Results 1,941-1,960 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that one area is as important as the other, but where one has an unspent allocation in one area because of the timing of a particular project, and a demand in another area, it makes sense to do what I did. I would love to know what Deputy Coveney or anybody else would have done differently.

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to ensuring that electricity supply consistently meets the needs of Irish consumers and business. My Department liaises closely with the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which has key functions in security of electricity supply, and with EirGrid as the independent transmission system operator. Reporting to the CER, EirGrid has responsibility for managing...

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that supply security is a crucial consideration in our energy policy and relates to the plant we have and the fuel mix we use in future. We must be careful not to generate an over-reliance on gas or any other fuel supply in our mix. The Deputy is correct that there are difficulties around the reliability of older plants such as the three to which he referred. The problem is related...

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The EirGrid report, which is the proper, professional forecasting method, suggests we should have proper supply. However it is tight and requires all of us to be careful in our use of energy, particularly during peak times, to ensure supply meets demand.

Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The renewable energy feed-in tariff support programme, REFIT, provides guaranteed fixed prices to new renewable energy projects in proven technologies. It is possible to set guaranteed prices for technologies that are proven or are near to market readiness based on known cost elements. These guaranteed prices allow developers to recover the investment made over the life cycle of the project...

Alternative Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy that we need to learn as we move along. That competitive tendering process for the supply of renewables would not be appropriate in this instance, and we are better off moving towards a fixed price structure. It will be phased and we are currently moving towards a test and research phase. We will then have a testing of the connected prototype, which will still be a...

Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: My position is clear and consistent on the question of a debate on nuclear power. I would welcome and encourage a debate on the issue. The appropriate forum for such a debate is the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. The committee will provide a forum for all parties in the House to contribute to a structured and informed debate on the issue. For my own part, I...

Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: It is confidence in my position that encourages me to have a debate and to recognise the need for a debate. This is a technical area that is very complex, with many variables in it. However, looking at the technical and energy reasons makes my case all the stronger. My case is that we should be moving towards energy efficiency and renewables as the key twin tracks of our energy policy in...

Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The reality is that one cannot separate power sources in an interconnected grid. Contract arrangements can be made to ensure only a certain type of energy production is funded. We do not need a debate for debate's sake. As we need massive change in the energy area, it makes sense to debate it to ensure certainty and clear commitment as to where we are going. That debate will not just...

Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Such is the scale of change needed, it does not belong to any one political party. It should not be an area where political point-scoring occurs. It is an area that needs clear understanding because energy supply concerns the next four decades. Presenting a common understanding on broad energy policy parameters will assist businesses to make investment decisions. That is the befit of a...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the private sector. Service providers based in both jurisdictions offer services in each other's home market. Service providers in both jurisdictions also use each other's networks where commercially appropriate. There is also cross-Border co-operation between both...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I support the development of such an all-island network where it is possible. One of the larger telecommunications operators, BT, is an incumbent in the North and a major provider in fixed-line services in the South. Eircom, the incumbent in the South, has won a contract for a significant amount of telecommunications business in the North. In the mobile and 3G telephony areas, an...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Eircom has not issued any legal proceedings against the Department. It would not be appropriate to discuss the likelihood or otherwise of any potential legal action.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: MANs has State-aid clearance so a legal challenge would not hold up. This is open access infrastructure. There is no restriction whatsoever on any company. I encourage every company to use MANs because they are the latest high quality fibre optic networks in towns in the absence of which broadband services would not have been introduced. Deputy Coveney sat on the Oireachtas committee...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: There is significant pick up in traffic on the MANs.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: It was in the region of 65% in the past year, according to the latest figures. That is not as high as I would like it to be. Technology is changing rapidly. The MANs were a long-term investment in high quality open access infrastructure. My Department is preparing the final draft of a next generation networks paper for internal and then public discussion. Instead of fibre optic lines...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: That will be a Cabinet decision but I hope it will be taken soon.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: There is a lead time for the construction of MANs. Most of the MANs for construction have been contracted a year in advance. The funding is not simply switched on and off. A review would therefore not have an immediate effect. Eircom has approached us about its proposal to split off its network business and we are discussing this in a general way. There is no reason an open access...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The policy is to take the approach from the company and go into the details to find out the merits of each form of separation. I do not wish to rule out any outcome but would take into account several factors. The functional separation in the UK seems to work effectively with BT operating a wholesale business. The advantage there is that a retail arm remains which has a check on the...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The State has a say in respect of the broad policy objectives it might want to achieve. We represent the public interest which is defined by two measures. We must ensure that the supply of broadband services is ahead of demand so that there is no restriction on the development of new technology of which we might wish to avail.