Results 4,941-4,960 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Emissions Trading: Emissions Trading (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The current EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which runs until the end of 2012, requires a free allocation of carbon credits to electricity generators. The North-South Single Electricity Market Committee, which is statutorily responsible for the operation of the all-island electricity market on the island of Ireland, decided that from 2008 all electricity generators must include the full...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for spectrum management in Ireland and is required, under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, to produce, publish and maintain the national Radio Frequency Plan, which is a national table of frequency allocations. This document details international and European frequency allocations as well as national usage and...

Written Answers — Digital Terrestrial Television: Digital Terrestrial Television (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 49, 74 and 76 together. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides, consolidates and updates broadcasting legislation. Part 8 of this Act replaces and updates the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 which provided for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under the 2009 Act, RTÉ...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 53, 57 and 84 together. A smart economy envisages economic development based on innovation and sustainability and an economy aiming for high end performance requires that the underlying infrastructure supports enterprises based on knowledge and innovation. One key element of national infrastructure which is required is a common spatial identifier across...

Written Answers — Greener Homes Scheme: Greener Homes Scheme (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme supports the installation by householders of renewable energy heating technologies including wood pellet and chip stoves and boilers, gasification boilers, solar panels and geothermal heat pumps. The grant is a fixed amount, based upon the technology selected, towards the cost of purchase and installation of the chosen scheme. Products and installers must be...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52. 65 and 68 together. The Government has ambitious plans for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. A target has been set of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020. This would equate to around 225,000 cars on Irish roads. Electric vehicles are an increasingly realistic solution to the challenge of reducing the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Developing the electricity grid infrastructure in the North West in an economically viable and environmentally acceptable way is the key to optimising the North West renewable energy resources to the benefit of the region, the economy and consumers. The North West has the potential to become a net electricity exporter to the rest of the island and beyond. EirGrid's GRID25 strategy sets out...

Written Answers — Electricity Market: Electricity Market (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the fact that the benefits of competition in electricity supply, which have previously been confined to large industrial and commercial customers, are also available to domestic consumers. The entry into the domestic electricity market of two new suppliers, Airtricity and Bord Gáis Energy, demonstrates that policy to encourage competition in electricity generation and supply is...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are no plans to disband the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA). The Agency has enjoyed much success in creating a cluster of young and vibrant enterprises focussing on the creation and development of digital media content which will be key to the success of the smart economy. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes did recommend that the...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 86 together. Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles which are crucial to the development of the market including (i)...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The second progress report by the Monitoring Committee was presented to me in early November 2009 and can be viewed under the Corporate Publications section of my Departments website. The report has been circulated widely to interested parties who have been invited to submit observations on its content, together with a general invitation to raise any issues concerning the Sectoral Plan with...

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

Eamon Ryan: Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband — Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles which are crucial to the development of the market including (i) competition, at platform and service levels, which drives...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The two regulators, North and South, have been working together since late 2007 to develop joint proposals for the Common Arrangements for Gas (CAG) whereby all players in the gas market could buy, sell, transport and contribute to the development and planning of the natural gas market North and South on an all-island basis. The work of the Regulators has included a Cost Benefit Analysis of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Foreshore & Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill 2009 published on 6 November, provides for the transfer of certain functions relating to the foreshore from the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has confirmed that following the transfer of functions,...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a highly efficient way of generating onsite heat and electricity simultaneously. It can offer significantly reduced energy bills for the end user and is a particularly efficient form of energy generation as it minimises any transmission losses involved in getting power to the site. Traditionally, CHP plants were only used in large industrial units with a...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The issue of "free television licences" under the Household Benefits Package is a matter in the first place for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. The present position is that the Department of Social and Family Affairs compensates my Department for the cost of any "free licences" which it grants under the Household Benefits package. My Department then transfers a...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Part 7, Chapter 6 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of an Oireachtas Channel and a film channel. Part 8 of the Act provides for a right of carriage on the RTÉ digital terrestrial television multiplex in respect of these channels. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas may establish a public service channel to be made...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland's ocean energy strategy is being overseen and implemented by the Ocean Energy Development Unit in Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) working with my Department and in partnership with all key players. Ocean energy technologies are still at the research and development phase globally. Work towards the commercialisation of ocean energy technology continues in Ireland and abroad. The...

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

Eamon Ryan: It is accepted that even after the full roll-out of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) there will still be a small percentage of premises that will not be capable of receiving broadband services. This is primarily due to technical and other reasons (suitability of a telephone line, distance from an enabled exchange, no line of sight etc.). The European Economic Recovery Programme includes...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 89 together. Ireland's high energy costs, by comparison with much of Europe, are primarily due to significant dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly gas, as well a requirement for very significant investment in energy infrastructure, following two decades of under-investment in the networks. The under-investment in networks and power...