Results 4,081-4,100 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have consulted with the officials of my Department and can advise the Deputy that all statutory instruments made during 2006 were published in the usual way pursuant to Section 3 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1947.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: We cannot even get electronic voting working.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is a pity the Opposition did not listen to the Government.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The commission clearly stated the voting system was quite robust.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I can multi-task.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I am glad the debate has demonstrated a degree of unanimity in support of the Bill and in suggesting possible amendments to it. I am willing to be flexible, without delaying its passage too long. Some of the suggestions are worthy of consideration and I hope to look favourably on some of them. As Senators have agreed, the Bill is vital to...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The BCI will then offer to the market further multiplexes to be filled with content. The extent to which various commercial broadcasters come forward to avail of this service will be a matter for the market. We cannot predict how many channels will be available but those free-to-air channels will certainly be available. Some Senators have asked about the technical aspects of the analogue...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Yes. Section 15 is even more explicit in this regard in that it amends section 32 of the 2001 Act to empower the Minister to direct the RTE Authority, in the interests of transparency, to maintain a special account of its use of public funding in relation to the provision of the new television services for Irish communities abroad. In other words, RTE cannot simply indicate it is spending a...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Yes. We can go back to Tara and so on, but one of the difficulties that will have to be faced by RTE in all this concerns rights and how that problem will be overcome. I know RTE is exercising its mind on this issue. Everybody is aware and I have made RTE aware, although I did not need to as it was very alert to this matter, that a purely archive-based service will not be acceptable. We...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Yes. Reference was made to advertising for children with regard to age differences. There are advertising codes in place. The advertising code for children generally defines a child as a person younger than 18 years and it sets further standards for children under 15 and under six. That partly answers Senator Ryan's point, although he also referred to the differences in programming....

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Yes. At every available opportunity, the issue of full coverage in Northern Ireland is raised frequently by my colleagues at a technical and political level, which will be welcomed by Members. In the talks about the different multiplexes, digital terrestrial television might allow for arrangements that are not currently possible. We will try to ensure all the channels will be available in...

Leaders' Questions (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: That was a second question.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together. The Dunquin prospect is still being explored and, as yet, no discovery, commercial or otherwise, has been made. Seismic data was acquired over the prospect last year and subject to positive results it is hoped that an exploration well will be drilled there in the next couple of years. No wells have been drilled on the structure to...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Since 2002, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. Last year, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) directed BGÉ to implement a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including 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 enabling of exchanges to provide DSL broadband is a matter for the service providers. My priority remains that there will be broadband...

Written Answers — Petroleum Plants: Petroleum Plants (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited (INPC) business and commercial assets were sold on 16 th July 2001. The INPC was paid in full for these assets on 16 th July 2001. An undertaking, by the purchaser, and its successors, to operate the facilities on a fully commercial basis for at least 15 years, was a key element of this transaction. While the headline payment figure was $100...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: In my official capacity, I travelled by commercial airline in the last year as follows: Dublin — London — San Francisco — Seattle — London — Dublin Dublin — Galway — Dublin Dublin — Dubai — Dublin Dublin — Cork — Dublin Dublin — Paris — Vietnam — Hong Kong — London — Dublin

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The position is that this is a matter for TV3 and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, which is an independent statutory body. TV3 operates under a contract with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The coverage to be achieved by TV3 is one of the matters provided for in that contract.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: In the time available, it has not been possible to compile the information requested. My Department is compiling data sought by the Deputy in this regard and I shall forward it to him as soon as possible.

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: He has a much better source than the Daily Mail.