Results 1,561-1,580 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Ireland's Oil Consumption ('000 Tonnes of Oil Equivalent). 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 % Increase 1990-2004 Total Primary Oil Supply * 4,286 7,868 8,435 8,261 7,994 8,219 +92 Public electricity 347 1,051 1,171 944 594 812 +134 Oil refinery consumption 64 104 123 132...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am informed by ESB National Grid that the distribution of electricity generation by fuel source in percentage terms over the past five years is as set out in the following table. Year Coal Heavy Fuel Oil Light Fuel Oil Gas Native (peat) Hydro IPP1 Small-Scale Generation including Wind Total 2004 25.7 12.2 0.2 25.1 4.8 2.5 19.7 3.4 93.62 2003 25.4 9.7 0.3 29.8...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The information to which the question relates is freely available from published sources that my Department can access as and when needed. It is not, therefore, necessary to actively monitor the data.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the report, finalised earlier this year, relating to peaking of world oil production, which was commissioned by the National Energy Technology Laboratory of the US Department of Energy. The purpose of this study was to identify the critical issues surrounding the occurrence and mitigation of global oil production peaking. Understandably, the focus of the report is primarily on...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including ISDN lines and broadband, is a matter for the private sector companies, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, whose offices are at Irish Life Centre, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin 1, telephone 01-8049600. The Commission's website www.comreg.ie lists 88 companies offering fixed telephony services on...

Written Answers — Departmental Revenue: Departmental Revenue (28 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The following table shows voted receipts or appropriations-in-aid in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 for revenue categories which now come within the ambit of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Vote. The table shows, among other matters, the year-on-year revenue from charges over the period. The cost in terms of staff resources in attempting to identify the value of increases in...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 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 regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The latest data on total broadband subscribers in Ireland is provided by the Commission for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Jun 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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. My Department's regional broadband programme is addressing the infrastructure deficit, in co-operation with the local and regional authorities, by...

Written Answers — EU Regulations: EU Regulations (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The question refers to the High Court decision of 6 March 2002 and Supreme Court decision of 16 July 2003, and while the name of the case was not included in the question it would appear that the Deputy is referring to the decision in the case of Vincent Browne v. the Attorney General. The Supreme Court in this case decided that an EC regulation could only be transposed by regulations under a...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Consent to construct and commission a pipeline was given on 15 April 2002 by my predecessor under section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to Enterprise Energy Ireland Limited, EEIL, subject to a number of conditions, including the condition to obtain consent to install and commission the pipeline in accordance with the requirements of the Department's rules and procedures manual for...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The primary responsibility for the development of the post office network rests with An Post. The automation of the network was completed in 1997 and it has only been in exceptional circumstances — such as an existing automated office closing and its equipment being transferred to a suitable neighbouring location which transacts significant volumes of welfare business — that further...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The market for traditional postal and post office services is changing and meeting customer needs has become more important than ever. Competition can be expected to increase into the future, from the privately owned express sector, from the large European public operators now looking for international business and from electronic communications technologies such as e-mail and text messaging....

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have asked the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, to appoint project managers to support the postcode project. As a next step I will appoint a national postcode project board, comprising representatives of Departments together with public and private sector organisations, to assist the project managers with their work. It is hoped to present a proposal describing in...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: To examine the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland, I established a working group comprising people with experience of the postal sector, together with a representative from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the lead Department for the Irish spatial data infrastructure initiative to examine the issue of the introduction of a postcode system in...

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for tabling their questions and providing me with the opportunity to address the matter in the House. I am deeply concerned by the recent turn of events. It is a matter of great regret to me as well as to the Deputies that five persons have been committed to prison by the High Court. I share the Deputies' wish to see the matter resolved as quickly as possible. Deputies will...

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Deputies for their contributions. I realise they would have prepared questions prior to hearing the speech. A lot of the matters raised by Deputies were dealt with in my speech but I will try, in the limited time available, to touch on some of the points of particular concern. I reject the suggestion from one or two Deputies that Shell has any more access to me, the Department or to ——

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The processes ——

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: If Deputies want me to answer the questions they have raised, I will, but if they want to heckle me, I will not. It is as simple as that. I am over time as it is, so the Deputies either want to hear answers or they do not.

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: If the Deputies stayed quiet and let me give the answers, I would be able to do so quite quickly. However, if they want to heckle and throw insults across the House, I do not think——

Natural Gas Grid. (30 Jun 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is not going to be of help to anybody and it is certainly not in the interests of the five men in jail that Deputies want to try to get cheap political shots in instead of trying to resolve the issue. If we could work on trying to resolve the issue, it would be very helpful for everybody. Deputies raised the issue of the QRA and why it is not available. The QRA, version F, which is the one...