Results 4,581-4,600 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to compete in a liberalised market, provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide, customer-focused network of post offices. It is the responsibility of the board and management of the company to make strategic decisions regarding its future and how it will prepare itself for...

Written Answers — Energy Security: Energy Security (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has recently announced that it has given approval to the development by EirGrid of the East-West Interconnector. The East-West Interconnector is a 500 Megawatt High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and Britain.The interconnector will, as a national strategic asset, remain in public ownership and will be owned and...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 183 and 184 together. The Government has set targets to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to electricity consumed to 15% at least by 2010 and 40% at least by 2020. The 2010 target exceeds an EU target addressed to Ireland to increase the contribution from renewable sources to 13.2% of electricity consumed by 2010 and the 40% target...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief (MOTR) Schemes have resulted in 18 projects overall being awarded excise relief between 2005 and 2010. Of these projects, four are in the biodiesel category, four are in the bioethanol category, five are in the captive fleets category and five are in the pure plant oil category. My Department does not have details of companies outside of the MOTR Schemes...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services can be provided over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre by the private sector service providers. I understand that broadband is available in Knockroe, Kilnamartyra, County Cork from Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), Mobile, Wireless and satellite service providers as detailed in the table below. My...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In order to ensure the highest quality and safety standards of work for all homeowners in receipt of grants under the Home Energy Saving Scheme, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has set a number of conditions which contractors must meet, in order to be registered to carry out works under the Scheme. These conditions include a requirement to carry employers' liability insurance of €13...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In designing the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was approved by the EU Commission, my Department needed to strike a balance between reaching as many unserved premises as possible and minimising the impact of the scheme on businesses already providing broadband services in rural areas, thereby minimising market distortion in accordance with EU state aid rules. EU State aid and...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid, with the approval of the Government, is developing the East West Interconnector to schedule. The Government is fully committed to the cost effective delivery of the interconnector in the interests of consumers as a key strategic energy infrastructure project. The Government decided in 2006 that the interconnector will, as a national strategic asset, remain in public ownership and...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 430 and 431 together. I can advise the Deputy that my Department has not carried out any advertising campaigns during the first six months of 2009. Any such campaigns carried out by bodies under the aegis of my Department are day to day operational issues and a matter for those bodies.

Written Answers — Home Energy Saving Scheme: Home Energy Saving Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which I launched in February, has funding of €49m in 2009. Already over 12,000 householders have been approved for grant aid under the scheme and there is potential for up to 30,000 householders to benefit from the range of energy efficient measures available by the end of the year. It is important to strike an appropriate balance between value for money in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Where the Department enters into contracts relating to exploration for or production of oil and gas, it does not revoke such contracts unless there is a breach of the contract terms by the other party. The Department is actively engaged in promoting opportunities for exploration for oil and gas offshore Ireland with the aim of attracting an increased share of mobile international exploration...

Written Answers — Home Energy Saving Scheme: Home Energy Saving Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Since the Home Energy Saving Scheme was officially launched on 25 March, there have been no specific changes made to the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and its website carries a wealth of information on the measures supported and how homeowners can apply. Where queries have arisen from homeowners regarding interpretation of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services can be provided over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre by private sector service providers. I understand that broadband is available in Rathmullen, County Donegal, from DSL, wireless, mobile and satellite service providers as detailed in the following table. My Department operates a dedicated...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Legal advice was recently furnished to my Department and the next steps in regard to this case are now being considered in light of this advice. My Department will then progress the matter as speedily as possible.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Schemes: Alternative Energy Schemes (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Warmer Homes Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and delivered by community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOs work in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisations, including public health nurses, MABS and St. Vincent De Paul, to identify and address the energy needs of vulnerable homes. The scheme provides structural...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The following is the position regarding Value for Money (VFM) reviews carried out by my Department during the past three years: Expenditure review of the Sustainable Energy Priority of the ESIOP -Report published and laid before Oireachtas Committee in July 2006. The Group Broadband Scheme — Report published and laid before Oireachtas Committee in December 2007. Metropolitan Area Networks...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amount of interest paid to suppliers by my Department under the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997, since the establishment of the Department in June 2007, is detailed in the following table: Year Amount â'¬ 2009 (to date) 435.61 2008 1,725.96 June to Dec 2007 287.46 My Department aims, in its dealings with suppliers of goods and services, to pay all invoices as soon as possible...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) electricity micro-generation programme is supporting a number of micro scale projects including wind turbines that are targeted at resolving technical issues including: defining the requirements for qualification and certification of technologies and defining necessary arrangements for qualification, certification and training of installers. This will be...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e over the telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre. In order to address a lack of broadband in areas where it was not commercially viable for the private sector to operate my Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The development and operation of the natural gas network is, in the first instance, a matter for Gaslink, the gas transmission system operator, which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent...