Results 6,021-6,040 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 22nd June 2010. I still expect to deliver a national postcode system for Ireland in 2011.

Written Answers — Energy Saving Schemes: Energy Saving Schemes (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Retrofit Programme announced on Budget Day in 2010 is a major initiative which will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in homes and business while also creating jobs and developing a sustainable market for energy services. It will significantly reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to meeting the national efficiency targets including the target of 33% set for the...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 66 and 77 together. I am working closely with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to ensure a unified approach to energy affordability. Our Departments are collectively working to finalise the energy affordability strategy which I expect to bring to Government this month. I launched a public...

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

Eamon Ryan: There has been some previous contact between the Ocean Energy Development Unit (OEDU) in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with Ocean Power Technologies (OPT). Those discussions were about the possible use of an Underwater Connection Unit at the grid connected National Ocean Energy Test Site which is under development in Belmullet. Following the recent marine energy conference which my...

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

Eamon Ryan: The setting of electricity and gas network tariffs is the statutory function of the independent energy regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER reviews electricity and gas network charges on an annual basis and publishes its decision on these each summer, following a detailed consultation process. These charges are then included in the determination of final retail...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has no function in relation to the price of petrol, diesel or home heating oil. There is no price control on petroleum products and it has been the policy objective of successive Governments to promote price competition and consumer...

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

Eamon Ryan: The ESB Customer Supply advises that of May 2010, 252 customers had availed of the scheme - 218 in the wind category, 33 in the solar photovoltaic and 1 in the hydro category. ESB Networks have advised that they have received 745 applications from micro-generators for connection to the Low Voltage network. My Department is also continuing to engage with ESB and Sustainable Energy Authority of...

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

Eamon Ryan: The introduction of a carbon revenue levy has been the subject of much public discussion since the single Electricity Market was established in 2007 and the decision by the SEM Committee to allow generators to pass through carbon while availing of the free allowances to 2012. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has consistently taken the view that the introduction of a levy was a...

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

Eamon Ryan: Prior to the commencement of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) a detailed mapping exercise was carried out to help determine those areas that would be included in the scheme and those which, by virtue of being already substantially served by existing broadband suppliers, were to be excluded. EU State aid and competition rules govern how states can intervene in areas where there are existing...

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

Eamon Ryan: I can inform the Deputy that officials are currently undertaking an appraisal exercise to explore options for investment, including further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, in line with Department of Finance Guidelines. I will consider the outcome of this appraisal when it is completed. Decisions on future investment will be guided by; (i) the outcome of the...

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

Eamon Ryan: 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 the Scheme. Under the NBS contract, all EDs in the NBS...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 444, 447 and 449 together. I recently announced new Renewable Energy Feed In Tariffs (REFIT) for biomass, which will range from 8.5 cent per kilowatt hour to 15 cent per kilowatt hour depending on the technology deployed. The tariff is payable to the generator. The technologies supported include Anaerobic Digestion Combined Heat and Power, Biomass Combined...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Printed payslips issue to 38 staff in my Department. All other staff have access to their payslip via an on-line facility. The costs associated with issuing of payslips relate to the printing and delivery of same. The printing of payslips is part of the overall payroll process and it is not possible to disaggregate the cost for the printing element of the process. Delivery of payslips to...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that an application under the Warmer Homes Scheme, has been received from the individual in question. SEAI has recently surveyed her home and her Warmer Homes upgrade has been scheduled for installation within the next 6 weeks. More generally the Deputy may wish to note that a dedicated Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) hot line -...

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

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. In cases of market failure the Government...

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

Eamon Ryan: Telecommunications services, including mobile telephony services, are provided by various private sector companies operating in a liberalised open market under EU and national legislation. The authority of member states is generally limited to regulation and occasional investment intervention to address market failure. Both my Department and the national regulatory authority, the Commission...

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

Eamon Ryan: Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is charged with, inter alia, providing a regulatory environment that is stable and predictable and that will facilitate the development of a broadcasting sector in Ireland that is responsive to audience needs. The BAI is also charged with stimulating the provision of high quality, diverse and...

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

Eamon Ryan: Government policy on the development of 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...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 455 and 456 together. The provision of broadband services is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre...

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

Eamon Ryan: 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 their analogue television services in 2012. In this regard, I recently...