Results 3,421-3,440 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan
- Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: That is the central point of my 15 minutes: the fundamental difference between the Government's approach to the development of this broadband infrastructure and that set out by the Senator, which I understand but with which I cannot agree. We have a liberalised telecommunications market and regardless of whether one agrees with that policy, it has been set in train for ten to 15 years....
- Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: It is an important step, yes. One of the problems I encountered at the conference was that my mobile telephone did not work.
- Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: I could not connect my mobile telephone to the network. I could not run Skype on the network. I could not send a single 5 Mb video file from the convention centre. While it is useful to analyse and use international comparisons to determine what is happening in other countries and learn from them, we must remember that we have our own unique characteristics. We do not have the high...
- Seanad: Broadband Infrastructure Bill 2008: Second Stage (22 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: I am certain that, for Ireland, the key development in the broadband area will be access to high-speed broadband in our schools. This will enable us to activate our children's imaginations and their ability to learn from the Internet. It will give children the tools to go to any part of the world to find help with their lessons and enable teachers to deliver an education system which is fit...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: Since my appointment as Minister, the Government, at my request, has appointed two Special Advisors to me as provided for by Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Details of these appointments are as follows: Title Date appointed Salary Press Advisor 15 June 2007 Principal Officer (Standard Scale) â¬86,168 (min) to â¬106,582 (2nd LSI) Special Advisor 27 August 2007...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms such as DSL (telephone lines), cable,...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The estimated full year cost of incremental basic pay increases awarded to existing staff in my Department in 2008 and 2009 is â¬325,000 and â¬290,000 respectively. The cost associated with incremental progression in my Department's Agencies is a day to day issue for those Agencies and I have no function in this matter.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The estimated cost of the Towards 2016 pay increase effective from 1st September 2008 to existing staff in my Department is approximately â¬475,000 per annum. The estimated cost of the proposed 3.5% pay increase in the new National Wage Agreement is â¬680,000 per annum. Payment of staff salaries in the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day-to-day operational matter for each...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms such as DSL (telephone lines), cable,...
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: A key objective of broadband policy is to develop access to at least 100 megabyte per second high speed broadband in secondary schools. The consultation paper on next generation broadband, published in July, contains a commitment to this project and discussions have taken place between officials of my Department and HEAnet to develop the means by which it will be implemented. A steering...
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: Some 3,901 out of 3,936 schools have their local broadband connectivity installed, which is over 99% of them. Installation has typically been at speeds of up to 2 megabytes per second. My belief is that it is appropriate for us to go to speeds of 100 megabytes per second and eventually to have wireless connectivity within the school, so broadband is available in each classroom and not...
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The main reason for that downturn is that we are not progressing with a further stage of investment in the metropolitan area networks. This is a policy with which Fine Gael agreed. That took up some â¬200 million over recent years. The reason for the reduction in the budget is that the programme is being reviewed. I do not see the budget cuts impacting on our ambitions in broadband...
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: No, it will not. That is why the Government will deliver in that area.
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The policy framework for future broadband development is set out in the consultation paper on next generation broadband which I published last July. A central objective is that Ireland will have universal access to broadband by end 2009 to early 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in other EU regions. That paper also sets out a number of specific actions to...
- Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: I will happily answer each question although a number of them are addressed in further parliamentary questions, which I hope we will reach. The national broadband scheme has taken slightly longer than we would have liked. My hope is that the detailed work that has gone into the preparation of the contract in advance, whoever the bidder is, will mean we will have swift roll-out and delivery...
- Fuel Poverty. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of rising energy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive strategic approach across Government and agencies. We have established an...
- Fuel Poverty. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: With regard to the fuel allowance, while one can never provide enough because on cold mornings such as we had today this is a real crisis issue for people on low incomes, the fuel allowance has doubled since 2005, and it rose by approximately 12.5% this year. While it is never at the level one would want, we should recognise the increase that has occurred. Even in the difficult budgetary...
- Fuel Poverty. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: Some 400,000 people are supported by the fuel allowance scheme, which is important and a major componentââ
- Fuel Poverty. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: Investment in the warmer homes scheme has been doubled from what it was in the previous year. With the involvement of the energy supply companies, I see no reason that we should not set a growth pattern to double it again. This is what I am working towards in recognition that helping 5,000 households this year is an important development. The approximately 20,000 households we may be able...
- Mobile Phone Bullying. (29 Oct 2008)
Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources I have overall responsibility for electronic communications policy, but I do not have responsibility with regard to the actions of persons conducting bullying or intimidation activities over electronic communications networks. I am conscious, however, that bullying in any form can be distressing, especially for children. The Irish...