Results 1,501-1,520 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is becoming increasingly obvious that energy efficiency and conservation bear on the activities of every Minister. My ambition is to bring about an increase in the priority given to it. Government policy on the conservation and sustainable use of energy is directed through Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established under the Sustainable Energy Act in 2002 as an independent...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Our electricity system is currently linked to the system in Northern Ireland by three interconnectors, one between Tandragee and Louth, one between Strabane and Letterkenny and one between Enniskillen and Corraclassy. The main interconnector, which is between Tandragee and Louth, has a physical capacity of 600 MW of power with 100% standby capacity. The interconnectors enable trade of...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There are currently nine petroleum exploration licences awarded to petroleum exploration companies; one reserved area licence, 21 licensing options and 11 petroleum prospecting licences. The licences are additional to the Kinsale, Seven Heads and Corrib petroleum leases. A licensing round in the north-east Rockall Basin closed on 31 May 2005. The results of the round will be available...

Written Answers — e-Government Projects: e-Government Projects (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Several projects have been initiated by my Department under the aegis of the e-Government project. The Department has invested considerable time in designing and implementing the infrastructure upon which to build quality e-Government services to the public. Some of the projects are as follows. Minerals application processing system, MAPS, is an online application for prospecting licences and...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy including biofuels. I am committed to the development and promotion of a biofuels market in Ireland's transport fuel sector and to the development of alternative fuels which can contribute to emissions reductions and security of supply. My Department recently advertised a pilot biofuels mineral oil tax relief...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland's biofuels sector is currently at a very early stage of development and there are currently two pure plant oil producers active in the biofuels market. Under the pilot biofuels mineral oil tax relief scheme which my Department recently advertised, a total of 34 applications were received under the call for proposals by the closing date. Applications were received under all three...

Written Answers — Energy Market: Energy Market (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: First, as regards domestic electricity prices, the Deputy will be aware I do not have any function in regard 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. The CER was given the responsibility for regulating tariffs under the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity)...

Written Answers — Energy Market: Energy Market (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Energy costs relate primarily to the market prices of fuels and the capital and operating costs of energy providers, matters in which I have no function. Costs to industry generally are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Ireland is an importer of fuels, which are traded on the international market and have encountered unprecedented levels of...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, which was established as a statutory agency in May 2002, implements initiatives on renewable energy and energy efficiency, including research, on behalf of my Department. SEI is involved in a number of projects aimed at promoting solar energy in Ireland. Through its information office in Cork, SEI offers advice to the public on solar energy systems and...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The full resources of the State's industrial relations machinery continue to be made available to management and unions to assist in resolving industrial relations issues at An Post. I have urged both sides to make full use of that machinery and I am pleased to say that progress has been made in regard to resolving many of these issues. A recovery plan has been devised by An Post in...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, has published a consultation document entitled, Forward-Looking Strategic Review of the Irish Telecoms Sector. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions and it would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail on this matter. I can confirm that Energis sent my Department a copy of its submission to ComReg.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Table 1 shows the budgets and outturns for expenditure and receipts together with the amounts surrendered to the Exchequer in the period 1997 to 2004. As the surrender to the Exchequer in any one year is a function of both expenditure and receipts in that year, it is not possible to identify the projects in respect of which the surrenders in the years 1997 to 2004, inclusive, were earmarked....

Written Answers — Mine Sites: Mine Sites (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I expect to make a decision in the near future. The summer or Dáil recess is irrelevant to the process. The availability of topsoil in significant volumes may be of use in any future remediation plans for the area.

Written Answers — Harbour Authorities: Harbour Authorities (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The harbour master at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is currently suspended pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary investigation. In the interim, arrangements have been made to have the harbour master duties carried out by the assistant harbour master at Killybegs in a temporary acting capacity. It would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the outcome of the disciplinary...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I do not accept the position set out by the Deputy in his question. The consent by my predecessor for the construction of the Corrib gas field pipeline was given only after all aspects of the safety of the proposed pipeline had been considered and 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...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no power to direct the developers of the Corrib gas field to process the gas offshore. The developers of the field were given the necessary approvals and consents from my Department for the development of the field after careful consideration was given to the applications. Those approvals and consents were given under various statutes, that is, the Petroleum and Other Minerals...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The plan of development approval given for the Corrib gas field in April 2002 by the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources was for a sub-sea development with an onshore terminal. Moreover, the developers have planning permission for an onshore terminal. Offshore processing for the Corrib gas field was not the preferred development option, as it would mean that production would be...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Although the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the fully liberalised private sector, the delivery of broadband is dependent on access by the sector to suitable infrastructure. Unfortunately, investment by the sector in broadband infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the demand for broadband services. Since March 2002, the Government has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I understand an interim reply, as well as an acknowledgement, was sent to the Deputy. While the document predates the Freedom of Information Act, my Department considered that it should be dealt with in the context of the principles set out in the Act. This required consideration of issues concerning commercial sensitivity and also the views of the main parties to the report. That...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: 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 EU regulatory framework for electronic communications.