Results 1,061-1,080 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: As the Deputy knows the Government has recently appointed Dr. Noel Cawley to act as Chairman of the Seafood Strategy Implementation Group which is being put in place to oversee the implementation of the strategic report, on the seafood industry, 'Steering A New Course'. The report, which took on board the views of fishermen, fish farmers, processors, marketers and other stakeholders, focuses...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: I have strongly pushed for the use of new technologies that would strengthen Ireland's capabilities to monitor and control fishing activity, including giving the Naval Service access to catch levels of vessels in advance of boardings. In this regard, Ireland has been at the forefront in pushing for the introduction of electronic logbooks and I have worked closely with the EU Commission on the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and Quotas for 2007 were agreed by the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers on 21 December, 2006 following two days of tough negotiations. They were in my view very positive from an Irish viewpoint and were generally welcomed by the Irish Fishing Industry. The primary aim entering the negotiations was to ensure that all Irish fishermen will have...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations (No. 2) 2006 (S.I. No. 672 of 2006) set the overall harvestable quotas, on a river-by-river basis, for each of the rivers that has an identified surplus in stocks and is open for fishing in 2007. The regulations provide that allocation of quotas between the holders of commercial fishing licences and rod and line fishing licences is...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: Following difficult and intensive negotiations with the EU Commission, the EU Management Committee for Fisheries and Aquaculture supported a proposal from the European Commission for partial paybacks by Ireland over a six year period for mackerel illegally landed by large Irish trawlers into Scotland in the years 2001-2004. The pay back arrangements finally secured achieved my objectives....

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The Department received notification from its scientific advisers, the Marine Institute, on October 27th 2006, of a possible positive test for Bonamia ostreae in Lough Swilly. Bonamia osteae is a disease which affects oysters, but consumption of oysters affected by the disease has no human health impacts. Following the Marine Institute notification, as a precautionary measure, it was decided...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The granting of permission for the construction of Offshore Windfarms is governed by the Foreshore Act 1933. Offshore Windfarms are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment under the Foreshore (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1990 SI 220 of 1990. These regulations transpose EU Directive 85/337/EEC (the Environmental Impact Assessment or, "EIA" Directive). All Offshore...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: Dooneen Pier, Kilcrohane, is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its maintenance is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. The Department is currently preparing the 2007 Harbours & Coastal Development Programme and has received applications for funding of fishery harbour projects in Cork County. However, Dooneen, Kilcrohane, Co. Cork was not included in the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (14 Feb 2007)

John Browne: As the Deputy is aware the Government is establishing a fund of some €30 million to address the hardship likely to be experienced by those affected by the decision to align the management of the wild salmon fishery with scientific advice from 2007 onwards. Details of the Hardship Scheme are being finalised and will be published shortly.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (15 Feb 2007)

John Browne: Following extensive communications with Donegal County Council, confirmation was received by the Department that the works being proposed at Buncrana Harbour are being constructed solely for the use of the RNLI and are not being constructed for the benefit of any other party. The current position is that the Department is in communication with the Chief State Solicitor's office concerning the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

John Browne: I am pleased to present the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007 for the consideration of the House. This Bill is a key part of the Government's priority legislative programme and, when enacted, will greatly strengthen the power of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, to enable greater competition in the electronic communications market. It is a result of...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Second Stage (15 Feb 2007)

John Browne: I thank Senators for their contributions to this debate. I welcome the opportunity to respond to the various comments and observations made on the provisions of this important Bill. Of course, I will ask my officials to see whether they can find the missing file Senator Leyden mentioned, particularly as it refers to a Wexford man. As Senators have agreed, the Bill is necessary to ensure...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (20 Feb 2007)

John Browne: Officials of the Department have investigated the circumstances of the case referred to by the Deputy in his correspondence and I hope to be in a position to issue a full reply shortly.

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (20 Feb 2007)

John Browne: As part of a suite of measures I introduced to assist in the management of the wild salmon fishery in 2007, I provided in the Fisheries (Miscellaneous Commercial Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2006 (S.I. No 628 of 2006) that the licence fees payable in respect of commercial salmon fishing licences would include a salmon conservation levy equivalent to 50% of the licence fee. The levy...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (20 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The sea wall and road at Roscahill, Kilmeena, Westport, Co. Mayo is owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for its maintenance is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. The Department is currently preparing the 2007 Coastal Protection Programme and has received an application for funding for repair of a sea wall at Roscahill from Mayo County Council. This...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (20 Feb 2007)

John Browne: Rosahill, Kilmeena, Westport, Co. Mayo is owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. The Department is currently preparing the 2007 Harbours & Coastal Development Programme and has received applications for funding of Coastal Protection works and Fishery Harbour projects in Mayo. However, an...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Feb 2007)

John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. While applications for funding for marinas at Cobh and Youghal, Co. Cork were received in 2002 under the Marine Tourism Grant Scheme, the scheme was subsequently suspended in December 2002 and the applicants so advised. No projects received funding under the scheme, which was not reactivated under the National Development Plan 2000-2006....

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (21 Feb 2007)

John Browne: The function of the Licensing Authority for sea-fishing boats was transferred under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 to the Registrar General of Fishing Boats. The Act provides that the Licensing Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions under the Act, subject to the law for the time being in force and policy directives in relation to sea-fishing boat licensing. The...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006: Second Stage (21 Feb 2007)

John Browne: I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Single Electricity Market) Bill 2006 for the consideration of this House. The Bill, when enacted, will underpin the creation of a single wholesale electricity market on the island of Ireland. The Bill forms a key part of the Government's priority legislative programme. Initiated in the Dáil in November...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (22 Feb 2007)

John Browne: It is not proposed to accept this amendment. The purpose of amending the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951 was to increase fines to deter nuisance calls to the emergency call answering service, ECAS. The change proposed by the Senators is a wider offence and I understand from the debate on Tuesday that they are particularly concerned about tackling cyber bullying. The issues were raised...