Results 3,401-3,420 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Telecommunications Services. (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We have a different household distribution and we have more people in households than anywhere else in Europe.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 12 together. The Government is firmly committed to the development of an Irish biofuels market and to the increased development of bio-energy generally in Ireland. A range of initiatives are in place to support the development of a biofuels sector in Ireland. The 2005 pilot mineral oil tax relief scheme for biofuels has resulted in eight projects being...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 80 together. In June 2004 further to a competitive, public tender process, E-Net was awarded the contract to manage, maintain, market and operate the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) for a period of 15 years. E-Net is an independent company based in Limerick established solely for this purpose. Under Phase 1 of the MANs programme, twenty-seven networks...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There is a range of requirements that apply to infrastructure projects like the Corrib Gas Project. As a consequence of both the independent Safety Review process, carried out for my Department by Advantica, and of the Cassells Report into the difficulties surrounding the project, a series of additional requirements have been made of the developer. The Advantica report found that proper...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Post office closures and conversions are, in the first instance, an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function. I would refer the Deputy to the following appendix, which details the number and location of post offices closed and converted to date, in 2006. As clearly set out in the Programme for Government, this Government and the Board of...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Issues in relation to postmasters employed by An Post are, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. Despite this I have met with the IPU on a number of occasions and addressed their Annual Conference. The Government has been and continues to be committed to the objective of securing and maintaining the largest...

Written Answers — Electricity Infrastructure: Electricity Infrastructure (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Decisions in relation to the location and construction of electricity infrastructure are day-to-day operational matters for ESB and Eirgrid, subject to planning requirements and not a matter in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The telecoms market in Ireland is fully liberalised and open. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of the 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 for Electronic Communications Networks and...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Earlier this year, I launched a new ocean energy strategy, which aims to put Ireland at the forefront of ocean energy development and position us to capitalise on this resource. The strategy was developed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Marine Institute. As the first stage in implementing this strategy, we have recently upgraded the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre in UCC...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 51, 88 and 102 together. Gas and electricity tariffs are the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation, under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act, 2002 and it would be inappropriate for me to comment.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no plans, at this stage, to introduce a Post and Postal Services Bill before the general election. With respect to strategies for the development of An Post, that is a matter, in the first instance for the board and management of the company. My officials and I have met with the new chief executive of An Post since his appointment earlier this year. The company has made a commitment...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The key objectives contained in the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill are as follows: To establish a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters to be known as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and encompassing the existing regulatory functions of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and...

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Exchequer expenditure at the Digital Hub since 2000 is approximately €128 million to date. This includes approximately €76 million investment in property and infrastructure as well as approximately €52 million in operational costs. The Digital Hub has been and will continue to be successfully developed as a digital industry cluster, as well as a regeneration of an historic community...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for...

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: In 2005 the "average" dwelling was responsible for emitting approximately 8.7 tonnes of CO2. This represents a reduction in the emissions of energy-related CO2 per dwelling decreased by 19% over the period 1990 to 2005. Sustainable Energy Ireland administers a number of incentive schemes directed at different aspects of the home energy market. Activities and achievements to date are...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: To date, 19 Departmental staff have so far decentralised to Cavan, and 25 staff to Clonakilty. In addition, 15 of my Department's staff have left to join other Departments with a view to decentralising elsewhere under the Decentralisation Programme. Based on current figures, approximately 361 of my Department's Dublin based staff have indicated that they do not wish to relocate to Cavan or...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 61 together. The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The EU regulatory framework for both energy and telecoms is in place for the benefit of consumers and the economy. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for the regulation of the telecoms industry in accordance with the EU regulatory framework transposed in 2003 and the Communications Regulation Act of 2002. One of ComReg's key objectives is to promote the...

Written Answers — Postal Codes: Postal Codes (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 76 together. Ireland is one of the few developed countries that does not have a postcode. As regards An Post's current coding system, it has characteristics that impact upon its suitability for use as a public postcode system and it is not consistent with the generally accepted definition of a postcode as a "unique, universal identifier that...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Field: Corrib Gas Field (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Notwithstanding the fact that my function in relation to the Corrib Gas Field is a regulatory one, I have been endeavouring to create the conditions that would allow the difficulties associated with this project to be resolved. Arising from local concerns about safety, I had a comprehensive safety review of the onshore upstream gas pipeline carried out by Advantica consultants last year. The...