Results 2,601-2,620 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has prepared a draft Policy Paper on Next Generation Broadband and has recently completed a successful meeting of the expert International Advisory Forum to examine the issues, options and recommendations for future policy. There are a number of options available to Government which are considered in the policy paper, including how to make the optimum use of state...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is progressing on a number of fronts. The 2007 Broadcasting (Amendment) Act introduces a framework for the licensing of DTT in Ireland and assigns responsibilities to ComReg, RTE and the BCI. ComReg is responsible for ensuring there is sufficient spectrum for DTT broadcasting. RTE is responsible for developing a national DTT service with capacity for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is 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. The latest OECD statistics show Ireland in first place in terms of per-capita subscriber growth over the year to end of June...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 118 and 122 together. The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves and heat pumps. There has been a strong interest in the scheme since it was launched in March 2006. On foot of the achievement of the scheme targets a full...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2007, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for Northern Ireland (DETINI), commissioned a joint study on a common approach to All-Island natural gas storage and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The report was completed and submitted to both Departments in December. The study assesses the medium to long-term position with regard to...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 280 together. The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill, submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in September 2006 for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative, is intended to ensure the establishment of the appropriate regulatory and organisational structures for...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised that the final report of the Fuel Poverty Action Research Project is scheduled for publication in mid 2008. There are currently no national statistics available on the number of people experiencing fuel poverty in Ireland. The EU Survey on Income and Living Conditions which is carried out by the Central Statistics Office each year, measures the number of households that have...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am in favour of the establishment of a new Oireachtas channel which could provide for extended free-to-air television coverage of the proceedings which take place in the Houses of the Oireachtas and in other democratic fora. The programme for Government contains a commitment in this regard. I have attended meetings with the Ceann Comhairle and the Joint Oireachtas Committee for the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is a priority for the Government. In this context, the primary role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services by competing private sector service providers. The broadband market in Ireland is fully liberalised and regulated, where appropriate, by ComReg,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 130 together. The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband is primarily a matter for private sector operators. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of electronic communications service providers and the implementation of local loop unbundling rests with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Open...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I published details of the Community Support Scheme on Friday 7 March 2008, details of which can be viewed on the Department's website at www.dcenr.gov.ie The Community Support Scheme, amounting to €5 million, will be made available to those affected by the cessation of the mixed stock salmon fishery in 16 fishery districts through 15 LEADER companies and Comhdháil Oileáin na...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Section 19(1)(c) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland shall, upon being directed by the Minister to do so, prepare a code specifying standards to be complied with, and rules and practices to be observed, in respect of advertising, tele-shopping material, sponsorship and other forms of commercial promotion employed in any broadcasting service or...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The National Development Plan makes provision for an envelope of €149m in the Energy Research sub-programme over the period 2007-2013. This subprogramme includes energy research capacity building and applied sustainable energy research, development and demonstration projects including the fields of ocean energy and the building environment. It will also address further priorities which...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set targets for the development of renewable energy resources which mirror or exceed existing targets set by the EU. In the electricity market we will increase the contribution by renewable energy sources to at least 15% by 2010 and 33% by 2020 of electricity consumed and work towards the higher level of renewables indicated as being possible in our all island grid study....

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 140 together. The Third Postal Directive was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 February 2008 and is currently being reviewed by officials in my Department. I intend to hold, shortly, a public consultation process examining the key issues arising from the Directive. I anticipate that the consultation will be held over an...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's targets for electricity generated from alternative and renewable energy sources in Ireland are 15% of electricity consumed in 2010 and 33% in 2020. The dominant technology providing the required new capacity will be wind powered both onshore and offshore with additional capacity provided by biomass, small hydro and wave and tidal projects. We are also committed to...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The All-Island Grid Study concluded that it is feasible to generate 42% of electricity on the island of Ireland from renewable energy sources by 2020. The study shows that we have the potential to do more than reach the Government target of 33% renewables which should be considered as the base rather than the limit of our ambitions. Achieving existing targets and aiming higher again is our...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, my Department and Sustainable Energy Ireland are in discussion with the Commission for Energy Regulation with a view to identifying and removing barriers including regulatory barriers, to the deployment of high efficiency CHP and district heating. I hope to be in a position to publish proposals in April.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: It is a commercial decision for producers of pure plant oil or other alternative fuels as to whether or not they export to other EU Member States. Under the Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes, which were competitive calls for proposals from producers meeting the criteria, preference could not be given to any applicants by virtue of the origin of biofuels feed stocks. This is a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together. 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. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure...