Results 3,341-3,360 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (1 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources I have no statutory function in this matter. I understand that the payment of wages on foreign flagged ships is a matter for the flag state where the ship is registered and for the internal domestic laws of that country.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very proud and honoured to commence the Second Stage debate on the Broadcasting Bill 2008. This Chamber has seen historic debate in the past days. Listening to the radio this morning, I heard an interview with our colleague in the Seanad, Senator Martin Brady, when he was exiting at 7 a.m. He used the analogy that what we were doing...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: These are all valid and there is a proper place and part for these topics in our entertainment. However, the regulation of broadcasting will always be difficult as it must also deal with the trickier, more sensitive areas of politics, sex, religion——

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: ——and how broadcasters approach that aspect of our culture and our national conversation. I was fortunate first to introduce this Bill in the Seanad where there was a very interesting, wide-ranging and well informed debate. An example from that debate showing how complex these issues can be comes to mind. Senator Rónán Mullen questioned why it is we allow advertising of tarot cards,...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That is equally a question that could be asked. I raised the point and I have asked my officials in framing the Bill to examine those issues, and to see if wording applies which could steer the regulators or broadcasters towards a sensibility that is in tune with the national conversation and with our sense of our collective consciousness. This sounds very broad, but I believe that is the...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I could not agree more. There are also benefits to come from having that public broadcasting remit. I listened intently to the weather forecast on the radio during the summer. Although it was such a straight, old fashioned approach it was the most crucial programme of the day and represented the most important and innovative programming because it related to my holiday and my time. There...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That is sometimes the case——

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: ——but politics works best when we do the hard work to find the truth of the story and then explain it. It is the same in broadcasting because it must be easy sometimes to stir up controversy for the sake of it and not stick to trying to find the truth. That is not in the public service interest, be it in a commercial, independent or public sector broadcaster. The second definition of...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: While that has been a success, we need to further refine the assessment of what RTE produces in return for its licence fee. The system of measurement needs to be more sophisticated than a simple tally of the number of hours of programming in each category — it should refer to some of the broad values I mentioned earlier. While those values may be difficult to define, it is appropriate for...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I do not think it is the correct term.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have no function in the matter of the enabling for broadband purposes of exchanges owned by private companies or the quality of lines for provision of broadband services. It is anticipated that the facilitation of greater competition via the introduction of broadband from different technology platforms should encourage the more rapid enabling of exchanges for broadband.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The pilot areas for the individual strands of the Home Energy Savings Pilot Scheme are Limerick County Council, Clare County Council, Dundalk Town Council, Thurles Town Council and Tipperary SERVE area (an area within North Tipperary which is the subject of an EU energy project coordinated by Tipperary Energy Agency and North Tipperary County Council). The pilot also includes a Cluster...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (2 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) operates a range of programmes in support of sustainable energy products and services aimed at securing greater energy efficiency and wider exploitation of renewables in the residential, business and industrial sectors. Among these programmes are: Warmer Homes Scheme (energy efficiency upgrades for low income households) Greener Homes Scheme (renewable...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: It seems to me that I grew up with Séamus Brennan. I remember in the 1970s watching "Seven Days" and seeing him appear on it, almost like a character from an American movie like "All the President's Men". He had the collar, tie, sideburns and hair to go with modern times and modern politics. I grew into political consciousness during the election of 1977, when all the razzmatazz and...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Intelligent lighting systems offer very significant potential for energy efficiency savings in buildings. Many new public buildings are including advanced lighting systems that encompass high-efficiency fittings and advanced controls. Retrofit solutions are also available and can sometimes offer attractive returns on investment, but are not always economically justified. I understand that...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The website of the Government's climate change awareness campaign, www.change.ie, provides a carbon calculator that enables everyone to work out their own carbon footprint. Using this tool, my Department has estimated that the CO2 emissions arising in the course of my ministerial functions for the period 14 June 2007 to 14 June 2008 amounted to 11.38 tonnes. Of this, 5.92 tonnes related to...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the analysis published by EirGrid in 2007, which provides a framework to assess cost implications of wind powered generation under a range of scenarios. EirGrid advise that the framework supersedes the study they published in 2004. It is also the case that since the 2007 framework was published fossil fuel prices have risen exponentially and the Single Wholesale Electricity...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The East-West Interconnector is a 500MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and Britain. This project is of strategic national importance to Ireland and its delivery to schedule by 2012 is a key Government priority. The interconnector will enhance the reliability and security of electricity supply, promote competition in the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The All-Island Grid Study concluded that it is feasible to generate 42% of electricity on the island of Ireland from renewable energy sources by 2020 subject to a number of factors including the pace and scale of grid development and reinforcement and the development of more flexible conventional operational capacity on the system. The study shows that we have the potential to do more than...

Written Answers — Electricity Sector: Electricity Sector (7 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I refer the Deputy to my statement of 13 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. The unbundling of the transmission assets involves the resolution of complex technical,...