Results 1,801-1,820 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 239 together. In 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, 5.1% of the gross electricity consumption in Ireland came from renewable energy electricity generating plant. According to official EUROSTAT data, in 2002, the latest year for which it has posted information, the total share of gross electricity consumption from renewables was 2.9%...

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

Noel Dempsey: Further to a competitive, public tender process, E-net was awarded the contract to manage, maintain, market and operate the MANs for a period of 15 years. E-net is an independent company based in Limerick and established solely for this purpose. Tight controls exist within the concession agreement to allow the Department to closely monitor E-net's performance. E-net formally reports to the...

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

Noel Dempsey: A project management group, chaired by my Department and including officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, along with RTE and TG4 is preparing a plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent entity. External advisers have been appointed to assist with the preparation of the detailed implementation plan. A draft...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 279 together. Ireland, in line with many of our OECD neighbours, is becoming increasingly reliant on fossil fuel imports. As we are all aware, the cost of these internationally traded commodities, mainly oil and gas, have all increased significantly in recent times. Obviously sustained high fuel costs are not good for any economy and reducing our...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the situation that has arisen in relation to industrial relations issues at An Post and in particular to the non-payment of Sustaining Progress increases to the company's pensioners and employees. I point out, however, that I have no function in directing An Post in the matter of operational and commercial issues such as the application of national pay awards. As a commercial...

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

Noel Dempsey: The economic and social infrastructure operational programme, ESIOP, runs for the period 2000-06. Within the ESIOP a sustainable energy priority was agreed with part funding from the European regional development fund, ERDF, 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...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As a commercial company, the challenge ahead for An Post is to develop a strategy that satisfies the needs of existing customers, while attracting new customers. In addition, further change is required if the postal services of An Post are to adapt to the modern business environment and to continue to offer a top class nationwide delivery service to the customer into the future. With this in...

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

Noel Dempsey: As clearly set out in the programme for Government, this Government and the board of An Post are committed to the objective of securing a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, there is clear Government recognition of the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network. Accordingly, An Post development...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 255 and 282 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 91 reference number 28013/05 of Wednesday, 12 October 2005.

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

Noel Dempsey: The development and continued viability of An Post and the post office network are, in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post. There will continue to be a key national role for An Post, both in the delivery of mail and as a quality service provider through its nationwide network of post office outlets. The market for traditional postal and post office services is...

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

Noel Dempsey: My responsibility regarding the matters raised extends to the development of policy and legislation regarding the sending of unsolicited emails and faxes for direct marketing purposes. The responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation dealing with unsolicited communications for direct marketing purposes rests with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which is an...

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

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware, at a bilateral meeting in November 2004, Mr. Barry Gardiner, MP, the then Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and I endorsed plans put forward by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, and the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation for the construction of a second North-South electricity interconnector. Planning for the...

Written Answers — Energy Supply Costs: Energy Supply Costs (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in regard to the regulation of electricity and gas charges. This is a matter that falls within the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The promotion of renewable energy technologies in electricity production is a key Government priority. This priority is shared by EU institutions through the renewables directive, Directive 2001/77/EC, which obliges all member states to increase the consumption of green electricity by 2010. The obligation addressed to Ireland is to deliver a programme capable of increasing the amount of...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271, 276 and 287 together. 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 and bio-energy sector in Ireland's transport, domestic and industrial fuel markets, which will contribute to emissions reductions and overall security of supply. In...

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

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in regard to the regulation of electricity and gas charges. This is a matter that falls within the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation.

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

Noel Dempsey: At present, I have certain limited statutory powers to give directions to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. These are restricted solely to electricity trading arrangements. In the interests of the proper and effective regulation of the electricity and gas markets, I propose, in line with Government approval, to take powers to issue policy directions of a general nature to the CER....

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland currently has 675 MW of renewable capacity connected with a further 175 MW under active construction. This consists of 400 MW of wind and 240 MW of hydro with the balance made up of different biomass technologies. Further development will also take place from the last two rounds of competitive tendering, the AER V and AER VI competitions. Ireland has a renewable electricity target of...

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

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, I have overall responsibility for electronic communications policy but I have no responsibility for the actions of persons conducting bullying or intimation activities over electronic communications networks. By definition, legislation is already in place to prosecute "illegal activities" whether they are perpetrated using mobile...

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

Noel Dempsey: The development and continued viability of An Post and the post office network, is in the first instance, a matter for the board and management of An Post. An Post plays a key role both in delivery of mails and as a quality service provider through its nationwide network of post office outlets. However, there is universal agreement that change is required if the postal services of An Post are...