Results 1,221-1,240 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (13 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In March 2004, my Department secured an amendment to the Finance Act 1999, which provides for the introduction of a pilot scheme for excise tax relief for biofuels. The European Commission has now given State aid clearance for the scheme. The pilot scheme will be publicly advertised very shortly and interested parties will be invited to apply for excise relief, through a competitive "call for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 193 together. A consultation on the development of a new digital research entity in the Digital Hub was recently undertaken on behalf of my Department. The consultation focussed on a number of topics, including research type; research area; preferred management approach; partnership requirement; preferred tender process; level of institutional interest...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The provision of telecommunications, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, as regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The number of broadband customers is increasing rapidly and now stands at more than 140,000. For...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (14 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware that An Post employees have not received increases provided for under the Sustaining Progress agreement from November 2003 to date. An Post is a commercial State body and the question of pay increases in the company is one in which I have no function. An Post has a remit to be financially viable and, following significant losses that amounted to €43 million in 2003 alone, An Post...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (14 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The primary responsibility for the development of the post office network remains with An Post and while the Government will support the network in any way it can and has demonstrated its commitment in a tangible fashion with a €12.7 million capital injection in 2003, the way forward is for stakeholders to continue to work with An Post in enhancing existing services and building on existing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (14 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the telephone exchanges serving most parts of the Dublin north west area have been enabled for the provision of DSL broadband and a number of service providers are marketing DSL in the area, subject to line survey. While the principal broadband technology in use in Ireland is digital subscriber line, DSL, which is also the situation in most European countries, there are...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As a member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Ireland is required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports in the previous year. In line with IEA rules, member countries' reserves may include industry stocks, in addition to government or agency stocks. Ireland's strategic reserves are made up of a combination of wholly owned and rented stocks held...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 411, 427, 429, and 430 of 26 January 2005. Regarding those former civil servants, who are also pensioners of An Post, the Attorney General has been asked for advice on their specific statutory pension entitlements.

Written Answers — ComReg Audit: ComReg Audit (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My officials have requested the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, to arrange an audit of the site in question. In June 2003, at the instigation of my Department, ComReg commenced a series of audits involving measurements of non-ionising radiation emissions from telecommunications mast sites in the country. The purpose of the audits is to verify that licensed operators are in...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The information regarding the number of post offices in operation on 1 January 1997, the number in operation at present and the number of postal agencies is set out in Appendix 1. In every instance where a post office is closed, the vacancy is advertised by An Post as a postal agency and it is only when no suitable applicant can be found to take over the running of the post office that an...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 to 275, inclusive together. I have no statutory function in this matter. It is an operational issue for the board and management of An Post. I am advised by An Post that it does not have a definitive figure for the number of post boxes bearing the crown insignia.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Apr 2005)

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

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 to 280, inclusive, together. An alternative energy requirement programme, AER, is operated by my Department to support the construction of new renewable energy based electricity generating stations in a variety of technologies. There have been six tender rounds in the AER programme to date. All projects selected in the biomass category prior to AER VI were...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Details of ministerial staff including those attached to the Minister of State, not being civil servants, but contracted as personal assistant, political adviser, programme manager and press communications advisers are as follows: Minister Mr. N. Dempsey Name Function Full/Part Time Contract Terms Remuneration Mr. James Fegan Special Adviser to the Minister Full Time Temporary,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The cost of travel and subsistence expenses incurred for the calendar year 2004 is as follows: ministerial office — Richard Moore, press adviser to the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern —€17,275.23; Ciaran O'Cuinn, special adviser to the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern —€16,880.36; and Grace Cappock, press adviser to the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey —€353.58.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The most recent figures from the commission indicate that there are now in excess of 140,000 broadband customers, which is almost 9% market penetration as measured...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The MANs programme is being rolled out on a phased basis, and the 19 networks completed to date have come in on time and within budget. Work is currently under way on seven MANs, and construction of a further 82 will commence during the next 12 months. Under the county and group broadband scheme, smaller towns and rural communities can avail of grant funding of up to 55% of set-up costs to...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government and An Post share the objective of maintaining a viable nationwide post office network through a strategy of maximising the volume of both public and private sector business handled by the network. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, there is clear Government recognition of the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network. Accordingly, An Post...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The level of fees payable to postmasters and postmistresses is a contractual matter between them and An Post and is one in which I have no function.

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Apr 2005)

Noel Dempsey: While this is an operational matter for the board and management of An Post and one in which I have no direct function, I have urged An Post to develop a forward looking strategy for the post office network. The objective of this exercise is to build on existing strengths in terms of nationwide network, strong brand recognition and high footfall and to devise a suite of products and services...