Results 3,741-3,760 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 110: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 24.—(1) For the purpose of deciding whether or not to prepare, revise or implement a mine rehabilitation plan in respect of the site of a former mine or in preparing, revising or implementing such a plan, the Minister, a local authority acting as agent of the Minister or a local authority acting on its...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 111: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 25.—(1) In connection with the implementation of any mine rehabilitation plan, the Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, do either or both of the following: (a) purchase by agreement such lands, or rights in, under or over such lands or any substratum of such lands, as the Minister...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 112: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: "26.—Any expenditure incurred under this Part by the Minister or a local authority in the rehabilitation of the site of a former mine may, where considered appropriate in the circumstances, be recovered by the Minister or the local authority (as the case may be) against any person with a contractual or...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 113: In page 45, between lines 37 and 38, to insert the following: 27.—(1) This Part is in addition to, and not in substitution or restrictive of, any other requirement or obligation imposed by law. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) or in any other act or in any instrument made under an act shall be read so as to restrict the exercise of functions under this Part.".

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (Resumed) (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I thank all those who contributed to this Bill. I thank the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Acting Chairman for assisting the passage of the Bill through the House. I acknowledge the help and assistance I have received from Deputies opposite. We have had robust debate on a number of occasions as the Bill passed through the House. It has undergone a number of significant...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Television licences are granted under Section 5 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926. This Section allows for the grant of a licence to a person for a fee to keep and have possession of a television set in a specified place. Utilising revenues derived from the television licence fee and other Exchequer income, public funding is made available to allow for the provision of the television and...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (16 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is compiling the data sought and I will revert to the Deputy when I am in a position to issue a final reply.

Written Answers — Communications Infrastructure: Communications Infrastructure (16 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Legislation or regulation in relation to planning issues is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. The Interdepartmental Committee on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, set up in September 2005, is at an advanced stage in its consideration of the policy issues regarding potential health effects, if any, and is taking due...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (16 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including wired broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The role of Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to support the private sector developing a competitive,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (16 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A total of 14 full-time equivalent higher executive officer posts were advertised on the central applications facility, CAF, to decentralise to Clonakilty. To date, 12 first place priority CAF applicants have accepted decentralisation offers from my Department to relocate to Clonakilty. The remaining posts will be filled by full-time or work-sharing decentralisation applicants in accordance...

Postal Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: An Post operates within a regulatory framework as enshrined in EU and Irish law and therefore, the universal service obligation, which includes nationwide postal delivery requirements, is a statutory requirement for An Post as the designated universal service provider. To assist the company in meeting this obligation, it has a legal monopoly on all mail items weighing 50 g or less until...

Postal Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The deal between Fortis, the Belgian bank, and An Post will open the use of the postal network for financial services generally, such as insurance and so forth, as well as banking. That will operate throughout the post office network. Obviously, the post offices that are already computerised and electronically enabled will be in a position to do that straight away. Not all post offices...

Postal Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: That is a useful task it could undertake in the future.

Telecommunications Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I meet industry and interested parties on a regular basis in pursuit of my objective to facilitate the widespread availability of competitively priced broadband in Ireland. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for...

Telecommunications Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have had several meetings with Mr. Danon and Mr. Comb, including two where I met both together, during which we discussed a range of matters. At our initial meetings, the two men wanted to introduce themselves and outline their views on where their company was going and what they were planning to do. I wanted to learn their plans for broadband and the telecommunications sector in general....

Telecommunications Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I ask the Deputy to give me a chance to answer the question in my own way. We discussed a range of issues pertaining to broadband and telecommunications. The €200 million figure to which Deputy Broughan refers was reported in a Sunday newspaper but, to my recollection, it was never mentioned in any conversation I had with Mr. Danon or Mr. Comb nor did I hear it confirmed by either...

Telecommunications Services. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A tendering process would be necessary. At this stage, we are asking whether we should divide the country into small areas, as we were doing, to provide services on a countywide or regional basis or if we should develop a single national contract. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option. We are sure, however, that we want a technology neutral solution so that we do not give...

Fisheries Protection. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most prized fish. It is vital to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch. The current imperative must be to maintain stocks above conservation...

Fisheries Protection. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: For all the reasons I outlined during the discussions, which I will not reiterate, a decision was made on whether the scheme should be voluntary. I do not dispute the Deputy's contention at the committee that this might cause difficulties as people try to operate in fisheries associated with other types of fish. However, this is not a reason to allow for the extinction of the salmon. The...

Fisheries Protection. (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am absolutely sure. We have legal obligations under both national and EU law, including the habitats directive. There is absolutely no obligation on the Government to provide any form of payment but we did not believe that providing none would be fair. We asked an independent group to make a recommendation to us. It did so and we accepted the recommendation on the basis on which it made...