Results 6,001-6,020 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 39, 49 and 63 together. The telecommunications market, including the provision of fibre based next generation networks, is fully liberalised and subject to both EU and national competition and regulatory rules. Government policy on the development of the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) on the roadmap for electricity price deregulation. This is an important step on the path to developing a fully competitive electricity market in Ireland. This decision demonstrates that Government policy to encourage competition is paying dividends through lower prices and greater choice for Irish homes and businesses. The...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 42 and 71 together. My Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in late December 2008. Since then, 3 has progressed its network rollout and NBS broadband services are now available in more than 65% of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 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. The CER Gate 3 process which sets out to facilitate connection of around 4,000 MW of additional renewable capacity is currently underway. Once the level of take up of Gate 3 offers becomes...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland's ocean energy potential. Not only will ocean energy contribute to Ireland's renewable energy targets, it has considerable potential for inward investment and enterprise activity in support of economic renewal. The research activities of the Hydraulics and Maritime Centre at University College Cork are a key...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to working with the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne on all matters of mutual interest including energy security. I met Minister of State Charles Hendry at the Energy Council yesterday 31st May during which we touched on a number of bilateral energy issues including gas security and emergency planning. I am hoping to have a bilateral with Secretary Huhne...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The development of fourth generation (4G) electronic communications services that use the radio spectrum is not dependant on the Digital Dividend that arises from the switching-off of analogue television broadcasting services. 4G services will be provided using multiple aggregated bands of the radio spectrum. The Digital Dividend will release additional spectrum, some of which will be made...

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The report referred to, "An Assessment of the Potential for Geological Storage of CO2 in the Vicinity of Moneypoint, Co. Clare", is the final report of a piece of geological research study, which was commissioned by the Environmental Protection Agency, with support from the Geological Survey of Ireland. The report does not state that "carbon emissions from Moneypoint can not be captured and...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: At the end of 2009, there was 1260MW of installed wind connected to the grid. In the first quarter of 2010 that figure rose to 1379MW. EirGrid expect that by year end, there will be 1884MW of installed wind connected to the grid. That amounts to 624MW of wind generation that are due to be connected to the grid, subject to successful project rollout by end year.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Significant progress has been made over recent years in both broadband roll out and quality and mobile telephony services. For example, Ireland has over 1.443 million broadband subscribers and our broadband per-capita penetration rate is 32.4%. Internationally, Ireland ranks 11th of the EU 27 for per-capita broadband penetration (composite fixed and mobile), 4th for mobile only penetration,...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Deployment Programme. The programme was expanded in 2008 to include dedicated support for Biomass and Anaerobic Digestion powered CHP. The Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (ReHeat), which is also administered by SEAI, incentivises the installation of biomass boilers. Both programmes have...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I have met with the Data Commissioner in 2009 and in 2010 in regard to this matter and detailed discussions have also taken place at official level. The Commissioner has confirmed that he does not oppose a unique identifier postcode model provided that appropriate safeguards were put in place as to the uses that could be made of such a postcode. I will consult with the Data Commissioner in...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: An invitation to tender issued on the 10th May 2010 for consultants to assist in selecting a body to implement and manage the delivery of a working national postcode system. These consultants, when appointed, will work with my Department's team in ensuring that the proposed six digit alpha numeric model will be capable of being refined into a location based code.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The objective of the one-stop-shop commitment in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", is to facilitate telecoms network operators in gaining access to ducting that exists along publicly-owned energy, transport and other infrastructure so as to help reduce the cost of fibre roll-out for backhaul networks. Government policy is to make available all...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The use of Short Message text messages to alert the public to looming national disasters is currently being considered. Discussions are currently taking place with industry as to the technical issues associated with the issue of an emergency text message. The initial discussions indicate that there are technical challenges associated with the use of Short Message text technology to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department commenced and substantially progressed a proposal to invite tenders to report on the quality of broadband speeds experienced by customers compared to headline speeds advertised by Internet service providers. In the course of the preparatory work a significant impediment identified was an absence of access to data on operators' technical capacities in different stages associated...

Written Answers — Electricity Supply: Electricity Supply (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I refer the Deputy to the announcement by the ESB on the 4th of May 2010, in which the ESB confirmed that it is in discussions with Arcapita in relation to the possible acquisition (subject to requisite shareholder approvals) of Northern Ireland Electricity, the transmission and distribution business of Viridian Group Holdings Limited. It is normal practice not to comment on commercially...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 64 together. Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the development of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland and for analogue switch off. Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is required to develop a national free to air DTT service which enables the switch off of free-to-air...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the Government's strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand, deliver smart networks and enable greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. The harnessing of renewable energy and the development of micro generation and electric vehicles is creating an utterly different supply and demand energy...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In June 2009 I published a report, 'Next Generation Broadband - Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland'. The installation of open access fibre connections in new premises, where practicable, was one of the policy actions. A working group has been set up comprising officials from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg)...