Results 1,181-1,200 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is currently examining the pension entitlements in this case and will contact the person shortly to confirm the position. I will advise the Deputy when a reply has issued.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (23 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 181 together. I understand from Shell E&P Ireland Limited that the proposed non-technical summary of the quantified risk assessment, QRA, is intended to provide the general public with a self-explanatory layman's understanding and interpretation. It will not be subject to any assessment by me in the context of Shell's application for consent to install...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (23 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is no doubt aware from my reply to him on 10 March, Shell E&P Ireland Limited appointed Shell Global Solutions to carry out a peer review on the QRA and any associated reports-studies submitted to my Department by the then operator Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited, EEI, in connection with its application for consent to construct a pipeline in 2001. Shell has agreed to submit...

Written Answers — Retail Sector Developments: Retail Sector Developments (23 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The disposal of retail shops is a matter for the board of the ESB in the first instance. However, the ESB informed me of the outline of the proposed transaction shortly before the meeting on 16 March 2005 at which the board approved, in principle, the sale to Bank of Scotland (Ireland) Limited, BOSI, of its retail outlets. The full details of the proposal are currently under negotiation so,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of broadband facilities is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector telecommunications companies operating in a fully liberalised market. A number of factors determine where and when broadband services are offered in any area, including the potential number of customers, the level of investment required and so on. My Department's website, www.broadband.gov.ie,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of broadband facilities is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector telecommunications companies operating in a fully liberalised market. A number of factors determine where and when broadband services are offered in any area, including the potential number of customers, the level of investment required, and so on. Eircom recently announced plans to extend...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (24 Mar 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I recently made regulations — European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2005, SI 60 of 2005 — to give further legal effect to Directive 2003/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2003, concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and repealing Directive 96/92/EC. The directive strengthens, inter alia, the unbundling...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The only capital grant support is that provided by Sustainable Energy Ireland through its renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme. It is open to a wide range of research, development, and demonstration projects under the support mechanism categories proposed in the Green Paper on sustainable energy, including shared cost demonstration — projects demonstrating...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together. Compliance with the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997, as amended by the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, is a specific requirement in all of the grant agreements drawn up between my Department and the local and regional authorities, and, in turn, of all agreements entered into by local...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 400 together. I have been informed that no such meeting took place.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I wish to advise the Deputy that I did not travel abroad for the purpose of attending St. Patrick's Day celebrations. However, I did travel to Israel from 14 to 16 March to represent the Taoiseach at a ceremony to inaugurate the new Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am unaware of any requirement in a NSAI standard to have a minimum distance of 70 metres from gas pipelines to any road. The Corrib gas pipeline was designed to standard BS 8010-2.8.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The consent to construct the Corrib gas pipeline given by my predecessor was based on my Department's assessment, inter alia, of the design codes proposed by the developers for the construction of the pipeline. In this context, my Department commissioned an independent pipeline expert to evaluate the onshore pipeline design code. The study addressed design methodology, operating conditions,...

Written Answers — Mineral Development: Mineral Development (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Minerals are usually developed by private enterprise through a lease or licence issued under the Minerals Development Acts 1940-1999. The rate of royalty is settled by negotiation between the Department and individual developers, and, in agreeing a rate of royalty, attention is paid to such factors as the economics of the project, international practice and the need to ensure equitable...

Written Answers — Gas Terminal Safety: Gas Terminal Safety (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The non-technical summary of the quantified risk assessment, QRA, is being prepared by Shell to provide the general public with a self-explanatory layman's understanding and interpretation of the QRA. It will not be subject to any assessment by me. The QRA non-technical summary does not come within the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA, Directives 83/337/EEC and 97/11/EC.

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Section 32(1)(a) of the Gas Act 1976 as amended provides that "any person may apply to the Minister for an order under this section to acquire compulsorily any land or right over land which is required by that person for or in connection with the performance of any function of that person." In accordance with this section, compulsory acquisition orders were issued to the developers.

Written Answers — Dumping at Sea: Dumping at Sea (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The dredging and associated works at Dingle were carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation in respect of disposal of dredge materials. Planning permission was granted by Kerry County Council for the development in December 1998. A foreshore licence, in accordance with the Foreshore Acts 1933 to 1998, was granted for the pier development and dredging works in 1999. Dumping at sea...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Any intending supplier of gas to the north west is free to apply to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, for the necessary consent. A preliminary evaluation in 2001 by Bord Gáis Éireann, BGE, which considered network extensions to the north west, found that none was commercially viable and even the least expensive option would cost more than what might be recovered over the lifetime...

Written Answers — Gas Terminal Safety: Gas Terminal Safety (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The safety of the gas terminal is in the first instance a matter for Shell E & P Ireland Limited. The plan of development approval, including the consent to construct a pipeline, took account of safety matters. It also incorporates the permits and licences to be issued by other regulatory authorities. The plan of development approval was given subject to a number of conditions, one of which...

Written Answers — Offshore Gas Processing: Offshore Gas Processing (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Corrib gas field is a sub-sea development with gas processing at a terminal onshore. Offshore processing for the Corrib gas field is not the preferred development option as it would mean that production would be weather-sensitive, a serious drawback in the hostile environment at Corrib, and there would be greater capital and operational expenditure compared to a sub-sea development. The...