Results 3,461-3,480 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

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

Seán Power: The Programme for Government advocates the introduction of a postcode system to ensure a strong competitive postal sector and to reduce costs for consumers, business and the voluntary sector. Three reports have been commissioned to date on the introduction of postcodes. The first, published in 2005 by the Working Group on Postcodes, recommended the introduction of a postcode on the basis...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I am not aware of calls for an increase in the television licence fee. In the past, any increase in the television licence fee has been linked to RTÉ's performance against its published commitments. As the Minister mentioned in the House last month, the Department is currently reviewing RTÉ's 2007 performance and the 2008 performance review will began shortly. The outcomes of these...

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

Seán Power: I am aware of a recent EU publication about the emergency access telephone number 112, which claims that there is a low level of awareness of the number in Ireland. The emergency access number 112 was introduced to meet two objectives; the first being to provide a single access emergency number at a national level and the second being to provide a single access emergency number across all of...

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

Seán Power: The National energy targets set in the Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government for 2010 are 15% of electricity, 5% of heat and 5% of transport fuels to be from renewable sources. The objective is to deliver progressively on these targets, and the targets for 2020, on an annual basis. The estimated figures for 2008 show that approximately 11% for electricity, 4% for heat and...

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

Seán Power: Energy storage for electricity production has been developed in Ireland where it can make a useful contribution to balancing electricity supply and consumer demand. This is the case at the ESB's pumped water power station at Turlough Hill which has an installed electricity generating capacity of 292 megawatts. The "All Island Grid Study" published early last year, examines the ability of...

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

Seán Power: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control on petroleum products and it has been the policy of successive Governments to promote the model of free and fair competition with the objective of creating greater price competition and wide consumer choice. My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I am not aware of the reports referred to by the Deputy. In response to previous Dáil questions it has been stated that exploration adjacent to the base metal mine at Galmoy, County Kilkenny (Galmoy Mines Ltd.) had discovered additional resources, which had the potential to extend the life of the mine. New State Mining Licences had been granted to the company in respect of these additional...

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

Seán Power: The proposals that the European Commission has tabled will make possible the spending of €1bn for the provision of broadband access in rural areas under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The proposal requires the approval by the European Council of the European Economic Recovery Plan at the Spring Council meeting to be held on March 19th — 20th. If approved Member...

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 — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: If a company with a petroleum exploration licence were to make a commercial discovery of oil offshore it would be required to bring forward a detailed plan of development for my approval. Any such plan of development could be based on a mobile production facility or a tieback to a land based facility. The development would be governed by a petroleum lease agreed between the State and the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The Corrib gas field is the only oil or gas field offshore Ireland that has been declared as commercially viable but has yet to reach production stage. The developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completion of the development...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Grant support is available from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) for domestic and commercial geothermal heat pump applications through the "Greener Homes" scheme and the "REHeat" scheme respectively. These programmes have had significant numbers of applicants since their launch. Geothermal heating systems are highly effective heating systems and ideally suited to Ireland. Using one unit of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The 2009 inclusion allocation for the Department currently amounts to less than €1m. Of this, the legacy commitments from the 2008 Benefit scheme and other related commitments will require approximately €517,000. I am keenly aware of the important contribution that the inclusion grant schemes have been making to progressing our national inclusion objectives. I will determine the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Gas Act, 1976, as amended, provides for the conduct of an oral hearing where an objection is received to an application to the Minister for a compulsory acquisition order pursuant to section 32 of the Gas Act, for land required in connection with the construction of a natural gas pipeline. This provision was transferred to An Bórd Pleanála under Section 37 of the Planning and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 919 and 926 together. 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...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: At a meeting with councillors in December 2008, I agreed that the Fermoy Town Council would obtain, as a matter of urgency, professional advice on the existing proposals for modification of the Fermoy weir and identify any alternatives designed to achieve the agreed objectives of removal of the barrier to fish passage and retention of the amenity for the rowing club and other users. The...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Following on from the 2009 Budget Day announcement on 14th October 2008 of the overall rationalisation of State agencies, the Government has now formally approved proposals for the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector, which include the creation of a single strengthened national inland fisheries authority to be known as Inland Fisheries Ireland. This authority will replace the...

Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We are in Government.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: We are not in the House all the time.

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Who is Deputy Bannon to judge us or the electorate?