Results 521-540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, following comments from a spokesperson from EirGrid, he is satisfied that demand for electricity will not outstrip supply and cause blackouts in winter 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29141/07]
- Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his reply and I welcome the increased output from wind generation, which is moving towards 1,000 MW. The fact that the concern comes from EirGrid means we have been given fair warning that there is a significant likelihood of power cuts this winter. Last December Ireland reached a record usage of more than 5,000 MW. This year it will increase by 2-3%. Does the...
- Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Fine Gael will be responsible. The Minister knows I have pushed the interconnector from this side of the House for six or seven years. It is disingenuous of him to suggest otherwise.
- Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: We do not want answers on the medium and long term. The question refers to this winter. Can the Minister assure businesses and households that there will be no power outages this winter?
- Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Then it is conditional.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has considered setting guaranteed fixed prices over a set term for energy produced from wave sources to secure supply and help develop the technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29143/07]
- Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am quite excited by the developments that have occurred, especially in the wave energy sector. It is not an exaggeration to say that Ireland is leading global research and development in tidal power. The key ingredient to commercialised wave energy is a fixed tariff mechanism which is set at a price that will allow companies to finance long-term wave...
- Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Are all parties accountable to Deputy Finian McGrath?
- Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I am glad the Fine Gael Party and the Labour Party are answerable to Deputy Finian McGrath in outlining their policies.
- Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: Is it not the case that Ireland can receive the benefits of nuclear power through interconnection? As we increase our interconnection with the British grid, which is heavily reliant on nuclear power, and will be more reliant on it in future, in essence nuclear power will be competing with power generation in Ireland, from whatever source. Does the Minister have a difficulty with that?
- Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: We have much to learn from Northern Ireland's broadband roll-out. It has 100% connectivity unlike the 15% to 20% of this country which has no capacity for a broadband service. The EU is moving towards creating a single telecommunications market, be it for mobile telephones or fixed-line telephony infrastructure. In the same way as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland led the way in...
- Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I can see now why the Minister did not have a figure for the cost of the roll-out of MANs phase 2 or 3 because he has just told us that the MANs need to be reviewed. I agree with him but that is inconsistent with what we were told earlier, that MANs phase 2 will go ahead as planned. If Eircom splits into two companies, as it suggests, one of which would be a wholesale service provider and...
- Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: The MANs would be duplicating the Eircom infrastructure.
- Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: That will be a first.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I am glad to hear that and the information is welcome, though I hope the money does not come from capital set aside for broadband. The Minister said that we have set a target of 15% for 2010. Is it time to revise this target upwards? That figure was set in the Green Paper and confirmed in the White Paper on Energy for Ireland, which was put in place by the previous Government. We now...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I fear some of the Minister's Cabinet colleagues may see those targets as the limit of our ambition and that is the problem.
- Fishing Industry Development. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his answer and would appreciate a hard copy because there is great confusion over this issue in the community concerned. The Minister will be very aware of the deep dissatisfaction among a relatively small number of salmon drift net fishermen at the compensation package put together for many of the people concerned. Some people were handsomely compensated but many...
- Fishing Industry Development. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I do not dispute that.
- Fishing Industry Development. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: The problem in this instance is that one is dealing with a community infrastructure, through the Leader organisations, for example. The nature of drift net fishing, however, is that it involved individuals who are located right along the coast. It is not similar to other fishing sectors where there are large centres, such as Killybegs, Castletownbere and Dingle. Drift net fishermen were...
- Schools Refurbishment. (15 Nov 2007)
Simon Coveney: I am pleased to see that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is also dealing with education matters. On Monday night, in St. Angela's school in Cork, I attended one of the most aggressive and frustrated public meetings I have encountered in my nine years of public life. This school is not in my constituency but many of its pupils come from the...