Results 1,281-1,300 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have the level of detail the Deputy requests on MANs but I will provide him with as much information as possible. Where the MANs are in operation they are used by almost all operators including Eircom for enhancing its network. It is used extensively by service providers in various parts of the country. My optimism for take up of broadband arises from the introduction of the...

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The number of service providers registered with ComReg, the body with which they must be licensed, has increased from 80 to 130 companies. At least 45 different broadband offerings exist across a range and variety of technologies, including DSL mainly, but also fibre, cable, lease lines and satellite technology. Business people, including people who work at home and from home, are regularly...

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There seems to be a greater awareness in this House of the benefits and needs for it than in some of the business organisations.

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy has raised an issue on which we need more focus. It is convenient for me and Opposition Members to discuss quantity of broadband but the issue of its quality is even more important. Even if the country was entirely broadband enabled, not everybody would want it or use it. The quality of what is on offer is extremely important and perhaps we would be better employed focusing on that...

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: That is what we are doing in the MANs programme. That is based on fibre optic because that is what we believe is necessary. Eircom has indicated that by the end of next year it will have achieved 90% coverage with DSL. We must focus more on quality as 512 bytes DSL is basic broadband and we should have at least one or two megabytes. Local loop unbundling is a matter for ComReg which knows the...

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm to the Deputy that for counting purposes, it will be 4,200 schools rather than 500,000 students who will have access. That relates to the last question the Deputy raised. Part of the rationale behind the rolling out of the schools broadband programme, as was my rationale when I was Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in rolling out direct broadband access...

Telecommunications Services. (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It will be via schools, libraries and public buildings generally. I encourage local authorities, through the libraries, their offices and so on, to make these points available. Government should be more active in making public places available for people to ensure they are not unduly affected by the digital divide.

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 48, 154, and 155 together. The digital hub project managed by the independent Digital Hub Development Agency has been and continues to be successful in attracting digital industry tenants and operates a number of significant community, educational and promotional initiatives as part of its role. The agency has been successful in growing the cluster with...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In November 2004, Minister Barry Gardiner MP and myself, as Ministers with responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland and Ireland, respectively, launched a development framework for an all island energy market. We agreed that the challenges faced on the island in relation to the safety, security and sustainability of energy supplies can best be achieved through co-operation on an...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 165 together. While there is no room for complacency in relation to the vital matter of energy saving and energy efficiency, the situation in Ireland is fairly good, compared with many other European countries. However, we are always open to new ideas and I intend to engage proactively with this agenda. Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, is an agency...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 21, 25, 58, 66, 72, 89, 143, 144, 145 and 157 together. The promotion of renewable energy technologies in electricity production is a key priority of this Government. This priority is shared by EU Community institutions which have addressed a directive, the renewables directive — Directive 2001/77/EC, to all member states to increase the consumption of...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 160 together. I have no function in the setting of pricing for phone services. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including pricing for mobile services, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and regulations made under the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 33, 47, 96, 146, 162 and 167 together. 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 that was launched by my Department on 20 April. Interested parties have been...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As regards domestic electricity prices, the Deputy will be aware I have no function in relation to the pricing of electricity as this falls within the remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, the independent regulator for electricity and gas. Turning to the kernel of the question, the Deputy will also be aware that liberalisation of the electricity market has proceeded on a phased...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The development of the Corrib gas field, which is situated some 70 km off the coast of County Mayo, is progressing steadily. The development has received the necessary statutory approvals, consents and licences for the development of the field and work on the project has commenced. The developers expect that first gas will flow in early 2007. A considerable amount of work will be undertaken...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: TG4 is primarily an Irish language television station. It first broadcast on 31 October 1996 and operates as part of the RTÉ family of services. The Government is committed to supporting the development of Irish language broadcasting, and to the establishment of TG4 as a separate statutory body, as provided for in the Broadcasting Act 2001. The Government has agreed that I would indicate my...

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 36, 133 and 153 together. A consultation with regard to the development of a new digital research entity in the digital hub was recently undertaken on my behalf. The report found a high level of support for the proposal to continue public investment in the digital media sector in Ireland with the establishment of a new research entity at the former Media...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 30 and 174 together. Offshore wind energy is a significantly more expensive means of electricity production than onshore wind. While it is appropriate to facilitate demonstration projects to a judicious extent offshore, the fact that there is substantial unexploited potential onshore suggests that the latter should be favoured. That said, there are...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 150 together. The Government and An Post share the objective of maintaining a nationwide post office network through a strategy of maximising the volume of viable business handled by the network. There is clear Government recognition of the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network and An Post development strategies for the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 May 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 75, 152 and 164 together. Government policy on the sustainable use of energy is directed through Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established under the Sustainable Energy Act in 2002 as an independent non-commercial State body. SEI and its programmes are funded under the current national development plan and the economic and social infrastructure...