Results 3,821-3,840 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas and associated conditions for fisheries for 2007 under the Common Fisheries Policy will be decided at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers from 19-21 December 2006. The Council will be preceded by a series of working groups and other meetings at which each Member State will endeavour to negotiate the best possible outcome in the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006, which was published on 20 November, provides for the establishment and operation of a single competitive wholesale electricity market on the island of Ireland. The Bill will, inter alia, provide a framework for the performance of the functions of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) relating to the single...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The telecommunications market in Ireland is fully liberalised and open and the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of this sector rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), under the Communications...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has lead responsibility for Government policy on meeting Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol. The energy sector will make its contribution to meeting our obligations under the Kyoto protocol through participation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The Government has already decided, in the context of the...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post. The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the provisions of S.I. 616 of 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is responsible for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There are no market problems as implied by the Deputy's question and the deployment of the technologies concerned is continuing as normal. The Greener Homes Scheme, which I launched in March, provides grant aid for domestic renewable heat technologies. Approximately 44% of the applications received to date relate to wood pellet boilers or stoves. The BioHeat Programme, which I launched in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Over-fishing and illegal practices by other EU fishing fleets in Irish waters are and have been a matter of ongoing concern to me, to my colleague Minister of State Browne, and to the Department. Illegal practices militate against the protection of our fisheries resources, and their exploitation in a sustainable way into the future. I have previously raised Ireland's concerns on these issues...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 147 together. The economy and society overall require that energy supply meets the demands of Irish consumers, and industry, at all times. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), has broad statutory functions in relation to security of electricity supply in line with EU Directives. It is the duty of the CER to monitor the security of supply of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's Green Paper on Energy Policy outlines future directions for energy policy based on the three pillars of: security of supply; environmental sustainability and; economic competitiveness. Ireland's continued economic growth and competitiveness depends on a reliable and competitively priced energy supply. The competitiveness of Irish energy supply requires action on a number of...

Written Answers — Bord na Móna: Bord na Móna (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's objective with regard to Bord na Móna is to ensure the long-term viability of the Company having regard to the declining and finite nature of its existing businesses. I approved, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, Bord na Móna's future strategy proposals in October 2005. Included in the strategy are projects in the renewable energy, waste management and...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Minister of State John Browne and myself established the Seafood Strategy Review Group in June 2006 with the objective of consulting with all stakeholders to devise a strategy for the 2007-13 period for the delivery of a sustainable and profitable seafood industry in Ireland. I expect to receive the report of the Seafood Strategy Review Group within the next two to three weeks. This report...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for spectrum management. Earlier this year ComReg established a licensing scheme to permit wireless public address systems (WPAS), and allow what is seen as a valuable community service to continue in a way that is regulated and will not cause problems for the broadcasting content regulator and other users...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has lead responsibility for Government policy on climate change, including the Review of the National Climate Change Strategy. The Review, entitled "Ireland's Pathway to Kyoto Compliance" was published for consultation earlier this year and is currently being considered by the Minister. My Department participates...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Details of the 90 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) to be constructed during 2006 and 2007 and contracted costs for the 26 MANs currently under construction are as follows. Metropolitan Area Networks County Total Contracted Price €m Bantry Cork n/a Blarney Cork n/a Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy, Passage West Cork n/a Charleville Cork n/a Cobh Cork n/a Dunmanway Cork n/a Fermoy Cork...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I meet with 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...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The report to which the Deputy refers made a number of worrying points in relation to the consequences of the loss of biodiversity, the effects of overfishing, loss of species, and their effects on the ability of the oceans to heal themselves. However, the report's main author goes on to say "I am confident we will not go there because we will do something about it". Here in Ireland, we are...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I can advise the Deputy that one of the strategic objectives set down in the All-island energy development framework for natural gas is a common approach on natural gas storage and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). With this in mind, the issue of a strategic gas reserve is one of the issues to be addressed by means of an all-island study to be commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Energy Policy Green Paper: Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland sets out the Government's commitment to realise the potential of small-scale renewable sources. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is undertaking comprehensive analysis in relation to metering and reward systems that adequately and equitably treat both generators and system operators. There is no doubt that we can...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156, 159, 175 and 366 to 368, inclusive, together. In view of the strategic importance of the Corrib Gas project, I have, over the past eighteen months, been proactively engaged in efforts to create the conditions that would allow the difficulties associated with the project to be resolved. My statutory responsibilities in this matter relate to the regulatory...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post. The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the provisions of S.I. 616 of 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is responsible for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring...