Results 4,721-4,740 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Television Licences: Television Licences (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: An Post acts as an agent for my Department in respect of the sale of television licences. The number of people employed by An Post for this purpose, and their remuneration, are matters for An Post and are commercially sensitive. I have no statutory function in this regard. An Post sold 1,004,805 licences in 2006 and my Department received €156.397 million from An Post in respect of these....

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's White Paper on Energy Policy commits to the introduction over the next five years of smart meters for all electricity customers, informed by a technical, economic and cost review to be completed this year. In that context the most appropriate funding mechanism to meet the cost of installation will be determined.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have reviewed a copy of the EU Commission's 12th report on the EU's telecom markets. I note the report's finding concerning Ireland that "broadband penetration is still below the EU-25 average, but has improved substantially." I would like to point out that the speed of take-up of broadband in Ireland is extraordinary. The data used by the Commission for the report shows that the rate of...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The advice of the Office of the Attorney General is that the judgment in this case relates solely to the Animal Remedies Act 1993. Whether the judgment has implications for other legislation is under review/consideration. However, the case has no implications for the European Communities Act 1972 and regulations made thereunder or the European Communities Bill 2006 now in the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Coastal Zone Management: Coastal Zone Management (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) the continental shelf is that part of the seabed over which a coastal State exercises sovereign rights with regard to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources including oil and gas deposits as well as other minerals and biological resources of the seabed. Where the continental shelf extends beyond 200 nautical...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: TheGreener Homes Scheme is providing support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps. Funding of €47m has been provided for the scheme. There have been almost 14,000 applications received since the scheme was launched in March last year. Grant aid of €1,100 to €6,500 is being...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband by private sector companies, is a matter, in the first instance, for the companies themselves operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, (ComReg). The role of the Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Details of Ministerial staff, not being civil servants, but contracted as special advisers, political advisers, personal assistants and press officers appointed by me, including salary levels and payments in lieu of pension are as follows: Name Title Duties Date of appointment Salary Level Payments in lieu of pension Mr. James Fegan Special Adviser to the Minister Any duties which may be...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, the draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative in September 2006. The draft general scheme proposes that the functions and operations of the RTÉ Authority and Teilifís na Gaeilge would be...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: In September, 2006 I published a draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill, which includes provision for the television licence fee system. The scheme was submitted to The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources who undertook public consultation into the text as part of the eConsultation initiative. The Committee reported on the outcome of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband by private sector companies, is a matter, in the first instance, for the companies themselves operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, (ComReg). I have no function in relation to pricing for broadband services or with regard to the enabling of exchanges....

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: On 26 March I launched the expanded Renewable Heat (ReHeat) Deployment Programme to provide grants for the installation of renewable heat technologies in clubhouses, community centres and commercial premises throughout the country. The scheme is open for applications through Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and information is available on their website at www.sei.ie.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband by private sector companies, is a matter, in the first instance, for the companies themselves operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, (ComReg). The role of the Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Apr 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. My Department approved a project under the Group Broadband Scheme for several towns in Co. Carlow including Ballon. The provision of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband by private sector companies, is a matter, in the first instance, for the companies themselves operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, (ComReg). The role of the Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: On July 1 2006, EirGrid plc took over the operation of Ireland's electricity transmission system from ESB National Grid (ESBNG). EirGrid currently occupies office space within ESB premises. In order to comply with EU requirements to liberalise the electricity market, it is necessary to effect the full separation of EirGrid from ESB. The move, by EirGrid, into its own office space is an...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have not received correspondence from the source to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The proposals contained in the letter from Commissioner Borg to the Deputy have been explored by the Department in devising the Salmon Hardship Scheme and where appropriate will be incorporated into the community support scheme, the focus of which will primarily be those communities where commercial salmon fishing has been a well-established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband by private sector companies, is a matter, in the first instance, for the companies themselves operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, (ComReg). Despite Government and private investment in broadband it is recognised that there remain areas of the country...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Apr 2007)

Noel Dempsey: My Department does not provide grant aid for wind turbines. The current renewable energy support programme, known as the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT), is a fixed feed in tariff mechanism. This means that an applicant may submit an application at a fixed price based on technology and, in the case of wind, the capacity of the project. The reference price values and indexation...