Results 1,621-1,640 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 297 together. My Department together with SEI is currently finalising a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for public consultation which will set out the actions to deliver on the Government's ambitious target of at least 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 reflecting the new EU target set in 2006. Under the Programme for Government and...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government commits to developing the undoubted potential for distributed generation, as a long term alternative or supplement to the existing centralised system. My Department is already working with all relevant agencies including Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), ESB Networks and the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: We have set ambitious targets to increase the contribution of renewable energy by 2020 as set out in the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government. The challenges inherent in achieving these targets will require sustained delivery by all concerned. We will be regularly reviewing and reporting on progress in light of technological and other developments and in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Provisional figures supplied by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimate that import dependency during 2006 was 89.7% and that renewable energy resources contributed 3% to total primary energy requirement in 2006. The dominant use of renewable energy technologies was in the electricity market with an estimated contribution of 8.5% in 2006. Allocated within the wider energy market, by...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Provisional figures supplied by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimate the contribution from renewable energy resources, including biomass, hydropower and wind-power, at 8.54% of gross electricity consumption in 2006.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Definitive statistics for market penetration of biofuels in 2006 are currently being finalised and it is likely that they will be broadly in line with the figure of 0.13% of the transport fuel market, as reported in Ireland's 2005 report to the Commission under Biofuels Directive 2003/30/EC. The Programme for Government underlines our commitment to the development of an Irish biofuels market...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The metropolitan area networks (MANs) constructed under phase I of the MANs Programme are complete and open for business. They have been handed over to the managed services entity, eNet, who manage, market, operate and maintain Phase 1 of the networks on behalf of the State. Phase II of the MANs Programme, which involves the construction of about 90 networks is well advanced. A number of...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Post office closures are a matter for the board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. However, An Post has provided the following information to my Department; Post Office Closures since January 1st 2007 15 Post Offices Post Office Closures for each year from 2002 to 2006 Year 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Total 21 127 37 35 27

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Liberalisation of the mail market in Ireland has already commenced and the European Commission's draft third postal directive proposes that the postal sector is to fully liberalise across the EU on 1 January 2009 subject to political agreement. The draft directive is currently being discussed at Council and the EU Parliament. The development of the postal market requires the availability of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the relevant companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The availability of broadband services across the entire country is a key priority for the new Government. The Department of Communications,...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) has presented its recommendation as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. As part of its analysis, the NPPB's advisers carried out an extensive consultation with stakeholders both within the postal sector and outside it with a view to...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I am considering the report of the consultants who were engaged to assist with the review of the licensing regime. My proposals for the future of the licensing regime will be considered by Government in the near future and I will then take appropriate steps to give effect to the decisions taken. It would be my intention to publish the consultants' report after the matter has been considered...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in September 2006 for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative. It is proposed to publish the Broadcasting Bill towards the end of this year having considered the Joint Oireachtas Committee's conclusions on the outcome...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Licences: Broadcasting Licences (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The award of broadcasting licences is, in the first instance, a matter for the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI). The BCI is charged under the corpus of broadcasting legislation with the orderly development of commercial and community broadcasting services in Ireland. In late 2003, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources initiated a review of the radio licensing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Regulation: Telecommunications Regulation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I have no plans to introduce legislation for the regulation of the content, promotion and pricing information of premium rate telecommunication services. The Office of the Regulator of Premium Rate Telecoms Services (RegTel), which is a self-regulatory industry body, already exists to authorise and supervise the content and promotion of premium rate telecommunications services within the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Regulation: Telecommunications Regulation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I have no plans to direct ComReg to investigate and establish precise and reliable statistics regarding the volumes and revenues of international telecom services by all mobile service providers operating here including all termination and roaming rates. Furthermore, I have no plans to direct ComReg to investigate allegations of collusion by mobile operators in terms of mobile pricing and rates.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Regulation: Telecommunications Regulation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Following the passage of the Communications Regulation (Amendment) Act 2007 through the Oireachtas, my predecessor wrote to ComReg requesting that it be made a condition of an authorisation that all operators granting wholesale access to other operators to their networks or products give a minimum period of notice to ComReg of intention to withdraw such access or products. This would enable...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: While the development of the post office network is, in the first instance, a matter for the board of An Post, both this Government and the board are committed to the objective of ensuring the continuation of a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network. The recently launched financial services venture, 'Postbank', will entail the provision of a range of financial services through...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The operation and maintenance of ESB's power stations is a matter for the company and not one in which I have a function. However, following notification from ESB earlier this month that its West Offaly and Lough Ree peat power plants at Shannonbridge and Lanesboro were experiencing outages on safety grounds, my predecessor requested that the Department's chief energy technical advisor...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish National Petroleum Corporation Limited (INPC) business and commercial assets were sold on 16 July 2001. The INPC was paid in full for these assets by the purchaser on 16 July 2001. A legal undertaking by the purchaser, and its successors, to operate the facilities on a fully commercial basis for at least 15 years was a key element of this transaction. While the headline payment...