Results 2,681-2,700 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Telecommunications Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: One of the developments in this area was the presentation of a report by the Telecommunication and Internet Federation which has agreed broad principles from its perspective on where we need to go.

Telecommunications Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That report was welcome for the crucial principles it agreed on the open access nature of broadband development.

Telecommunications Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I intend to publish this document and then hold a one-day forum at which industry players, users of broadband and other Departments can discuss how to develop next generation broadband. The paper will set out specific actions which the State can take but it is not only about the State. The level of private sector investment is far more significant than anything coming from the State and is...

Telecommunications Services. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As I pointed out to the Deputy earlier today in the Select Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the international advisory forum was the main source of advice for this paper, not the steering group. However, I intend to open the paper to full consultation with the industry, users and other interested bodies to commence a process of evolving policy decisions.

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The roll-out of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitments in the Government's energy policy framework and the programme for Government. The programme is a central component of our strategy to significantly enhance management of demand for electricity and achieve greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. The delivery of smart...

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The delivery in mid-year will be in July-August and there will be 25,000 meters in the first test phase. It is proper to do this before going to every single house in the country. We need a significant sample such as this so we can test which technologies we want to use and what level of intervention or complexity we need to apply. It is right and proper that those details are worked out in...

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: We are talking about mid-year. I will not tie people down to a particular date. Mid-year is satisfactory in terms of a timeline indication.

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: We are talking about 25,000 houses, the selection of which will be undertaken on a basis that gives a good statistical analysis of the country overall. It will be done by way of a test grouping which can be measured and which will have to reflect a range of different types of housing and different geographic circumstances. I have every confidence in the engineers in the ESB and other supply...

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: To a certain extent, the detail of what is actually delivered is something that will be gone through in the test process. I will not pre-empt the work that is ongoing with CER, ESB and others to decide which meters they use and which functions they have. That is something which is being undergone at present by the committee to which I referred. As electrical engineers, they are best placed...

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: It is an ongoing process of engagement on a range of different issues in terms of the meters, prices and the networks for which the customers pay.

Electricity Transmission Network. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There is a complex product on which I am confident our best energy people are now delivering.

Electricity Generation. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Peat has been and remains an important element of Ireland's energy mix and still contributes significantly to security of supply by providing diversity in the fuel mix and as the primary indigenous fossil fuel resource in Ireland. It is, however, a declining resource and its overall contribution to the fuel mix for power generation will continue to progressively reduce over the next decade....

Electricity Generation. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Bord na Móna has already committed not to acquire new peatlands for commercial development. With regard to the medium to long-term use of the fuel, there are a number of constraints, one of which is our climate change targets. What we do in the energy area must ensure we meet, for this sector and as part of the overall national effort, our climate change targets. As the price of carbon...

Electricity Generation. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: ——Bord na Móna is very good at logistics and management of land and that would provide it with real opportunities in terms of lower emission technologies.

Electricity Generation. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have legislation planned in that regard. It is not completely down to the market. That is not what I said. Any energy policy decisions must be made on the basis of us meeting our climate change targets but also, looking at the broad energy security issues, three constraints must be taken into account: security of supply, cost and environment. There are constraints in that regard...

Energy Policy. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Growing concerns are being expressed internationally about the consequences of increased global demand for bio-fuels for global food stocks as well as a range of sustainability concerns. Developments in European Union policy relating to bio-fuels must take account of these concerns and this is recognised by the Commission and all member states. Ireland is currently working to deliver the...

Energy Policy. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: We are being very precise in supporting the European Commission's proposals that sustainability monitoring be put in place on any bio-fuels bought or sold in the European Union. It is correct that under World Trade Organisation rules we cannot differentiate between bio-fuels from one country or another and we do not have full traceability in place to examine the origin of the supply. It is...

Energy Policy. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I will come back to the details. I do not have the figures with me on the amount of bio-fuels. I agree that sustainability cannot be defined where it is leading to real food poverty across the world.

Energy Policy. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In Opposition in recent years I continually referred to concerns that existed about the development of bio-fuels in that it was not the panacea and that it would raise significant environmental and food price issues. I raised that issue on numerous occasions for several years before it started to evolve as a clear problem because we were aware of those sustainability issues. There is,...

Energy Policy. (23 Apr 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I will come back to the Deputy on the statistic. She has a valid point and I will ensure the statistic, if available, is provided.