the post office network and to prepare a report on this subject. The group comprised of officials from the following Departments: the Department of Public Enterprise (now the Department of Communications,...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Telecoms Strategy Group was established in November 2002 by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. The key objectives of the group were: to formulate an agreed goal for the development of the telecommunications sector in Ireland; to ensure greater competition and wider choice in the delivery of high bandwidth/advanced data services to industry and to society at...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 734 to 741, inclusive, 745, 747 to 749, inclusive, 753 and 754 together. Utility Grid Installations Limited and Bord Gáis Éireann's (BGÉ) share in CM Power were disposed of during 2006. These companies are no longer part of the BGÉ group. The following table sets out details of the other companies as requested by the Deputy: Name of Company Date of...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Media Development Limited (DMDL) was established on 28th March 2000 and was dissolved in July 2003 when the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) Act 2003 was enacted. The company was 100% State owned. The purpose and role of DMDL was to develop the Digital Hub project. This is now the responsibility of the DHDA. There were eight original members of the Board all of whom were...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: ESB International (ESBI) was established on 28/11/1988 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). ESBI is responsible for the non-regulated businesses in the ESB Group. The company builds, owns and operates power stations, as well as providing a wide range of engineering and consultancy services to client in the power sector worldwide. The company is divided...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Media Lab Europe (MLE) was established as a company in May 2000 and was a collaborative venture between the Irish Government and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Modelled on the Media Laboratory at MIT, MLE was established as a hybrid between academia and the corporate world, to create a unique new centre of research in digital technologies. The Board of MLE was jointly...

Written Answers — Equity Stake: Equity Stake (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The companies in which my Department holds an equity stake and the level of that stake, is shown in the following table. RTÉ and Bord Gáis Éireann are statutory bodies established by legislation. They do not have issued share capital. In the case of the ESB 85% of the share capital is held by the Minister for Finance and 5% is held by an ESOT. In the case of Bord na Móna the balance...

Written Answers — Regulatory Authorities: Regulatory Authorities (19 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The regulators/regulatory authorities under the aegis of my Department are shown in the following table: Name Budget 2006 Budget 2007 Name â'¬ â'¬ Broadcasting Commission of Ireland** 5,233,293.00 (Grant in aid payment) 3,809,665.00 (Grant in aid payment) Commission for Communications Regulation* N/A N/A Commission for Energy Regulation* N/A N/A *I have no function in setting the...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The requirement to have a television licence is set out in the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988. Under this legislation a licence is required in respect of each location at which a television set is kept. Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2001 requires RTÉ to provide a national television and sound broadcasting service free-to-air, insofar as it is reasonably practicable, to the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Eco-friendly domestic generation or "microgeneration", involves the small-scale production of heat and/or electricity from a low carbon source. Market studies in the U.K. and elsewhere have found that, in the long term, supported by appropriate market development measures, such generation has the potential to make a contribution to the reduction of energy related CO2 emissions. Sustainable...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Feb 2008)

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, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. There are a number of platforms for delivery of broadband, and the service providers are now offering broadband by wireless,...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Since 1998 the Annual Report of the Information Commissioner has detailed the number of requests received by Public Bodies and the Deputy will find the information requested in those reports. As the 2007 report is not yet published I can advise that the Department received 77 Freedom of Information requests during 2007 and seven to date, in 2008.

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have no statutory functions with regard to the connection of towns to the gas network. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State, under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation)...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Postbank is a joint venture between An Post and Belgian bank Fortis and all matters relating to its operation, including details of contracts awarded, are for the two participants in the joint venture.

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government reaffirms the commitment in the Energy Policy White Paper to the transfer of ownership of the electricity transmission network assets from ESB to EirGrid by end 2008. There has been no departure from that position. The mechanisms to implement the transfer to EirGrid of ownership of the assets comprise a range of legislative, commercial, legal and financial...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) presented its recommendation as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. A proposal concerning the introduction of postcodes went to Government in May 2007 and Government decided that, prior to the introduction of postcodes, further analysis...