Results 3,421-3,440 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: It was the wish of all Members that competition be introduced to the market. To achieve this, it was necessary to make some changes with regard to the ESB, which had a monopoly for longer than people would have desired. To make the market attractive to new entrants, it was essential to provide certain guarantees for them such that it would be viable for them to enter the market. It was...

Written Answers — Electricity Grid: Electricity Grid (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 31 together. I am aware of the Ard Fheis motion to which the Deputy refers. While the Minister has no direct role in the operational planning and construction of the transmission system infrastructure, the Government's policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available with minimal risk of supply disruption to meet the needs of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: There has been some debate around whether customers would be best served by functional opening of the network or by a structural split between the retail and network divisions of the business. Functional or operational separation involves establishing separate network infrastructure and services divisions within a company to give competing providers access to the infrastructure on equivalent...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 14, 38 and 210 together. On 8 February, together with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister launched the Home Energy Saving Scheme, one of three priority home insulation schemes in the Government's National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery. The Home Energy Saving Scheme has an allocation of €50 million...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 51 and 56 together. The Minister is satisfied that the various incentives now in place to support microgeneration investment will attract sufficient market interest and ensure the roll-out of microgeneration projects. Net-metering specifically enables the development of small scale renewable energy projects by domestic customers. It allows the export of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable scaleable broadband services to rural areas, many of which do not currently have any broadband service. The NBS is therefore a scheme designed to provide quality but basic broadband services for those areas which do not currently have access to broadband. Whilst it is scalable in nature it was not...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Fuel Poverty Action Research Project was established by Combat Poverty and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to inform the future directions of energy efficiency programmes for vulnerable customers. The project involved a rigorous assessment of the energy, environmental, thermal comfort and health benefits of the Warmer Homes Scheme. The report of the Fuel Poverty Research Project is due...

Written Answers — Bio-fuels Industry: Bio-fuels Industry (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 19 and 33 together. As I have already advised the House, the Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes were designed as interim measures to increase the level of bio-fuels in the fuel mix, in advance of the introduction of a national bio-fuels obligation in 2010. Market penetration of bio-fuels in Ireland has grown from virtually nil in 2004 although there...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard the Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to improve broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. Additionally, ComReg's quarterly report for...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The cost of digital receivers for the Irish digital terrestrial television (DTT) market will ultimately be determined by manufacturers, retailers, RTÉ and the commercial DTT operator. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. The Act requires RTÉ to provide a free...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 62 together. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. The Act requires RTÉ to provide a free to air national digital terrestrial television system with capacity to carry RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. Under the Act the Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The consultation period for the Next Generation Broadband policy paper has now closed. Officials have examined the written submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum on 30 September 2008. The final report will be published shortly having regard to the contributions received. Any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in further...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation requires the Irish authorities to prepare a national Eel Management Plan...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Minister met the new RTÉ Authority this week and a range of issues were discussed, including but not limited to the current economic climate and the impact it is having on RTÉ. RTÉ is not alone in facing such problems. Officials from the Department and the Minister have cause to meet, from time to time with various interests that comprise the broadcasting sector. All broadcasters,...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The rollout of the national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. The Smart Meter programme is a pivotal part of the Government's strategy to significantly enhance management of energy demand and to achieve radical improvements in energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge...

Written Answers — Energy Usage: Energy Usage (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: As the Deputy will be aware the reconfiguration of Government Departments in 2007 resulted in the transfer of certain functions to other Departments. In that context, my Department has significantly reduced staff numbers and consequently we now occupy considerably less office space in Dublin. We have also vacated the Department's former offices in Castlebar. As a result it is not feasible...

Written Answers — Regional Fisheries Boards: Regional Fisheries Boards (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: As part of the overall rationalisation of State agencies that the Minister of Finance announced in Budget 2009, a new national inland fisheries body will be established, which will replace the existing Central and regional fisheries boards. I have set an ambitious target for implementation of the decision. A restructuring implementation group has been established and is developing the key...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are located within the NBS coverage area and who seek a service. 3 is currently planning the construction and rollout of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: There are a range of financial and other supports now in place to encourage the development of microgeneration. These include the new programme, administered by ESB Networks and supported by ESB Customer Supply, to support up to 4,000 microgenerators with a guaranteed price for electricity produced. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has published practical guidelines on connections for...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 58 together. In addition to the circa 1,400 megawatts (MWs) of renewable energy generating capacity already connected to the grid, there is a further 1,400 MW of projects with signed connection offers. EirGrid and ESB Networks, following decisions by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), are in the process of offering connections for a further...