Results 1,061-1,080 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. The total number of broadband subscribers in Ireland now exceeds 130,000. This figure is made up of approximately 114,000 digital subscriber lines, 3,600 leased lines, 6,000 cable, 8,700 fixed wireless and 230 satellite. These and other statistics are on the website www.comreg.ie. The latest figures shown on the website...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I understand that Eircom has 1166 telephone exchanges providing 1.6 million working lines. These exchanges vary in size, providing services to between 200 and 20,000 customers. Of the 1.6 million working lines, 1.44 million have access to DSL â broadband â through 233 enabled exchanges, and this will increase to 1.53 million during the next 12 months. Some 80% of lines connected to...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: Assignments of responsibility to individual named officers at assistant secretary and head of function level in my Department were made in accordance with section 4(1)(c), section 4(1)(i) and section 9(1)(a) to (f) of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Information relating to these assignments has not been published. Assignments of responsibility under the Public Services Management Act...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: With the exception of the functions of sea fishing vessels, which are statutorily delegated to a senior official of my Department under the Fisheries Acts, no other ministerial functions have been delegated to officers in my Department.
- Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: The position in relation to the functions, powers and responsibilities of Government Ministers and Ministers of the State is as set out in the Ministers and Secretaries Acts 1924 to 1995. The 1924 Act establishes each Minister as a corporation sole with perpetual succession and official seal. He or she may sue and be sued and may acquire, hold and dispose of land for the purposes of the...
- Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (9 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: My Department is at present considering an application for consent to install the onshore pipeline. Both the quantified risk assessment, QRA, and the Johnston report, to which I have referred previously, will form part of this process. In so far as there may be issues in the QRA that need further clarification, elaboration or even additional material, Mr. Andrew Johnston, assisted by other...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. My Department relies upon the advice of the National Salmon Commission and the national fisheries managers executive â the regional fisheries boards' managers â in determining the terms of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme which, inter alia, sets out district quotas for the commercial wild salmon catch annually. The salmon...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: The difficulty is that we have three different sets of advice, all of which are contradictory. If the Deputy is advocating that we take just one set of advice and act on it, I note his position. The clear policy decision of the Labour Party is that we take the advice of the standing scientific committee. However the Government must balance all the different interests, move as quickly as...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: Deputy Ryan is asking me to do precisely what he is accusing me of, namely ignoring advice. I have three different sets of advice and the adoption of one means I must ignore the others. The Minister of State is responsible for considering the advices available. He will make decisions based on all the advice at his disposal rather than on one piece of advice. He is out of the country and...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: On the general question about the precautionary principle, this underpins policy in this area and it will continue to underpin it in futureââ
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: The policy in respect of moving towards the scientific levels in 2007 is still intact.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: The completion of the most recent round of competitive tendering to support renewable energy technologies, AER VI, is an appropriate opportunity to review the programme. Last May, a renewable energy development group was established to advise on future options on policies, targets, programmes and support measures to develop the increased use of renewable energy in the electricity market to...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I do not wish to comment on what Mr. Tom Reeves said about support for alternative energy sources because I do not think that would be fair. I reiterate my belief, which is Government policy, that we need to support the alternative energy sector and adopt more ambitious targets. It was for this reason that we established the renewable energy development group that will report to me shortly. I...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I have no function in matters such as the price and costs of electricity as these are regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation. In fairness to Eirgrid and the ESB both companies have supported connections to the grid. The Deputy may be adverting to difficulties in certain areas, principally the west, where the grid is not suitable for wind energy.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: In the course of a conversation with the chief executive of the ESB, I asked him about this issue in the context of the â¬3 billion programme the company is undertaking to upgrade transmission lines and so forth. He informed me that the upgrade would overcome some of the technical difficulties regarding the grid. ComReg is the body responsible for ensuring the ESB and others do not use their...
- Mobile Telephony. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: The National Radiological Protection Board in January 2005 published the report, Mobile Phones and Health 2004, to provide further advice to address remaining public concerns in the United Kingdom about mobile telephone technology as well as related technological developments. It also reviews progress on implementing the recommendations in the Stewart report published in 2000. The report...
- Mobile Telephony. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: Planning issues are a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities. In my previous position as Minister in that Department I introduced planning guidelines which, if I recall correctly, take the location of schools into account in siting mobile telephone masts. While I do not have a major problem, decisions in this regard are not my...
- Mobile Telephony. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I do not have the benefit of having the response to that parliamentary question with me. If I recall correctly, Deputy Gregory insinuated that the Stewart report stated that no mast should be put anywhere near a school. My reply would have been based on that. If my recollection is wrong, I will correct the record. The siting of telecommunications masts is a matter for the planning...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: New EU control requirements for pelagic fisheries were introduced in 2004 to meet concerns of possible illegal fish landings in these fisheries across Europe. Such controls are a key element in fisheries management policy to enable the sustainable management and development of the fisheries concerned. The requirements created new and more onerous obligations for member states to ensure all...
- Fisheries Protection. (10 Mar 2005)
Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the difficulties caused by these arrangements. However, it is a question of the number of ports versus the opening hours. If the original decision on the proper control of fisheries was adhered to by the Department, Killybegs would be open on a 24-hour basis. However, the number of ports available for landings would be reduced. The Department is endeavouring to be as fair as...