Results 2,901-2,920 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey
- Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 117, 169 and 176 together. Expenditure at the Digital Hub since 2000 is approximately â¬127.3 million to date. This includes a â¬76 million investment in property and infrastructure as well as â¬51.3 million in operational costs. The Digital Hub Development Agency has been and will continue to be successful in developing a digital industry cluster, as...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 125 and 139 together. The Government is addressing the regional broadband infrastructure deficit by building high-speed open access Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in 120 towns and cities nationwide, on a phased basis in association with the local and regional authorities. Phase One of this Programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and...
- Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 344 together. There have been no discoveries of oil and gas in the past three years. The last potential discovery was on the Dooish prospect 125 km off the Donegal coast in the Rockall Basin. This prospect was drilled in 2002 by Enterprise Energy Ireland (now Shell E&P Ireland) and discovered a gas condensate accumulation. The well was re-entered and...
- Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 85 of 30 May 2006.
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, is independent in the exercise of its functions under the provisions of the Communications Regulation Act of 2002 and the transposed EU Regulatory Framework. However, as part of my overall policy-making role for the sectors for which I am responsible, I keep the operations of all the bodies under the aegis of my Department under review and...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 334 together. The provision of telecommunications infrastructure and services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully-liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. In addition, Local Loop unbundling is a matter for the Commission for Communications...
- Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 166 together. The rollout of infrastructure for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Pilot in Ireland is currently underway. Following detailed procurement processes, the DTT pilot is currently in the build phase and is expected to be operational by autumn 2006. It is planned to continue the pilot over a two-year timeframe, during which time...
- Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: Under current arrangements the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) permits ESB generating stations to only recover the cost value of carbon allowances purchased under the Emissions Trading Scheme. This approach minimizes the impact of the scheme on electricity prices. Taking this into account, the total impact of emissions trading on electricity prices for the period 2005-2007 should be a...
- Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 127 together. I believe that there will continue to be a key national role for An Post in delivery of mails and parcels. However, over the coming years competition can be expected to increase in these sectors, whether from the privately owned express sector, from the large European public operators now looking for international business or from...
- Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the statement made by Minister Hanson in the course of the recent Westminster Debate. There are market power considerations to be addressed both North and South in the creation of the single wholesale electricity market, which is acknowledged by both sides. Both Governments have jointly set out their ambitions for the all island Energy Market in the All-island Energy Market...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully-liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband subscriber numbers have increased hugely in the last year. Almost 140,000 new broadband subscribers were added in 2005, a growth...
- Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 85 of today.
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: The provision of broadband and other telecommunications services is, in the first instance, an operational issue for the service providers concerned. Responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication service providers rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the Forrester Research and I would point the Deputy towards figures produced by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in their Quarterly report for March 2006, which supports my statement that broadband pricing here is below the EU average. In fact, the figures clearly demonstrate that in November 2005, Ireland ranked 6th out of the EU-15 countries...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 145 together. The Government is addressing the local infrastructure deficit by building high-speed open access Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in 120 towns and cities nationwide, on a phased basis in association with the local and regional authorities. Phase One of this Programme has delivered fibre optic networks to 27 towns and cities throughout...
- Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I am aware that a number of companies have expressed interest in the proposition of a European "supergrid" for wind energy but none has as yet made any specific approach to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) nor to the Transmission System Operator who have responsibility for licensing connection to the national grid and planning the national grid, respectively.
- Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: My core policy objectives in relation to broadcasting as outlined in my Department's Statement of Strategy published in July 2005 are as follows: to create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTÃ; to secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting; and, to seek to retain...
- Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 153 together. I am aware of the Forfas Report to which the Deputy refers. The Report acknowledges the explicit Government policy position on nuclear generation in Ireland while commenting that consideration of the option should not be precluded in light of international developments. The use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 318 together. As I have told the Deputy in response to similar questions, I have no role or responsibility for the actions of persons conducting bullying or malevolent activities over electronic communications networks. I refer the Deputy to recent replies given to Questions Numbers 14 and 31 of 6 April, 2006.
- Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 May 2006)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 319 together. There are already procedures in place for developing and delivering oil and gas discoveries. It must be understood that the area of developing oil and gas fields is a very complex area and is dependent on factors such as the location of the discovery and whether the discovery is oil or gas. Issues such as existing infrastructure in the...