Results 3,321-3,340 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (10 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences (PLs) issued in the last five years are contained in the following table. PLs Issued Years 2004-2008 Year Total issued Issued 1 Jan-30 June Issued 1 July-31 Dec 2004 26 25 1 2005 51 30 21 2006 165 77 88 2007 143 51 92 2008 91 31 60 No new economic deposits of minerals have been discovered onshore in recent years. However, there...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Field: Corrib Gas Field (10 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: The developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas.

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I am pleased to introduce the Gas (Amendment) Bill for Committee Stage consideration in the Seanad. The Bill has one provision, namely, to increase the statutory borrowing limit that applies in respect of Bord Gáis Éireann from the existing figure of €1.7 billion to €3 billion. Its enactment will give the company the legal ability to access funds to develop the strategic direction set...

Seanad: Gas (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I thank Senators for their very positive contributions. I very much appreciate their support in progressing the Bill through Committee Stage. The Bill has been passed by the Dáil and will make its way to the President for consideration and signature into law. As I mentioned earlier, we are attempting to increase the statutory borrowing limit of Bord Gáis Éireann from its existing €1.7...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I thank Senator Keaveney for raising this matter. I am happy to reply and to provide as much information as possible. Project Kelvin will provide direct international telecoms connectivity between the north west of Ireland and North America and Europe by bringing a transatlantic submarine telecoms cable ashore in County Derry. This is a joint EU funded cross-Border co-operation project...

Seanad: Telecommunications Services (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: The meeting took place on 21 July last year. The Department was represented but I do not have the names of the individual or individuals who attended but I would be more than happy to make further inquiries within the Department before coming back to the Senator. Each town, including Derry and Letterkenny, where these services will be offered has the same opportunity to compete for any...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am happy to reply on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, who, unfortunately, cannot be present. Timing is important in any business but particularly in politics and I compliment the Senator on his timely intervention on this matter. As he may be aware, the Minister announced details of 43 major school building...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I thank the Senator for his comments. He is not obliged to keep the good news to himself.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. In compliance with European Council Regulation No.1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, a draft Eel Management Plan was submitted to the EU Commission for approval. Given the critical status of the eel stock, as demonstrated in the assessment contained in the draft Eel Management Plan, a number of...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (17 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: Exploration for petroleum is an expensive and high risk activity usually carried out by the private sector under licence from States. The stability of the regulatory regime is an important factor in attracting exploration investment. The terms applicable to successful exploration are made known in advance and have varied from time to time. Variations, which can be upwards or downwards,...

Seanad: National Insulation Programme: Motion (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I very much welcome this motion and thank Senators Butler and Brady for their support and endeavours in tabling it. I acknowledge the contributions from the other side and Senator O'Reilly's support. He is a little critical of the timing but in general he is very supportive of what is proposed. The national insulation programme for economic recovery, launched by the Minister for...

Seanad: Garda Investigations (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: On behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, on my own behalf and on that of everyone in this House, I offer condolences to the family of the victim in this sad case. I understand how a protracted delay in returning personal property would cause personal distress. Following the inquest into the death of the person concerned in February 2008, contact was made with the...

Seanad: Garda Investigations (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I will be happy to do that.

Seanad: Eel Fisheries (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I thank Senator Norris for raising this matter. I have discussed it with many people who are involved in the eel industry. I am fully aware of the legitimate concerns of commercial eel fishermen who are affected by the demise of European eel stocks. I met representatives of the eel fishing industry before Christmas, before Ireland submitted its plan to Brussels, and again in recent weeks....

Seanad: Eel Fisheries (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: The Senator has raised a number of issues and I am happy to respond to them. I could give him the dates of meetings I had with individuals on the matter. In fact, a number of colleagues from both Houses sat in at meetings with me when eel fishermen were brought in to make their case. I have not refused to meet anyone.

Seanad: Eel Fisheries (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I was happy to facilitate any request I got to have a meeting about the eel management plan. I should mention that a blog has appeared recently, obviously written by people involved in the eel industry, which is despicable. It is a serious attack on civil servants who are doing their best working on behalf of the country. I find the behaviour of the people responsible for that despicable...

Seanad: Eel Fisheries (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: That is okay. On the scientific advice, I would be happy to provide the advice that was given to me to the Senator. I felt with the advice being made available to me I was in no position to make any other decision other than to do what I did.

Seanad: Eel Fisheries (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: We are talking about depleted stocks. The action we are taking now might be too late. There is no certainty that we can recover the stock but we are making every effort to do it. Regarding the instruction from Europe, we had to submit our plan by 31 December and as a minimum countries which failed to do that would have to see a reduction of 50% in their catch, in addition to the plan they...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I take this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to this House the enormous work which has been carried out by my Department at schools in the Lucan area in recent years and the extent of work planned over coming years in order...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together. Licence duties for commercial salmon fishing are set by the Minister, on foot of an Order, the most recent being the Fisheries (Commercial Fishing Licences) (Alteration of Duties and Fees) Order 2007 (SI. No. 812 of 2007), approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. These fees are uniform across all fisheries regions and are currently...