Results 3,381-3,400 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Departmental Bodies. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The programme for Government contains a commitment with regard to retaining the electricity and gas network infrastructures, as strategic national assets, in State ownership. It is intended to ensure these assets are never privatised.

Departmental Bodies. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We have no intention of selling off any of our assets.

Departmental Bodies. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We also have no intention of selling off any of the companies. Even if it was our intention, I cannot think of a worse environment in which to contemplate their sale. We attach great importance to these companies and consideration has not been given to selling any of them.

Departmental Bodies. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I can only provide the Deputy with the information at my disposal. While I appreciate the Exchequer currently has a pressing need for funds, as I stated earlier, I could not think of a worse time to be contemplating the sale of State resources. We have not given consideration to selling any of the bodies that come under the remit of my Department nor is it our intention to do so.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 6 and 48 together. The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland's ocean energy potential. Not only will ocean energy contribute to Ireland's renewable energy targets, it has considerable potential for inward investment and enterprise activity in support of economic renewal. The multi-annual ocean energy package, which I...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Deputy judges the priority the Government gives to something by the amount of money it spends on it. There is probably some truth in that. The Deputy mentioned this on the last Question Time and the Minister explained clearly——

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: No. For capital expenditure the Department of Finance is taking a hands-on approach. It is doing that in the interest of the country to ensure that what we are spending needs to be spent and that we are getting good value for the spend. I am being honest with the Deputy. I agree that there is huge potential in ocean energy. A study carried out by Bacon/ESBI calculated that up to 1,900...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: So far there have been 20 expressions of interest, leading to seven firm proposals being submitted by developers. Contracts for funding of three of those projects will be issued within a few weeks. Four proposals are currently the subject of technical and business evaluation. Funding decisions will be made in light of these evaluations. The expenditure on the prototype fund in 2009 is...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We are all probably vulnerable to attack in these times. With regard to the announcement of €26 million, that figure was given as the amount required to be invested in the short term to develop the industry and provide the type of support needed for research and applied research leading to the full scale commercialisation of the technology. One of the first companies operating in this...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I have outlined the €7 million we plan to spend now. We have clearly set out the priority we are giving to ocean energy and we are providing the necessary funds to allow that sector to develop.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We never gave a commitment to spend €26 million over——

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Let me finish.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We never gave a commitment to spend €26 million over a particular 12 month period.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: That is different. We gave the figure of €26 million, which we considered to be the investment that was required over the three-year period. That has not yet happened. We have had to develop the strategy and get the right people on board. That took a little longer than anticipated. We are quite clear about the strategy we have adopted and I have outlined the €7 million we will spend...

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The contracts will be finalised over the next few weeks.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I cannot divulge what those contracts will contain.

Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Excusez-moi, s'il vous plaît?

Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The engagement of a management services entity, MSE II, is the subject of a procurement process and is currently in the contract negotiation phase with the preferred bidder, eNet. I expect that to conclude by the end of March. Because it is a procurement process, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further. All completed phase II networks are being managed, maintained and operated...

Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: A total of 58 MANs covering 64 towns have been completed during 2007 and 2008. The remaining two MANs towns of Edenderry and Kinsale will be substantially completed during 2009.

Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Under phase I of the metropolitan area networks programme——