Results 1,761-1,780 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in the matter raised by the Deputy. Rollout of 3G mobile telephony is an operational matter for the 3G licence holders. Responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication service providers rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, under section 10 (1)(d) of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the transposed...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will be aware that I received a positive response to my indication that the Government would appoint a mediator provided both sides indicated their willingness to participate in the mediation process. I am in the process of identifying a mediator to undertake this work. On 25 August last I appointed Advantica consultants to conduct a safety review of the Corrib onshore upstream gas...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: When this matter was brought to my attention, I arranged to have the matter formally referred to the Garda Síochána with a request for an investigation. I understand that the gardaí are conducting an investigation into the matter. That investigation is solely a matter for the Garda Síochána and I have no role in that investigation. As the timeframe and conduct of the investigation are...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Fund: Broadcasting Fund (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The EU Commission recently notified Ireland of its decision not to object to the proposed broadcasting funding scheme on the basis that it considers that the scheme is compatible with the relevant provisions of the EC treaty. I will now write to the chairman of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland formally approving the scheme. This will allow the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: E-net has taken charge of all 19 metropolitan area networks under phase 1 of the MANs programme. This handover phase has been ongoing over the course of the last year with different networks coming on stream at different stages. It is E-net's responsibility to manage, maintain and operate the networks. Activity has now begun on the networks with several customer contracts being signed by...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 180 together. Ireland has a renewable electricity target of 13.2% of electricity consumption to be sourced from renewable technologies by 2010. To meet this target Ireland needs in the region of 1,450 MW of renewable capacity connected. Currently Ireland has 675 MW of renewable capacity connected with a further 175 MW under active construction. This...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: On 1 January 1999 there were 1,911 post offices in the post office network. As of 1 October last, there were 1,425 post offices. The Deputy should note that of this reduction of 486 in the number of post offices, 306 can be accounted for by postmasters who availed of the terms of the agency conversion scheme since its inception in 2002. The Deputy should also note that, to date, An Post has...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The regulation of spectrum, within which WiFi technology operates, is on the basis of minimum regulations with the use of the spectrum exempted from the requirement to hold a wireless telegraphy licence. The Commission for Communications Regulations, ComReg, which has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the spectrum has specified the relevant regulations for use of this spectrum...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: According to provisional figures supplied by the energy policy statistical support unit, EPSSU, of Sustainable Energy Ireland, which may be subject to minor change when finalised, the total primary energy requirement in Ireland for 2004 was 15,003 kilotonnes of oil equivalent, ktoe, and 13,234 ktoe of this was imported — 2,115 ktoe of coal, 8,018 ktoe of oil, 2,966 ktoe natural gas and 135...

Written Answers — Public Service Obligation Charges: Public Service Obligation Charges (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: A public service obligation has been imposed by the Minister of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on the ESB since 1 January 2003 and has been amended since then. The primary objectives of the obligation are to ensure reasonable self-sufficiency in electricity generation capacity by utilising peat as a primary fuel source, promote renewable energy sources to help protect the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 148, 156, 177, 257, 259, 262 and 283 together. In late 2004, I set a Government target of 400,000 broadband subscribers to be achieved by the end of 2006. Subsequently, broadband subscriber numbers have grown by 73%, in the nine months since I set that target, to reach approximately 175,000 by the end of July 2005. There has been no change in the...

Written Answers — Radio Frequency Spectrum: Radio Frequency Spectrum (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The recent communication from the European Commission to Council and Parliament outlined its proposals for changes in how the radio spectrum should be managed. It is the initial stage of the process and Ireland will actively participate in the process. Traditionally, the radio spectrum has been licensed on the basis of assigning particular frequency bands for specific uses though variations...

Written Answers — Internet Governance: Internet Governance (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Internet governance is one of the main issues scheduled to be discussed at the forthcoming world summit on the information society in Tunis. At the first world summit in Geneva in December 2003, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, requested a working group be set up to look at Internet governance. While the working group published its report in July 2005, several outstanding issues...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post. ComReg, in accordance with the provisions of SI 616 of 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is responsible for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring the levels of service to be achieved by An Post...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The economic and social infrastructure operational programme, ESIOP, runs from 2000 to 2006. Within the ESIOP a sustainable energy priority was agreed with part funding from the European Regional Development Fund and co-funding from Exchequer or other national sources. The conditions agreed between the State and the EU require expenditure to be undertaken within two years of the original...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 230 together. The Government and the board of An Post are committed to the objective of securing a viable and sustainable post office and nationwide post office network as set out in the programme for Government. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, there is clear Government recognition of the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 245 together. Since I took up office as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, no policy directions have been issued to either ComReg or the Commission for Energy Regulation. Under section 13 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, policy directions may be issued to ComReg, as the Minister may consider appropriate, in the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142, 251 and 268 together. Ireland has two gas producing fields, namely the Kinsale-Ballycotton field and Seven Heads field. Kinsale-Ballycotton is in serious depletion now. We do not have any oil producing fields. The Corrib gas field is due to go into production in the next few years. Before oil and gas resources can be developed, they must first be...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill include the establishment of a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters; the establishment of RTE as a company under the Companies Acts 1963 to 2003; the provision of a statutory mechanism for future adjustments to the level of the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In 2004, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources secured an amendment to the Finance Act 1999, which provides for the introduction of a pilot scheme for mineral oil tax relief for biofuels which is designed either to produce biofuel or test the technical viability of biofuel for use as motor fuel. A scheme under the Act was subsequently agreed between the Department of...