Results 4,681-4,700 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 789 and 798 together. There are currently over 1,400 megawatts (MWs) of renewable powered electricity generating plants connected to the electricity grid of which in excess of 1,000 MWs is wind-powered plant, followed by hydropower with 240 MWs approximately, and various biomass projects constituting the remainder. There are an additional 1,400 MWs,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2008, my Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are located within the NBS area and who seek a service. Challenging roll-out targets have been agreed with 3 and NBS services have already been launched in a small...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table: State-sponsored body Exchequer funding provided? Statutory Borrowing limit Debt as detailed in most recently published Annual Report Bord Gáis No €3 billion 2008 - €1.2 billion Bord na Móna No €400 million 2008 - €96 million EirGrid No €750 million 2008 - €37 million ESB No €6 billion 2007 - €1.9 billion...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Expenditure incurred by my Department since its formation in June 2007 on national and international travel is detailed in the following table. Year National â'¬ International â'¬ 2009 (to 7th July 09) 136,068 133,943 2008 392,305 496,869 2007 (June to December) 285,332 379,811 These amounts include all costs associated with travel such as transport, accommodation and subsistence costs.

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have previously stated my view that in the future we may have to move away from the television licence as a basis for the funding of public service broadcasting. I have, however, no immediate plans in this regard. However, it is also my view that the licence fee has served us well to date, despite its limitations. It has ensured some measure of independence for RTÉ from both political...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Jul 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. Details of broadband availability from service providers together with the availability of broadband services in specific areas, including areas in County Leitrim and County Roscommon, are available at...

Written Answers — Smart Economy: Smart Economy (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have no plans to have an independent assessment of the proposals in the policy document referred to by the Deputy carried out. My views on the proposals contained within the document were articulated during the Dáil debate on 29 April last and are on the record of the House. More generally I am satisfied that the policy issues in my area of responsibility referred to in the document will...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a Biofuel Obligation, which will underpin delivery of the national biofuel target and which will take full account of EU biofuels policy. My Department is currently finalising proposals for the necessary legislation, with a view to the introduction of the Obligation in 2010. The Biofuels Obligation will also integrate the EU...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, RTÉ, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) have obligations to provide for the rollout of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and to assist in the development of a plan for analogue switch off. There is no requirement on RTÉ to roll out a full DTT infrastructure by end 2009. I am...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Wales is set to switch off its analogue television services in autumn 2009. As the Deputy will realise this is a development over which I have no control. It is likely to impact viewers along the South East of the country who currently receive overspill of the UK television signals. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected. The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) has...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The position remains that any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in any further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, will be guided by (i) the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband, which I published last month, (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review undertaken on Phase I of the MANs Programme, (iii) the availability of resources, and...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available the information requested by the Deputy cannot be extracted and collated into a reply. The scope of the request is such that it would require the commitment of significant resources and staff time that cannot be justified. If the Deputy has a specific issue that he wishes to have examined, I will arrange to have it looked into

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I can advise the Deputy that the company in question has not been contracted to build any facilities by my Department. Contracts entered into by bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are day to day operational issues for those bodies and therefore a matter for them.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: This Bill is designed to get people back to work. Deputy Burton suggested that there might be political advantage to staying in Government at the moment - that it was an easy call to stay in and it would be good for a political party.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is not an easy time in Government-----

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----but it is a time when one can do a significant amount of good. One can make effective change for the sake of the common good, particularly if one saw this crisis coming, as the Green Party did. Only two and a half years ago, while in Opposition, I saw the obsession with property taxes. We were told we had to keep house-building going and cut stamp duty. In the seven years I have been...

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In my experience of looking at the kernel of this problem, which party can hold its hands up and say its members have not been engaged in the most reckless and now clearly wrong zoning?

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It was the kernel of the problem we had. More than any other party, we said it was wrong.

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: What other party but ours saw the growth illusion for what it was? We were told we could have constant growth and that markets would rise forever. We were told that Celtic tiger growth of 7% or 8% per year was ordained to last forever and a day. What other party but our own went into the last election with the lowest growth expectation?

National Asset Management Agency Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Sep 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Having seen this problem coming, we are well placed in Government to help the country get out of it. It is a hard time to be in Government, but I believe it is the right time for the Green Party to put its vision into action for it is a time of real change. We will ensure that there is change in the strangely conservative and reckless banking system we have, conservative in that it was...