Results 4,801-4,820 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (15 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set a target of achieving 20% energy efficiency savings across the economy in 2020. Recognising the opportunity for the public sector to fulfil an exemplary role in this context, we have set a further, ambitious target of achieving 33% savings on energy use across this sector, also in 2020. On 8 May this year I published the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP)...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are no costs incurred by my Department in relation to leaflet design, production and delivery for my constituency office or constituency offices of the Ministers of State for the years 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009. Costs incurred in this regard are reimbursed from the One-Stop-Shop in the Houses of the Oireachtas. Full details are available from the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The expenses related to overseas travel paid by my Department to my Ministers of State and I since the establishment of the Department in June 2007 are detailed in the following table. Please note that Minister of State Lenihan was assigned to my Department on 22nd April 2009 and has not incurred expenditure in respect of foreign travel to date. Minister 2007 2008 2009 Total Eamon Ryan...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available it has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy. The information will be provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy. (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: As a representative for Dublin South, I want to mark the tremendous work that Nuala Fennell did, for that constituency but also for the country, particularly in what was called the women's movement. No doubt there were women who were more strident or more noteworthy at the time, but when historians look back asking who was the most effective in terms of making changes, many will answer that...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In designing the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was approved by the EU Commission, it was necessary to strike a balance between reaching as many unserved areas 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 and competition rules. Accordingly, a...

Written Answers — Television Licences: Television Licences (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has carried out a detailed review of RTÉ's performance each year, which has formed the basis of any adjustments that have been applied to the television licence fee. My Department is completing the reviews of RTÉ's performance in respect of 2007 and 2008. When I receive the completed reviews I will consider if a change to the licence fee is warranted. The Broadcasting Act,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I can confirm that the number of officials at principal officer level or higher who are expected to be working in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources following full implementation of the incentivised early retirement scheme is 33. This represents 11.73% of total staff in my Department.

Written Answers — Electricity Interconnector: Electricity Interconnector (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland and Northern Ireland are currently interconnected through the Louth – Tandragee tie–line (interconnector). EirGrid and Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), respectively, will apply for planning permission for a second North/South interconnector, which will run between Meath and Tyrone, shortly. As part of its pre-planning consultation and preparation process for An Bord Pleanála,...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The arrangements in regard to booking accommodation, travel arrangements and hospitality at home or abroad are a day-to-day operational issue for the bodies themselves. I can advise the Deputy that my Department liaises with Bodies under our remit in relation to their responsibilities under the various Department of Finance guidelines, circulars and instructions relating to such matters. It...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Deployment Programme, currently operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) provides information and support to those interested in pursuing the use of CHP, including financial support for feasibility studies. Capital support is available to those installing Biomass fired CHP plants, or CHP plants based on Anaerobic Digestion (or AD), or small scale fossil...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 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 was published in June 2009 (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the MANs Programme, which was published in July 2008 and (iii) the...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (20 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Neither my Department nor Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken any such study to date. The timing of summertime daylight hours (which has impacts over and above energy needs) is one of very many factors influencing energy usage among consumers and it is the case that daylight savings have both positive and negative impacts on energy usage. SEI is engaged in ongoing general...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Membership of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation by bodies operating under the aegis of my Department is a day to day operational issue for those bodies and not one in which a have a role.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy is almost complete and will issue to him in the next few days.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable, scalable broadband services to rural areas, many of which do not currently have any broadband service. The NBS is being rolled out on an electoral division basis and will address electoral divisions (EDs) that are without adequate broadband services. The terms used to determine the areas that will...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271 and 273 together. The enabling of exchanges for broadband purposes is a matter for the owners of the relevant exchanges. It is anticipated that the facilitation of greater competition via the introduction of broadband from different technology platforms should encourage the more rapid enabling of exchanges. Broadband services are provided by private...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to female Civil Servants, employed as telephonists by Department of Posts and Telegraphs who were compelled to leave the Civil Service on marriage. The situation for those employees is that a marriage gratuity was paid in lieu of pension benefits and therefore there is no further entitlement to a Civil Service pension.

Seanad: Proposed Postcodes: Statements (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am very pleased to be here for statements on what I believe to be a very important part of the modern infrastructure needed in our country. This proposal for a postcode goes back to the working group on postcodes which published a proposal in 2005. It recommended the introduction of postcodes on the basis that we needed an efficient system for our postal sector that would improve national...

Seanad: Proposed Postcodes: Statements (21 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: This was a useful and important debate. I will take on board the concerns raised by Senators about the protection of county recognition, the requirement for An Post to be protected by not applying excessive costs and the need to deliver this system in a timely manner. As I acknowledged in my opening contribution, it has been a long and slow process but one which we are prepared to complete....