Results 881-900 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Electronic Communications Infrastructure: Electronic Communications Infrastructure (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Digital broadcasting is now available in Ireland through a number of cable and satellite networks. The terrestrial broadcasting system is an analogue platform and it will be necessary to upgrade this platform to a digital terrestrial platform over time. I am examining proposals in this regard. Specific analogue switch-off dates will be considered in light of progress in upgrading to a...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 421 together. In the first instance, it is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann, BGE, under the supervision of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, to arrange the safety of its natural gas network and this includes works to upgrade the network or to replace cast iron pipes. I am aware that gas safety is a high priority for BGE. The...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: From the details in the question it is not clear to what the Deputy is referring. If the Deputy provides further details to my office I will be happy to have the matter investigated.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The State, semi-State, State-sponsored and statutory bodies under the aegis of my Department, which are not subject to the Freedom of Information, FOI, Acts are: An Post; Broadcasting Complaints Commission; ESB; Eirgrid; Bord Gáis Éireann; Bord na Móna; National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA; National Salmon Commission; Irish Maritime Development Office; Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no funding or scheme, which would be relevant to this matter. Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established as a statutory agency in May 2002, implements initiatives on renewable energy and energy efficiency on behalf of my Department. I received an application for a grant from Banada Development Agency Limited last Thursday, 20 January 2005, which has been...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has responsibility with regard to public service pensions for former employees of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs who retired prior to 1 January 1984, (the vesting day of An Post and Telecom Éireann — now Eircom. If a person retired prior to 1 January 1984, an application should be made to my Department, together with any relevant details of previous service, for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The following staff appointed by me during my tenure as Minister for Education and Science have been re-appointed by me in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources: press adviser; personal assistant; and personal secretary. In addition, the special adviser appointed by me during my tenure as Minister for Education and Science has been reassigned to me at the Department...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (26 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable nationwide rural post office network providing a range of services to meet consumer needs. The Government has already made an equity injection of €12.7 million into the network in 2003 to facilitate modernisation measures. Furthermore, the Government has strongly supported An Post initiatives such as the channelling of new utility and...

Disability Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Tááthas orm seans a fháil labhairt go gairid ar an mBille seo atá chomh tábhachtach do mhorán daoine. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis na hAiríéagsúla a bhí páirteach i gcumadh an Bhille seo. This Bill is about inclusion, and people are included by facilitating their participation in every aspect of life. The main aspects with which the Bill will deal are education, employment and...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, An Post acts as my agent in the collection of television licence fees. Accordingly, day-to-day administration matters are the responsibility of An Post. I can confirm for the Deputy that the regulations governing television licence fees provide that when a television licence is renewed, that the fee payable is the fee that is in force...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The Government set aside an indicative €200 million under the NDP 2000-06 for broadband infrastructure investment that will, in turn, enable the...

Written Answers — Media Lab Europe: Media Lab Europe (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Media Lab Europe, MLE, was formed by a series of tripartite agreements between the State, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, and MIT Media Lab and was in operation since early 2000. It was established to conduct non-directive research in the field of digital media. The Government invested €35.5 million in start-up capital for MLE. Property was also purchased for MLE to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It has not been possible to prepare a comprehensive response in the time available. At present, 12 officials of the Department are in possession of credit cards approved and issued for departmental use. Those officials include the press officer, my own private secretary and the private secretary to the Minister of State. The latter two officials are authorised to spend on their Minister's...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Funding Scheme: Broadcasting Funding Scheme (1 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. My Department does not have any funds at its disposal to assist private radio stations with their capital or operational costs and I have no proposals to introduce public funding of this nature. Under the broadcasting funding scheme, all radio stations licensed by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland will be able to seek access to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (1 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy about appointments made to the boards of State-sponsored bodies since August 2004 is set out in the following table. The following staff appointed by me during my tenure as Minister for Education and Science have been re-appointed by me in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources: press adviser; personal assistant and personal...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In the biomass anaerobic digestion, AD, and biomass combined heat and power, CHP, categories of the AER VI competition applicants were required to submit evidence of either a current planning permission, or an extant planning application to the relevant planning authority, for the construction of the relevant project on the closing date for receipt of tenders. All of the applicants shown on...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The time deadline referred to in both of these clauses is 31 December 2004. However, last June a general extension to the time deadline was granted to compliant projects where delays occurred due to later forecasts for connections to the electricity network or other delays occurred beyond the control of the applicant in AER V or VI. This extension is until 31 December 2005. Outside of this...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (2 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. The Government is committed to a viable and sustainable nationwide rural post office network providing a range of services to meet consumer needs. The Government has already made an equity injection of €12.7 million into the network in 2003 to facilitate modernisation measures. Furthermore, the Government has strongly supported An Post...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no statutory function in relation to this matter. It is an operational issue for the board and management of An Post.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The EU Commission's review of the television without frontiers directive is ongoing. The Commission has indicated that it might bring forward proposals in relation to a possible revision of the directive towards the end of this year.