Results 3,301-3,320 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Discussions are ongoing in relation to the allocations for Energy Research and Development including Renewable Energy Technologies, for 2007 as part of the Estimates process.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The projected spend on the Greener Homes Scheme for 2006 is in the region of €3.25m. Individuals have been awarded grant aid of between €1,100 to €6,500 depending on the individual technology used.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Exploration licences are issued either through an "open door" system which applies to non-frontier areas such as the Celtic Sea, or through licensing rounds which apply to frontier areas such as the deeper basins of the Atlantic Margin. Applications for licences in "open door" areas may be received at any time and licences are awarded subject to the licensing terms in force at that time....

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The review process referred to in the Green Paper has to date involved analysis undertaken at the instigation of my Department in relation to the existing licensing terms. This analysis included the following: An evaluation of the current fiscal framework as an efficient means of increasing long term investment and revenue generation in the petroleum sector for the benefit of both the Irish...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no statutory function in relation to the quality of postal services. Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post. In addition, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg is responsible under the European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002 for monitoring quality of service...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of Renewable Energy Sourced Electricity (RES-E) in the internal electricity market aims to increase the overall consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources within the European Union (EU) from 14% to 22% by 2010. Analysts have pointed to the rapid development of renewable energy sources to date within the EU market but continue to question...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matters of post office closures and the automation of post offices are, in the first instance, operational matters for the Board and management of An Post and ones in which I have no function. In relation to Postpoint, this is a separate non-post office network and therefore not operated directly by An Post. I understand that the total number of post offices that have closed nationwide...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (10 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Since 2002, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. The construction by Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) of a natural gas transmission...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (11 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: One hundred and eighty-five first place Central Applications Facility (CAF) applications have been received by my Department for the ninety posts that are decentralising to Clonakilty. It is anticipated that approximately thirty-five of these CAF applicants will have transferred to Clonakilty by the end of 2006.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (11 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Department estimates that 55 billion cubic feet of gas remain to be produced from the Kinsale area gas fields and that the field could continue in production until sometime between 2011 and 2013 depending on commercial considerations and storage activity.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (11 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Responsibility for monitoring the security of Ireland's natural gas supply lies with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Under the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002, the CER is required to prepare an annual Gas Capacity Statement, which provides a 7-year rolling forecast of capacity, flows and customer demand on Ireland's natural gas system. The forecast also assesses, for a range of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (11 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has not had responsibility for any inquiry of the nature referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 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 Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of post office closures and conversions is, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post. I have been informed by the company that a total of sixteen post offices have been closed since January 2006 while the number converted to sub-post offices since that time is two. I understand that the number of post offices that existed in January 2002 and that are...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A joint industry/Government fund of â'¬18 million was established for the Broadband for Schools Programme to resource the provision of high speed broadband connectivity to all primary and post primary schools in the country by end Autumn 2006, at no cost to the schools themselves. The initiative was established to address the resourcing of broadband access to schools in the shared belief...

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: With the support of the House.

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Deputy Rabbitte is still in Opposition and will stay there. The Labour Party supported the system.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 384 together. The telecoms market in Ireland is fully liberalised and open. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication sector rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), under the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations transposing the EU Regulatory Framework...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 provides that a person shall not construct or reconstruct a generating station unless an authorisation has been granted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The conditions under which the CER may grant or refuse to grant a licence to generate electricity are set out in Section 14 (1) of the Act, as amended by Sections 32 and 16 of...