Results 3,281-3,300 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set ambitious but essential targets for the use of renewable energy sources in electricity, heat and transport. These targets are set out in the following table. Delivery on these targets will contribute to the progressive displacement of fossil fuels and the carbon liability arising. Technology 2020 target i.e., contribution to overall consumption by sector Electricity...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Statistics on the renewable energy sector are collected, calculated, verified and published annually by the Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). The specific information requested by the Deputy for the current year is not yet available. The most recent published report is "Energy in Ireland 2006", which was published in late 2007. In this publication,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 975 and 985 together. The Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) programme, which is administered by my Department, supports the production of electricity from new electricity generating plants powered from renewable energy sources. These include wind-power and biomass which could include bio-ethanol and bio-diesel from vegetal matter, which is...

Written Answers — Television Broadcasting: Television Broadcasting (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Section 19(11) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, (BCI), shall make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specific steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing of programmes transmitted by each broadcaster. This is a function in which the Oireachtas has provided the BCI with statutory...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Project: Corrib Gas Project (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to question number 192 on 29 May 2008. The position remains that the developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the second half of 2009. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas. At peak...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: RTÉ's statutory mandate, as defined in Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that RTÉ's radio and television services shall be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the Island of Ireland. In addition, Section 3 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, amends RTÉ's public service remit by requiring the national public service...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Statistics on broadband penetration in Ireland are gathered centrally by ComReg and published in their quarterly reports which are available at www.comreg.ie. There is no breakdown available for individual towns. The latest OECD statistics show Ireland maintaining its strong growth in terms of per-capita subscriber growth over the year to end of December 2007. Ireland added 5.89 subscribers...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, 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 policies to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: While the Government is committed to securing the largest, most economically sustainable nationwide post office network possible, decisions made in regard to the retention of the optimum number of post offices are for the Board and management of An Post to make. I have no statutory function in regard to this matter.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have no role in the matter of the discussions that have taken place between An Post, the postal unions and other interested parties in respect of the future of postal delivery services. This is an issue for the Board and management of An Post to decide on. In addition, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the postal regulator, has responsibility for monitoring quality of...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The substance of the question has been overtaken by events but, in any event, in my capacity as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I would have no statutory basis for taking an action as suggested.

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: RTÉ1 and RTÉ2 are not available free to air on satellite. RTÉ1 and RTÉ2 are available free to air on a terrestrial platform throughout Ireland and can be accessed through a roof top aerial or, in some areas, through a set top aerial, free of charge. RTÉ's terrestrial network has been in operation since the 1960's and is currently being upgraded to digital technology. RTÉ1 and RTÉ2...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The residential Building Regulations focus on thermal performance requirements, rather than being prescriptive in relation to particular materials. Fibrous materials have been commonly used for insulation of attic spaces over many years. The Building Regulations Part L were substantially revised in 2007 and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) advise that the stringent thermal insulation...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I would refer the Deputy to my statement of 13th March on the future of Ireland's electricity sector. In that statement I affirmed the Government's decision in the Energy Policy White Paper and the Programme for Government, to transfer the ownership of the electricity transmission assets from ESB to EirGrid. It is also a fundamental tenet of Government policy that we retain the electricity...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: 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. On the 7th of July this year I announced Phase III of the Scheme, which includes the addition of a new biomass technology, log gasification boilers, to the technologies eligible for support. Phase III...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Following the completion of a tender process for the provision of an emergency call answering service, BT Ireland Limited was selected as the highest ranked bidder. Contract negotiations are now under way between BT and the Department on the detail associated with the provision of the service at centres to be located in Navan, County Meath and Ballyshannon, County Donegal. It is expected...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised by Sustainable Energy Ireland that an application was submitted by the applicants in question to the Greener Homes Scheme in January 2008 (received January 29th). The system was fully installed at this point and is therefore ineligible for support. A letter was issued outlining this position on February 7th having been considered by the Appeals Committee. This letter was not...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The National Postcode Project Board made a recommendation last year to Government to introduce an alpha-numeric postal sector postcode model. This model was deemed the most suitable as it does not require individuals to change their address structure, with elements such as county names being accommodated within the postcode itself. In the case of Gaeltacht areas, there is nothing in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Geological Survey of Ireland, which is a Division of my Department, operates a number of vehicles for the transport of heavy equipment, core samples etc in the course of its day-to-day activities. Following are the details in respect of the period covered by the question. List of Vehicles Purchases Make Model Reg Engine Fuel CO2 Emissions Cost € Opel Vivaro Van 05D81694 2.5...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Sep 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The matter of VAT rates is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance. The VAT treatment of goods and services is governed by EU law with which Irish VAT law must comply. While we can retain the zero rating provisions which were in existence on 1 January 1991, we cannot introduce any new ones. Therefore, it is not possible to apply a zero rate to the supply of wind turbine...