Results 461-480 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I recently announced proposals for revisions to the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme for the 2006 season. In doing so, I also reaffirmed the Government's intention to introduce measures to align fully the management of the fishery with the scientific advice for 2007. Following careful consideration, I have decided to adopt the recommendations made to me by the National Salmon...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 67, 212 and 213 together. The Government's policy is to encourage further exploration for hydrocarbons while maximising the value added to the Irish economy. With regard to oil and gas, this has been done in the past, and is and will continue to be done in the future, by offering licensing opportunities in frontier areas through licensing rounds. A...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: On Tuesday afternoon last, 4 April, the EU Commission issued a press release stating it is taking action against several member states, including Ireland, regarding the full transposition of Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Department has not received the formal correspondence on this matter.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: The Minister met Energy Commissioner Piebalgs on the occasion of his recent visit here. The Commissioner outlined the main priority areas of the Commission's Green Paper, European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. He emphasised the need for Europe to respond more cohesively to the many challenges facing it in the energy area. Commissioner Piebalgs also gave an update on...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 71 together. The total installed capacity of CHP in Ireland to end of 2004 was 290MWe, 150MWe of which relates to the recently commissioned Auginish Alumina plant. Data for 2005 are not yet available. The following table gives a breakdown of the number of CHP installations for the period 2001 to 2004 for which figures are available. Year 2001 2002...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Plans to develop and streamline the gas industry are under way. These involve three main strand: the further liberalisation of the gas market to include domestic customers; the extension of the Commission for Energy Regulation's, CER, mandate in the gas industry to include responsibility for the regulation of natural gas safety; and the unbundling of Bord Gáis Éireann as a vertically...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 76 and 103 together. Future energy policy for Europe was the central issue for this Council with the discussions focusing on the European Commission's recently published Green Paper, A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. The discussions on energy were very much a first step in what promises to be a long and complex process. It...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 91 and 180 together. The Minister received the Deloitte & Touche report on the electricity sector in December. The Minister is currently considering the report in the context of the energy policy consultation paper, which is being drawn up by the Department. The Minister intends to publish the report in that context in the coming months. Any forthcoming...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: By the end of 2005 there were more than 270,000 broadband subscribers in Ireland. This is a 106% increase from the figure of 131,500 at the end of 2004 and is equivalent of 19% of households. The Department keeps a number of issues, both supply and demand, under constant review. Earlier this year, the Department initiated a consultation process to examine the level of demand for broadband...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill are as follows: the establishment of a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters; the establishment of RTE as a company under the Companies Acts; the provision of a statutory mechanism for future adjustments to the level of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: The report to which the Deputy refers has been examined in detail. It recognises there have been a number of positive developments in the broadband market. There has been considerable growth in broadband connectivity in the last 18 months with a 103% increase between December 2004 and December 2005. The report also accepts that broadband availability and platform competition has increased and...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: The Minister is aware of the recommendations in regard to security of oil and gas supply expressed by Engineers Ireland in its recent submission to the Department of Finance on the National Development Plan 2007-2013. As a member of the International Energy Agency, IEA, Ireland is required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports of crude oil equivalent...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Digital television is available in Ireland. Both cable-MMDS operators and satellite operators provide subscription digital television services. Free-to-air analogue television services are provided on a terrestrial basis. Over time it is expected that analogue terrestrial services will migrate to digital terrestrial services in most countries. This migration is happening on a significant...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: I have no function in the matter raised by the Deputy. Local loop unbundling is mandated by a European Council Regulation and responsibility for its implementation is a matter for the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, under the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the transposed EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Catch reporting by member states to the Commission consists primarily of six separate reports that are designed to cover a wide range of aspects of fish landings. The reports relate essentially to quota and non-quota species, the nationality of the fleets concerned both from the EU and third countries and also the place of landing. Two of these reports are monthly and four are quarterly. The...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Within the electricity market, the renewables Directive 2001/77/EC obliges Ireland to develop and implement a programme capable of increasing the amount of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total consumption by 2010. The Minister has stated his firm commitment to ensuring Ireland meets the target. Targets beyond 2010 will be determined in the context of the development of...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: The Department is in discussions with the company proposing to build the marina at Killybegs fishery harbour centre with regard to making available a site within the fishery harbour centre for such a marina and is separately processing a foreshore application in respect of this proposal. However, this is at an early stage in the process and no consent has been given to the construction of a...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Overall responsibility for special areas of conservation, SACs, and special protection areas, SPAs, rests with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Concerning the cockle fishery, the launch of the management framework for shellfisheries in Ireland in 2005 recognised that work was needed to improve the management of this type of fishery. Under this framework, BIM...

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Under the Digital Hub Development Agency Act 2003, the primary function of the digital hub is to procure and secure the provision of and to promote and facilitate the development of the digital hub as a location for digital enterprises and related activities. The digital hub project, managed by the independent Digital Hub Development Agency, has been and will continue to be successful in...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Apr 2006)

John Browne: Responsibility for the regulation of the content and promotion of premium rate telephone services is a matter for Regtel, the independent regulator of these services. I have no plans to incorporate the regulation of such services under the direction of ComReg.