Results 3,601-3,620 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government remains committed fully to such a root and branch review of the energy regulatory framework. As regards the call for legislative measures, the Fine Gael party has to decide whether the regulator is to remain independent in the discharge of its functions without interference from the Oireachtas in terms of pricing decisions or timing issues on pricing reviews.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Introducing such uncertainly in the market would be counter-productive. What Fine Gael is proposing would be counter-productive. It would defer investment and undermine progress to a single all-island electricity market——

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——and it would be very bad for consumers. For all these reasons I reject these calls which are not thought out fully.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: They are simply a knee-jerk reaction to the real issue of proper, effective, necessary, proportional, transparent, accountable and consistent regulation of the electricity and gas sectors in the interests of the economy, consumers and security of supply.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 337 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme, which is part of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Low Income Housing Programme, aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households. The scheme provides funding to community-based organisations for the installation of energy efficiency measures including attic...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: 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 to secure adequate payment for their exports, a...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Only one building in my Department's property portfolio is currently vacant. This property is located at West Pier, Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. This property is within the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre complex and is managed as part of the overall management of the Fishery Harbour Centre. It is not considered necessary to have special security arrangements in place in respect of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The total spent to the end of June 2006 under the e-Commerce and communication measures of the Border, Midlands and Western and Southern and Eastern regional operational programme is €99.6 million. The total expenditure under the programme is estimated to be €179.66 million. Expenditure under the programme will primarily be on the second phase of the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Smart Telecom were allocated 1194 schools as part of the Schools Broadband Programme. A mixture of technologies were used, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), Satellite and ULL (Unbundled Local Loop). 13 ULL schools lost service as result of eircom's disconnection of Smart recently. The remaining 1181 schools were not impacted by the disconnection. Orders for reconnections were...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no contracted fuel supplier. Fuel cards are issued to some officials from the Geological Survey of Ireland in respect of travel in official vehicles owned and operated by the Department. These fuel cards are supplied by Diesel Card Ireland. Usage of these fuel cards commenced in July 2006 and therefore, costs, as requested by the Deputy, for the previous five years are not...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The siting of individual phone masts or antennae is a matter for the relevant local planning authority. I have no function in these matters.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I stated in my reply to the Deputy on 24 October 2006 that consideration of the proposal to bring gas to Sligo from the Mayo-Galway pipeline is insufficiently mature at this stage to be able to submit a definitive position on possible State Aids implications of any funding configuration to the EU Commission. In this regard, I am awaiting the outcome of the feasibility study and cost-benefit...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There are currently nine officials and four contract staff working in the Communications Development Division, which has responsibility for the matters raised by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The question of a third call of the county and group broadband scheme is currently being considered in the context of the options being developed to address the delivery of broadband nationwide.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Order for Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The amendment is not accepted. It proposes the deletion of the word "as" from line 4 of page 6. "Agency" means the body corporate formed and registered under the Companies Act and continued in existence under section 7 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Bill. I do not propose to accept the amendment.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It is not necessary.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not accepting this amendment. I accept the motivation in putting it down but it would have the opposite effect to the effect the Deputy wants. My understanding of the intent of the Deputy is that he wants biofuels mentioned in this section because of the increased importance of biofuels, renewable energy sources and so on in the future. I do not disagree with his view that they will...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not sure whether it would be in order to comment on Deputy Cowley's statement. I could do so but——

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We are desperately trying to encourage foreign and native exploration companies to determine whether we have the reserves to which the Deputy referred.