Results 3,441-3,460 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Minister has consistently 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. It is also fundamental Government policy that the electricity and gas networks are retained as strategic national assets in State ownership which will never be privatised. The...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The European Commission has recently introduced rules to harmonise conditions for the provision of pan-European mobile communication services on aircraft. The rules clear the way for airlines to allow their passengers use their mobiles phones while the aircraft is in flight. It is a matter for airlines and service providers to decide whether to offer the service or not. Commercial...

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

Seán Power: I have no plans to extend the universal service obligations in the communications sector to broadband. The Government has recognised the importance of ubiquitous access to broadband and its widespread provision continues to be a priority. Government policy has been to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services, by competing private sector providers. Where market...

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

Seán Power: 40% of all energy used in the Department is from renewable sources. All of the electricity supplied to the Department's main buildings at Adelaide Road and Tom Johnson House and the storage facility at Sandyford, is from renewable sources. This results from a contract with a specific supplier negotiated by the Government Supplies Agency under which 100% of electricity supplied to my...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I presume the Deputy is referring to the Community Support Scheme which is available to those affected by the cessation of the mixed stock salmon fishery through the Leader companies, Comhdháil Oileain na hÉireann, in respect of island communities and Meitheal Forbhartha na Gaeltachta Teoranta in respect of the Gaeltacht areas. This scheme is directed at the development of additional...

Written Answers — Electricity Interconnector Projects: Electricity Interconnector Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The European Commission has included the interconnector project between Ireland and Wales on its list of proposed energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Package, which is currently being negotiated in Brussels. EirGrid, as the National Transmission System Operator, is progressing the construction of the interconnector on behalf of the State. I welcome the Commission's...

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

Seán Power: The Department intends to establish the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) as soon as is practicable after the enactment of the Broadcasting Bill 2008. The Bill has been passed by the Seanad and Report Stage in the Dáil is expected to be taken shortly.

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 69 together. The Minister together with the Minister for Transport, announced plans last year for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. The target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, will represent up to 250,000 cars on Irish roads over the next 12 years. A number of initiatives to advance the strategy...

Written Answers — RTE Reports: RTE Reports (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: RTE was established under the Broadcasting Authority Acts, 1960 to 2007, and is an independent statutory body. I have no role in its day-to-day matters. The information requested by the Deputy is provided in RTE's annual reports which have been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

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

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 67 together. In designing the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was approved by the EU Commission, the Department needed to strike a balance between reaching as many unserved areas as possible and minimising the impact of the scheme on businesses already providing broadband services in rural areas, thereby minimising market distortion in accordance...

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

Seán Power: The European Commission published a Commission Decision dated 15 February 2007 entitled "Reserving the national numbering range beginning with "116" for harmonised numbers for harmonised services of social value". The purpose of this decision is to reserve the 116 telephone number range for use for social services in Ireland. The allocation of specific numbers in the 116 number range in...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: A report entitled "Assessment of the Potential for Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide for the Island of Ireland" was commissioned by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) and Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSINI). The report, which was published in September 2008, quantifies potential carbon storage capacity...

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

Seán Power: Alternative energy supply to the national electricity grid has increased each year in the last five years for which data is available, viz. 4.4% in 2003, 5.2 % in 2004, 6.8% in 2005, 8.6% in 2006, and 9.5% in 2007. Estimates for 2008 show the figure to stand at around 11%. There are approximately 1,400 megawatts of renewables connected to the grid. In excess of 1,000MW is wind with hydro...

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

Seán Power: As the Deputy is aware, as part of the overall rationalisation of State agencies that the Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2009, a new national inland fisheries body will be established, which will replace the existing Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. This is settled Government policy and the Department is working towards its implementation. A restructuring implementation...

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

Seán Power: The Government's Energy Policy Framework identifies energy efficiency as the most cost effective means of reducing our dependence on imported energy, as well as mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has set a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and, recognising that the public sector must act as exemplars in the field of energy usage, has set a more stretching target of 33%...

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

Seán Power: The Greener Homes Scheme, since its launch in March 2006, has provided support for home owners investing in renewable energy heating technologies. The scheme has evolved over that period, supported by appropriate budgetary allocations year on year. Phase III was launched in July 2008 and continues to support the installation of a variety of technologies in existing homes. Under the Scheme...

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

Seán Power: As part of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract, 3 will deliver the following speeds: Minimum download speed will be 1.2 Mbps while the maximum download speed will be 5Mbps and Minimum upload speed will be 200Kbps while the maximum upload speed will be 1.8Mbps. These speeds are comparable to what is currently available in the marketplace in urban areas. Additionally, the service will...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: My Department is responsible for overseeing general policy and the State shareholder interest in a number of Commercial State Bodies — ESB, EirGrid, Bord Gáis Éireann, Bord na Móna, INPC, RTÉ, TG4 and An Post. These Bodies employ in the region of 23,300 and had a total turnover of some €6.7 billion in 2007 (the latest published figures). They play a critical role and, in most cases,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: As indicated in the Minister's answer to Parliamentary Question number 393 of 24th February 2009, a Geothermal Working Group was established by the Department in 2008 to set out the options for the development of a proportionate and realistic regulatory regime for geothermal energy utilisation in Ireland. As part of this process, a public consultation was held between June and August 2008....

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

Seán Power: The acquisition by the State of eircom is not under consideration. Government policy is to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services by competing private sector providers and, where market failure has occurred, the Government has intervened such as in the case of the provision of broadband infrastructure in the regions and the National Broadband Scheme (NBS)....