Results 6,741-6,760 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 Nov 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Generation costs are set on the All-island Single Electricity Market (SEM). The SEM consists of a gross pool market into which all electricity generated or imported onto the island of Ireland must be sold, and from which all wholesale electricity for consumption or export from the island of Ireland must be purchased. In general, conventional generators bid their short run marginal costs...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) on behalf of my Department. The eligibility criteria for the WHS are that the householder is in receipt of the Fuel Allowance, and that the house is owner occupied and constructed before 2002. In circumstances where the house is not owned by the resident, the applicable scheme would be the Home...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The individual is the operator of a 4.62 MW wind farm based in County Cork. He built his wind farm in November 1999 under the Alternative Energy Requirement (AER) 3 competitive tendering scheme. He was successful in the tender entered a 15 year power purchase agreement with ESB (the contracting partner (as Public Electricity Supplier) for all AERs). The AER scheme is funded via the PSO...

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

Eamon Ryan: The expenditure by my Department on legal fees in the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 was as follows: 2008 2009 2010 to date â'¬2,153,233.56 â'¬467,316.92 â'¬415,874.03

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: While I thank the Senator for tabling it, I am afraid I do not propose to accept the amendment and will explain why. The term "distribution centre" is only used in section 6 which defines the terms "distribution" and "postal network". The term "distribution centre" is not defined in the directive and it is not proposed to define it in the Bill as it is unnecessary to do so. No decisions or...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Section 6(2) which provides that the transport alone of postal packets does not constitute a postal service is being deleted, as it is not an explicit requirement of the directive. Furthermore, transport is only one element of postal services and included in the definition of the term "postal services" in the Bill. I hope on that basis amendments Nos. 2 and 3 can be accepted.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I do not propose to accept the amendment. On technical grounds, if the amendment were accepted, it would mean the regulatory system could be changed not by primary legislation but, in effect, by secondary legislation or ministerial order, which would be inappropriate. It is too significant an issue and primary legislation would be required if ComReg were not the regulatory authority or if...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: While I accept the Senator's point, the Minister, under the principal legislation of 2002, may issue a policy direction and has, therefore, a sufficiently strong tool available should it prove necessary to use it. While this power is rarely used, it is important if there is a fundamental point of difference on a policy matter as opposed to a judgment call on a commercial issue. If a...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I too will read again the primary legislation between now and Report Stage. We will check that those valid controls are in place. I appreciate the Senator's point but, subject to reviewing the primary legislation, I will not accept the amendment at this time.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am in a difficult position in that I am in the presence of a former Minister of State, former union official, former temporary postman and former chairman of An Post – God almighty.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: There was no attempt at exclusion in the wording of the legislation. I listened to what Senators had to say. I will give a commitment to return to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to discover if it might be possible to include a wording which recognises that it is important to listen to the employees as well as the users and the companies involved. I will, if possible, try to obtain...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am afraid it is not proposed to accept the amendments and I will set out some of the reasons. Section 16 reflects Article 3 of the directive and sets out the minimum scope of the universal postal service, the essential element of which is collection and delivery to every home and premises in every corner of the country on each working day. It is very clear on the minimum standards that...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Senator O'Toole raised an issue about primary and secondary legislation. Effectively, we are reinforcing the arguments I made earlier by translating a statutory instrument into primary legislation. That is appropriate. We have the opportunity to do that in this legislation, although it is not at its core. We have not the changed the wording or the arrangements, whereby ComReg considers...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: This does not make a change to the regulations. We are not providing for a new arrangement, whereby a business will decide that it will provide the service in a different way. The key body is ComReg which following the enactment of the legislation will have the exact same powers that it has currently6. It does not matter what other providers state; ComReg will have the same powers it has...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010: Committee Stage (1 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: These amendments would insert "in weight" after "kilograms" and are being made for clarification purposes and to improve the text of the Bill.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (2 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: On 30th April last I set out proposals for a limited extension of the sporting events which are designated free-to-air and invited submissions on those proposals. I also decided that the final decision on this matter will be informed by an independent analysis of the financial and other impacts of listing each event. Indecon International Consultants were commissioned to do this report and...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (7 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 2057The Greener Homes Scheme (GHS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department. The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to individuals to install renewable energy heating systems in homes. In addition to increasing the number of homes with renewable energy systems, other key objectives are to underpin the development of a sustainable...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (7 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 2057The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Name Title Annual Salary Duties Morgan Brazilian Minister's Special Adviser(Aug 2007 to June 2009) €107,485 Duties as appropriate to the position of Special Adviser as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Stephen O'Connor Minister's Special Adviser(June 2009 to date) €99,236...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 2057I can advise the Deputy the examination of the relevant records has now been concluded and the details requested on payments made to external solicitors and to external barristers by my Department in the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 as requested in Parliamentary Question No. 227 of 4th November 2010 are now available and are shown in the table. Name of Legal Service Provider...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Dec 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 2057The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In cases of market failure the Government will intervene, where it is appropriate and possible to do so. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS)...