Results 1,681-1,700 of 1,981 for speaker:Conor Lenihan

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The primary motivation in aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice and the introduction of the appropriate regulations to cease mixed stock fishing is the conservation of the wild salmon stocks. It is important to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch in order to fulfil obligations under...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (20 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Standing Scientific Committee, in their draft Report on the Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2009 and Precautionary Catch Advice for 2010, advised that stocks of salmon in the River Suir were below conservation limits. It is calculated that in 2010 the river Suir (including Clodiagh and Lingaun waters) will reach only 96% of its conservation limit. In order to permit a harvest of fish,...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (20 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Licensing Option (No. 08/2) was granted to Providence Resources plc and Star Energy Oil and Gas Ltd over 959 square kilometres in the Kish Bank Basin for 3 years from 18 August 2008 to 17 August 2011. A Licensing Option gives the holder the first right, exercisable at any time during the period of the Option, to a Petroleum Exploration Licence over all or part of the area covered by the...

Electric Vehicles. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: There is no such thing as a reliable Sunday newspaper.

Electric Vehicles. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Perhaps the Deputies opposite could be plugged into the national grid.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: There were three new discoveries of oil and gas in the Irish Offshore in recent years; however none of these have been declared commercial to date. During 2007 two finds were made in the North Celtic Sea Basin off the South Coast. Providence Resources Limited identified an oil accumulation at the Hook Head prospect while Island Oil and Gas Limited encountered gas at the Scull prospect....

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Over recent months there has been renewed interest in targeting the natural gas resource potential of the Northwest Carboniferous and Clare basins which had been identified in earlier exploration, but not deemed commercial at that time. In March of this year, I announced a competition for Onshore Licensing Options over the two areas. The acreage on offer covers an area of approximately...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. The Department, and others, have been working, and continue to work on addressing the digital divide with a range of measures to promote digital engagement. One issue has been access to the technology and infrastructure, which is being addressed both by the market and, in the case of areas where broadband provision remains an issue,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Under Section 14 (1) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999, the Central Fisheries Board is obliged to submit draft annual accounts to the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG). As soon as may be but not later than one month after an audit by the C&AG, the Board is then obliged to submit to the Department a copy of its annual accounts, together with the C&AG's report. In response to recent...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I have stated on a number of occasions commitment to the early provision of a legislative framework for the exploration for and development of geothermal energy. Accordingly, in the course of 2009, drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill with a view to producing Heads in early 2010 was prioritised in the Department, with detailed legislative drafting to follow by the Office of Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in the period 2005 to 2010 are contained in the following table: Licences Granted Years 2005 – 2010 Year Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Petroleum Exploration Licences (Oil and Gas) 2005 51 7 2006 165 4 2007 143 5 2008 91 5 2009 66 1 2010 to date (January to March) 45 0 Eighteen of the...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: Production of first gas from the Corrib gas field is a matter for the developer, SEPIL, subject to conformity with all statutory consent requirements. For the Deputy's information, construction of the Corrib Gas Terminal at Bellanaboy is substantially completed as are the sub-sea facilities at the Corrib Gas Field. Last summer the 83 km offshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline was...

Seanad: Financial Regulation. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the Adjournment. The Quinn group is a major employer in Ireland and Northern Ireland and we are all very anxious to see a satisfactory outcome to the current situation. The Government is obviously concerned about the employment situation and about the Quinn group generally. That is why the parties involved must continue to work to find a...

Seanad: Financial Regulation. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank Senator Wilson for his contribution and understand this issue is the source of extraordinary emotion in Cavan in his constituency. We all know the extent and influence of the Quinn Group in terms of its contribution to employment and wealth generation in the country. It is most extraordinary that the Financial Regulator has had to act in this way. Everyone in government is working...

Seanad: Financial Regulation. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: The Government's efforts are directed at trying to preserve jobs. That is the important point we are trying to make.

Seanad: School Staffing. (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Coughlan. I thank the Senator for raising the issue and will be glad to outline the general position on the supply teacher scheme at primary level. The supply teacher scheme was initially set up at primary level more than 15 years ago at a time when schools had difficulty...

Seanad: Sexual Assault Units (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. As she might be aware, last week in Letterkenny the Minister for Health and Children launched the annual statistics for the year 2009 from all six sexual assault treatment units. Seeking support in the aftermath of a rape or sexual assault is a major challenge and the work of sexual assault treatment units, SATUs, play a vital role in...

Seanad: Sexual Assault Units (27 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: I cannot disagree with anything the Senator has said. I believe people should reflect very carefully on the kind of action being taken at the moment, especially when it is action that affects the public in service provision in the Passport Office or elsewhere. In some local authorities some councillors are getting responses and others are not, which is utterly wrong and inimical to the...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: ): The purpose of the subsection to which the amendment refers is to oblige Inland Fisheries Ireland to establish and manage a national inland fisheries forum, the terms of reference of which would be subject to the agreement of the Minister. This forum is seen as a means of formalising interest group input into policy formulation and will act as a conduit to provide advice and inform policy...

Seanad: Inland Fisheries Bill 2009: Committee Stage. (28 Apr 2010)

Conor Lenihan: While the legislation provides that Inland Fisheries Ireland must report and manage its business on the basis of river basin districts, one must be cognisant of the fact policy in this area is ever evolving. Consequently, there may be a time when it is not appropriate for the new body to manage its operations precisely on this particular basis. Subsections (2) and (3) were included in the...