Results 2,861-2,880 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Telecommunications Services. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am doing things. I have met frequently, officially and unofficially, with some of the companies to which the Deputy refers. I have stressed, time and again, the important national interest involved in ensuring a speedy roll out of broadband and a top class telecommunications network. One of the frustrations in attempting to deal with this was that commercial interests took precedence over...

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Under EU regulations on the internal energy markets the Commission for Energy Regulation — CER — has a direct legal obligation in relation to electricity and gas consumers. These include the requirement to protect the interests of final customers and to take account of the needs of vulnerable customers. The regulator is also required to ensure that all customers are supplied with...

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I do not believe in taking a Don Quixote role either——

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——where one tilts at windmills as the Deputy is doing. The Deputy can make all the rhetorical speeches he likes about gas, electricity and oil prices. It does not matter how many Labour Party Members are on this side of the House — if they ever get over here again——

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——they will not be able to affect the price of international commodities, except perhaps for the worst if they adopt some of the left wing policies so espoused by their predecessors.

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am answering the question. If the Deputy is entitled to wander off and make all sorts of wild allegations about people dying as a result of price increases and so on, I am entitled to answer in the same tone. In regard to what Deputy Broughan said about oil and gas prices, they are not set in the United Kingdom, they are set much further afield. They are international commodities and the...

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I will tell the Deputy later this year and I will look for his enthusiastic support for the changes that will be necessary to ensure we can reduce some of the cost of electricity in this country.

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am far from it. I hope the Deputy will support me in my efforts to reduce the cost of electricity when the time comes and that he will not find some excuse——

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——to go off in a different direction just to placate some of his friends who are among the vested interests in this area——

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——who are keeping up the price of electricity.

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy also represents some union members. He might have a chat with them in the meantime.

Energy Regulation. (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am pleased to hear that is who the Deputy represents. I look forward to vigorous support from him during the summer if that is the case and thank him for his pledge of support in that regard. The National Consumer Agency, which has been set up by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, will undertake this role and examine future price applications in this area on...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland participates in the relevant bodies that monitor and set guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic energy from such installations. These bodies continuously review the relevant research, and periodically meet to decide whether or not the guidelines continue to be appropriate in the light of the most up-to-date reports. The international limits on exposures for non-ionising...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The EU Commission published its proposal for a Directive amending the Television Without Frontiers Directive in December 2005. This revision had been brought about by the need to put in place a new regulatory framework for audiovisual services which will take account of advances in technology and market developments over the past decade. The recent Education, Youth and Culture Council, held...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 128 and 141 together. As the Deputy will be aware, as a result of local concerns over the safety of the pipeline Corrib gas pipeline, I commissioned a comprehensive independent safety review last August. Following a long and detailed review process, including two separate phases of public consultation, Advantica, the international consultants contracted to...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 113, 342 and 343 together. The Government is giving high priority to energy efficiency as a key national imperative right across industry, SMEs, agriculture, transport, the construction sector and the public sector as well as individual energy consumers. Energy efficiency and demand management strategies have a critical contribution to make to sustainable...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. Decisions relating to products and services are operational matters for the Board and management of An Post.

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the useful comments made by the Commissioner and her recognition of the concerns of a substantial number of Member States on this issue. While I appreciate there is scope for some resolution of the issue through the recommendations of the Commissioner, my objective is to ensure that the Regulatory Framework at EU level provides a formal basis for national measures to have...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 92, 107, 133, 135, 142, 165, 323, 327 and 333 together. Building on the success of the 2005 Mineral Oil Tax relief scheme which allows for 16m litres per annum of biofuels on the market, and following extensive discussions with industry and relevant Government Departments and agencies, I agreed with the Minister for Finance a further targeted package...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (30 May 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of how a commercial field is developed is in the first instance a matter for determination by the developer so it is hypothetical for any company to suggest how they would develop a field before the field has been discovered, let alone before the circumstances of the field are known, or in this case before the company has an exploration licence. Each commercial discovery will be...