Results 5,201-5,220 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy did inquire about it.

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy inquired about what ComReg is doing to deliver open access? That which I have outlined represents a massive change and is a major indicator in the context of delivery.

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I set the policy framework within which ComReg makes its decisions.

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The 90% plus reduction achieved yesterday in crucial rental charges in respect of hundreds of thousands of lines throughout the country is an example of how policy can work and how open access can be provided. That is an example of a policy working, bringing prices down and providing open access on the market, and it was achieved yesterday.

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: At the forum we held on next generation broadband in Dublin Castle involving all sides in the debate, I gave a very clear consistent signal that we need to develop a co-operative model that is also still competitive. It needs to be co-operative in terms of providing open wholesale access. Crucially, that is now being delivered; it is starting to work and happen, in the MANs, which are being...

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: -----in the schools broadband infrastructure, which we are providing, and in the one-stop shop that we are progressing. In the Seanad, as we speak, a series of measures are being taken-----

Telecommunications Services. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. Those measures will provide open access in a plethora of different ways to bring us back up to the very top of the league in broadband. That is happening. It happened yesterday in the courts and will happen in the Seanad tomorrow when we push the legislation through. I believe it will work; it is the right policy as against the alternative, which would have been a direct...

Alternative Energy Projects. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 147 together. The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, and I have stated on a number of occasions our commitment to the early provision of a legislative framework for the exploration for and development of geothermal energy. Accordingly, in the course of 2009, I instructed my Department to prioritise the drafting of a general scheme of a Bill with...

Alternative Energy Projects. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I appreciate the Deputy's comments in that regard. It is a major Bill and needs to be drafted at the same time as we are producing the minerals development Bill, which is also very extensive. However, I believe it will be possible to develop both Bills quickly and I look forward to introducing them.

Alternative Energy Projects. (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: It falls under the remit and brief of the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan. He is absolutely right that it is being given priority. Resources from my Department and the Office of the Attorney General are being allocated to it to get it over the line as quickly as possible. Getting the heads of a Bill in February, in the very short time since it was proposed to take that action, is a...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has statutory responsibility for grid connection offers and for oversight of EirGrid's grid connection process including the Gate process for renewable energy. There is currently over 1,500 megawatts (MWS) of renewable generation capacity connected to the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. Over 100...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 124 and 146 together. The Home Energy Saving (HES) Scheme which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retrofitting measures including attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. The scheme is open to...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 107 and 126 together. Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. This Act requires RTÉ to provide a national 'free to air' digital service with capacity to carry RTÉ 1, RTE 2, TG4 and TV3 by the end of 2011 or such later date...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The sustainable development of indigenous bioenergy resources is critical to meeting EU and national targets for renewable heat, electricity and transport. Anaerobic digestion technology offers the possibility of generating renewable electricity and heat from a variety of waste materials. It will also contribute to the Government's policy objectives in a number of related fields, not least...

Written Answers — Smart Meters: Smart Meters (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 121, 125 and 135 together. The Smart Metering Project is progressing well in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government. The Smart Metering Project is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand, create smart networks and deliver greater energy...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 119 together. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive has set a 10% target for Renewable Energy in Transport for all Member States by 2020. The approach taken by Ireland to deliver on this target will ensure that there is sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with overall EU biofuel policy criteria. The introduction of the National...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Act, 2009 contains measures designed to support community broadcasting. The Act provides for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), an independent statutory body, to prepare a scheme for the granting of funds to support certain categories of new television or sound broadcasting programmes. One of the objectives of the scheme is to develop local and community...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 111 and 130 together. The Government has ambitious plans for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. We have set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020 and all relevant Departments and Agencies are working together to ensure that the necessary policies and infrastructure are in place to meet this target....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 133 and 142 together. The establishment of a "one-stop-shop" is one of the commitments in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June last year. The concept of a "one-stop-shop" arose from a recognition that there is added value to be had from facilitating telecoms operators in gaining access to...

Written Answers — Cyber Security: Cyber Security (26 Jan 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In September 2009, my Department sought tenders from interested parties for the preparation of a report on the development of a national strategy on cyber security. The terms of reference of the report includes addressing best practice for the detection and reaction to cyber attacks, the development of a structure to oversee planning and response to cyber attacks and the development of...