Results 1,201-1,220 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's decentralisation programme involves the relocation of the Department headquarters and functions to Cavan, the seafood and coastal zone functions to Clonakilty and the maritime safety directorate and the Irish Coast Guard to Drogheda. All these functions and the posts involved in the decentralisation programme are currently based in Dublin. The Department already has a...

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

Noel Dempsey: The Minister of State was invited to launch this report in his official capacity. It is normal for the Department to issue press releases for all such events. This practice has been in place through previous administrations.

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have responsibility within the Government for trade issues, including Fairtrade products and the fair trade campaign, and my Department as a corporate entity is not involved generally in purchases of products of the type promoted under the Fairtrade campaign.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland is a member of the International Energy Agency, IEA, an OECD body which, inter alia, monitors developments in the international oil market. The IEA keeps the oil market situation under constant review. While international oil prices are currently high, the IEA considers that the supply-demand fundamentals should not lead to a supply crisis. As a member of the IEA, Ireland is required...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 416 together. My Department has made no grants or other financial assistance available in the past three years to any groups or organisations of the types referred to by the Deputy.

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

Noel Dempsey: In December 2003 my Department, in association with Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, set up a bioenergy strategy group, BSG, to consider the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion, and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the penetration of bioenergy in Ireland. Membership of the BSG...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Directive 2001/77/EC on the promotion of renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market addresses an obligation to Ireland to increase the consumption of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total electricity consumption by 2010. This target has been incorporated into the alternative energy requirement, AER, programme administered by my Department to encourage...

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

Noel Dempsey: Any proposals by Eircom, or any other commercial operator in a fully liberalised market, to acquire another company is a commercial decision for those involved and not one in which I have a function. The telecommunications market is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which is the body responsible for consumer protection in this area....

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

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, recently published a consultation document entitled Forward-looking Strategic Review of the Irish Telecoms Sector. This document sets out a number of possible scenarios for the telecommunications sector, one of which includes the vertical separation of Eircom in the interest of competition. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its...

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

Noel Dempsey: Fee levels for chairpersons and board members of State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of all Departments are prescribed by the Minister for Finance following a Government decision. The current levels as indicated in the following tables in respect of the State-sponsored bodies under the aegis of my Department have been in force since July 2001 on foot of the Government decision of 28 May...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 424 and 432 together. The export gas pipeline including the onshore section of the pipeline for the Corrib gas field is an integral part of the plan of development for the gas field. The statutory approvals, consents and licences issued to date have all been issued in strict compliance with all national legislation requirements. It should be noted that the...

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

Noel Dempsey: The decision to grant consent for the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline was based on a range of factors including the proposed design codes for this pipeline as submitted to my predecessor for consideration by the developers. The consultant who evaluated the onshore pipeline design code indicated that the design code had been selected in accordance with best public safety...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In general, issues relating to the physical siting of telecommunication masts are not a matter for me but for the relevant local authorities under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. My responsibility in relation to safety issues at mobile phone masts relates solely to emissions of non-ionising radiation from these sites. There is...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together. The officials of my Department did not brief my predecessor, Deputy Dermot Ahern, on the contents of the qualified risk assessment, QRA, on the Corrib Gas pipeline, as the consent to construct the pipeline had been granted prior to his appointment. The consent to construct a pipeline was given by the former Minister, Deputy Fahey. The...

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

Noel Dempsey: I am satisfied that section 32 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, does not impugn the constitutional rights of the residents of Rossport in north County Mayo.

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

Noel Dempsey: The consent by my predecessor for the construction of the Corrib gasfield pipeline was given only after all aspects of the safety of the proposed pipeline were considered and when the then Minister was fully satisfied that the safety aspects would be carried out to the highest possible standard. It should be noted that the present position is that no consent has been given to date to install...

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

Noel Dempsey: I should point out to the Deputy that 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...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government and the board of An Post are committed to the objective of securing a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network as set out in the programme for Government. In regard to the contract for social welfare payments, as An Post is a commercial State body, that contract is primarily a matter for the management of An Post and its client, the Department of Social and Family...

Written Answers — ESB Retail Offices: ESB Retail Offices (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The disposal of ESB retail offices is a day-to-day commercial matter for the board of the ESB and not one in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (12 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, IEGMP, chaired by Sir William Stewart, was set up in 1999. It issued its report Mobile Phones And Health in May 2000. This report is commonly referred to as the Stewart report. There have been numerous reports since then. In general, issues relating to the physical siting of telecommunication masts are not a matter for me but for the relevant...