Results 4,521-4,540 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation was established on 1 July. That is why ComReg's financial year starts at that time of the year, rather than on 1 January. The amendment relates to the provision whereby ComReg will be required to produce an annual action plan outlining its principal planned activities and an associated annual financial forecast before the end of its financial...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 34: In page 15, line 23, after "Minister" to insert the following: "and arrange for a copy of the plan to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas". This amendment has been proposed on foot of last week's Committee Stage discussion on amendments tabled by Deputies Durkan and Broughan. I agreed at the time to give further consideration to their proposal. It is now...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: One can argue either way in regard to this matter which was discussed when the Bill was being prepared. I am not making a political point when I suggest that if Deputy Broughan were Minister and I were in opposition, he would make the argument I am making and vice versa. Having consulted a number of interests, including the Office of the Attorney General, and examined the submissions made...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is neither appropriate nor necessary to provide for the dissolution of the ECAP in primary legislation. ECAP was established under the framework regulations of 2003. Any changes to the appeals structure could be facilitated by secondary legislation. The Bill is concerned with competition and anti-competitive practices. ECAP is mainly concerned with decisions about significant market...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The majority of the Bill deals with competition and co-competition powers. ECAP must remain in respect of general decisions and directives that ComReg might issue. The commercial court, at High Court level, may be the place for such disputes, but we have not made a decision on that.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 43: In page 20, line 12, to delete "an oral or written" and substitute "a written".

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I would be.

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I can withstand the temptation of a moment of fame in exchange for a lifetime of hard work as a Minister. For that reason I do not propose to accept the amendment. The purpose of the section is to enable the Minister to make regulations for the purpose of giving effect to the European Community legislation. This arose from the Vincent Browne v Attorney General case. It provides the power...

Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no intention of dying or going anywhere. I intend to go on and on for quite some time yet.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The ability of the existing postal service and An Post to meet the future challenges of full market opening and electronic substitution are in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post and other companies operating in the market. Competition has arrived in the postal sector in Ireland and across the EU. The weight limit applying to postal items falling within the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband and mobile telephony, 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). I have no powers to influence the behaviour of private sector companies in relation to the provision of mobile...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86, 99, 114, 120, 124, 147, 163 and 186 together. The Government is firmly committed to the development of an Irish biofuels market and to the development and deployment of bio-energy generally in Ireland. A range of initiatives is already in place to support the development of the biofuels sector. The Minister for Finance has made it clear that any...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Section 16(1) of the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960, as amended, sets the core public service objectives for the RTÉ Authority. It requires the Authority to provide a national television and radio service and permits the Authority the discretion to provide "broadcasting services of a local, community or regional character". Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act 2001 expands the public...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have received the National Council for the Blind's General Election manifesto for 2007. My Department's Disability Sectoral Plan 2006-2009, under the Disability Act 2005, sets targets for improving the range of accessible services in all sectors under its aegis including communications. The Plan will be reviewed every three years and amended and updated as necessary. Under the European...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to the development and delivery of postal services and the electronic upgrading of post offices are a matter, in the first instance, for the Board and management of An Post and ones in which I have no statutory function. However, I asked the company to ensure that any strategy for the development of the company should ensure the long-term viability of the network. It was to...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 93 together. I understand that the Corrib developers anticipate first gas in late 2009. I would add, however, that completion of the development works by Shell is clearly the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Production of gas from the Corrib field is also obviously dependent on the successful re-routing of the onshore...

Written Answers — Retail Service Stations: Retail Service Stations (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into and out of the market. There is no price control on oil products and this is to ensure that the market is fully competitive. The Government is firmly committed to the development of an Irish biofuels market and to the increased development of bio-energy generally in Ireland. A range of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 365 together. The support programmes put in place by the Government to promote the increased use of renewable energy technologies in electricity production have more than doubled the total capacity of renewable energy powered electricity generating plants connected to the electricity network in the last three years. Building on the success of the...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I set up an Inter-departmental Committee on the Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, in September 2005, to consider the recommendations contained in the report, "Non-ionising radiation from mobile phone handsets and masts", published in June 2005 by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. In that report the Joint Committee recommended: "That no...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Reduction in energy sector carbon emissions will be achieved under the Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020, in particular through the actions listed under the sustainability pillar. The contribution of the energy sector to carbon emission reductions will be further addressed in the forthcoming Climate Change Strategy. Among the key relevant 2020 targets are: 33% for electricity consumption from...