Results 961-980 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The regulation of telecommunications operators is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. I understand, following consultation with the Deputy by my officials, that the article to which the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the recently published fourth generation adequacy report 2005-2011, published by the transmission system operator, as referred to by the Deputy. The findings of this statutory annual report inform and augment policy developments in this area. The report looks at different scenarios to identify any potential gap between generating capacity and demand and consequences arising. The...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues relating to non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony. The Department's involvement in matters concerning the health effects of non-ionising radiation, which includes radio frequency emissions from mobile phone base stations, is guided by advice from national and international health authorities which include the...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: When the Government agreed to an increase in the level of the television licence fee in December 2002, it was a condition of that increase that the level of the licence fee would be subject to an annual adjustment using a consumer price index, CPI, minus X formula, following an independent annual review of RTE's performance in the previous year. The second such annual review was carried out...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 305 together. Legislation to combat illegal pornographic material is already in place. It is an offence under section 13 of the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951, as amended by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, to send by phone any message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. It...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 300 together. In March 2004, my predecessor, Deputy Dermot Ahern, under section 13 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, issued policy directions to the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, including one on broadband. This direction required ComReg to use regulatory and enforcement tools, where necessary and subject to relevant...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 161, 291 and 302 together. On the website of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, there are over 130 companies listed as offering internet access. An indicative €200 million is being made available from Government and ERDF funds under the NDP's regional operational programmes 2000-2006 for the development of high-speed broadband...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 288 together. The An Post annual report is brought to Government every year as provided for by the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 and, at the same time, relevant issues in relation to An Post are noted by Government. In addition, the Cabinet is updated on relevant issues as they arise.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 304 together. This reply has the same information as in Questions Nos. 44 and 126 of 21 October 2004 and Question No. 271 of 30 November 2004. With regard to oil and gas exploration, one exploration well was drilled in 2004 by Providence Resources plc on the Blackrock prospect off the south coast. The well did not yield any significant shows of...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 292 together. Section 32 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 provides that An Post is required to keep a set of accounts, including a profit and loss account and balance sheet, and also requires that the accounts are to be audited annually. After submission to Cabinet, the An Post annual accounts are laid before the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Mining Pollution: Mining Pollution (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The former mining company has acknowledged that it has a contractual liability to rehabilitate the tailings pond, among other sites. To this end, the most recent proposal for the rehabilitation works was lodged with the Department on 3 November 2004,and additional information sought by the Department was supplied on 17 January last. When the proposals have been assessed by the local...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I welcome the publication of the joint Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, and Ofcom report on cross-Border telecoms issues. The report covers cross-Border mobile telephone roaming; cross-Border leased line costs; telephone dialling codes; and illegal broadcast radio stations operating in Border areas. I am delighted that ComReg and Ofcom have adopted a common approach to tackle...

Written Answers — Digital Broadcasting: Digital Broadcasting (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Digital television services are 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 — Postal Services: Postal Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 295 together. The provisions applicable to staff transferred to An Post are set out in section 45 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983. The benchmarking process applies to public service bodies only and An Post, as a commercial State body, was not included in the benchmarking process.

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 259 together. I am not aware of any national or international health advisory authority which has recommended that the siting of telecommunications masts should not result in direct beam falling on school property. It may be that some paper somewhere may have made such a recommendation — if the Deputy can identify any such work I shall have my...

Written Answers — Semi-State Sector Remuneration: Semi-State Sector Remuneration (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The remuneration scale for the chairpersons of State bodies is decided by the Government. Essentially, the remuneration package is dependent on the size of the body. Because of its size and the importance of the services it provides, An Post is a category one State body and the fee level for the chairperson is €19,046 per annum. However, on occasion a higher fee level than the norm can be...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in setting of pricing for telephone services. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including pricing for mobile services, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation in accordance with the requirements of the Communications (Regulation) Act 2002 and regulations made under the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications....

Written Answers — Digital Hub Project: Digital Hub Project (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: MediaLab Europe was formed by an agreement between the State and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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 value of €22.5 million. The property remains in...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Policy: Broadcasting Policy (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My core broadcasting policy objectives are detailed in my Department's Statement of Strategy, 2003 — 2005. These objectives are: to create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTE; to secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting; to seek to retain access to a range of...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (8 Feb 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have primary responsibility within the Government for industrial relations issues. The present difficulties between ESB management and the ESB group of unions are matters to be resolved by the parties within the context of the industrial relations machinery available to them. This includes the process established by the Labour Court currently being facilitated by Mr. Peter Cassells....