Results 6,481-6,500 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Staff, including chief executive officers, of commercial State Sponsored Bodies do not come within the provisions of the legislation provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2009. With the exception of chief executives, the Minister for Finance or I do not control the pay of staff of these bodies. However, the Minister for Finance has brought proposals to...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: As I outlined to the House in a written reply on the 29th September I have received a detailed written submission from National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI) on a number of matters of concern to them. I met with representatives of NNI on the 13th of October when they gave me a comprehensive briefing on the issues facing their industry. As the Deputy will be aware, the Broadcasting Act 2009...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Act, 2010 provides for the National Roads Authority (NRA) to allow the use of its ducts on national roads, including motorways, for telecoms purposes. It also appoints the NRA as the authority responsible for processing road opening licences by network owners to install equipment in national...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In July 2010, the Government gave its approval for the submission of the draft general scheme for the Geothermal Energy Development Bill to the Office of the Attorney General for detailed drafting. It was also decided to publish both the general scheme together with the Regulatory Impact Assessment. Both these documents were subsequently made available on the Department's website. The...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The European Commission has set aside a portion of the European Economic Recovery Programme (EERP) funding for rural broadband initiatives. Using this funding, which will be augmented by an Exchequer contribution, I intend to formally launch a Rural Broadband Scheme before the end of this year. This scheme will provide a basic broadband service to individual un-served rural premises outside...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Budget 2010 allocated €40 million for Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's energy efficiency programmes in the domestic business and public sectors, with an additional €50 million, from carbon tax revenues, for the creation of the National Retrofit Programme. Under the 2010 Social Housing Retrofitting Programme, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government was...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available with minimal risk of supply disruption and as competitively priced as possible to meet the needs of businesses and domestic consumers. EirGrid, as the national transmission system operator, is responsible for developing and upgrading the transmission system in order to meet ongoing and future electricity...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The financial statements of the Central Fisheries Board for 2008 have been signed off by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, approved by Government and arrangements are in train for these to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The financial statements will then be published on the website of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of high speed broadband connectivity as a critical element in the development of a competitive Smart Economy and inclusive Knowledge Society is a policy priority. My Department's policy in this area is set out in the paper "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", 2009. One of the actions in this Paper was the requirement for new premises to have open...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 99 and 104 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 all of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the...

Written Answers — Electronic Vehicles: Electronic Vehicles (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, which equates to around 225,000 vehicles. Ireland aims to be at the forefront of electric vehicle technology developments and my Department is working with relevant Departments and Agencies to ensure that the necessary structures and initiatives are in place to meet this target. Last April I signed...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 101 together. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS) provides that Member States of the European Union may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. The Broadcasting Act 2009, having transposed the AVMS Directive, sets down the statutory process for designating events free-to-air. On 30th April last...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: There are currently 302 customers operating in the ESB Microgeneration scheme with a total connected capacity of 1709.17kW. The categories of technology operating under the scheme are as follows: Wind Turbine installations = 261 PV installations = 39 Hydro Turbines installations = 2 Wind Turbine installations comprise approximately 93.5% of total microgeneration connected capacity. PV...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding the quality of broadband services provided to customers, is the responsibility of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In March 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, guided by ComReg and the National Consumer Agency, issued an Advice Note to Broadband...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The issues for Ireland arising from the implementation of the third Postal Services Directive by the 31st of December, 2010 have been widely and comprehensively consulted upon, and as with all legislative proposals, a regulatory impact analysis was conducted. In preparation for liberalisation the Department held an open and comprehensive public consultation in 2008, and an Options Paper...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 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. Details of broadband services available...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is the only country in the EU and OECD which does not have a national postcode system. In the context of the National Postcode Project, this Department has established ongoing communications with the Data Protection Commissioner. These communications address the implementation, dissemination and commercialisation of postcodes in order to ensure that all pertinent Data Protection...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: As part of the electricity deregulation process, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) commissioned market research, which indicates that there is confusion among electricity consumers as to the separate identities and roles of ESB as owner and operator of the electricity network and ESB as an electricity supplier. This is of concern because ESB Networks must provide, and be perceived to...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 107 together. My Department is working closely with the Departments of Social Protection and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in consultation with the inter-Departmental Steering Group to finalise the affordable energy strategy. I expect the Strategy to be submitted to me shortly with a view to bringing it to Government in the coming weeks....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the views expressed by the Irish Farmers Association, having met a delegation recently to discuss their concerns. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme, which came into effect on 1st July of this year, establishes a clear, stable and long term framework for the delivery of the national 2020 target for renewable energy in transport. The obligation delivers the best balance available in...