Results 24,881-24,900 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of high speed broadband connectivity as a critical element in the development of a competitive Smart Economy and inclusive Knowledge Society is a policy priority. My Department's policy in this area is set out in the paper "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", 2009. One of the actions in this Paper was the requirement for new premises to have open...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 99 and 104 together. My Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in late December 2008. Since then, 3 has progressed its network rollout and NBS broadband services are now available in all of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the...

Written Answers — Electronic Vehicles: Electronic Vehicles (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, which equates to around 225,000 vehicles. Ireland aims to be at the forefront of electric vehicle technology developments and my Department is working with relevant Departments and Agencies to ensure that the necessary structures and initiatives are in place to meet this target. Last April I signed...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 101 together. The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS) provides that Member States of the European Union may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. The Broadcasting Act 2009, having transposed the AVMS Directive, sets down the statutory process for designating events free-to-air. On 30th April last...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: There are currently 302 customers operating in the ESB Microgeneration scheme with a total connected capacity of 1709.17kW. The categories of technology operating under the scheme are as follows: Wind Turbine installations = 261 PV installations = 39 Hydro Turbines installations = 2 Wind Turbine installations comprise approximately 93.5% of total microgeneration connected capacity. PV...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding the quality of broadband services provided to customers, is the responsibility of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). In March 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland, guided by ComReg and the National Consumer Agency, issued an Advice Note to Broadband...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The issues for Ireland arising from the implementation of the third Postal Services Directive by the 31st of December, 2010 have been widely and comprehensively consulted upon, and as with all legislative proposals, a regulatory impact analysis was conducted. In preparation for liberalisation the Department held an open and comprehensive public consultation in 2008, and an Options Paper...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is in the first instance a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Details of broadband services available...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is the only country in the EU and OECD which does not have a national postcode system. In the context of the National Postcode Project, this Department has established ongoing communications with the Data Protection Commissioner. These communications address the implementation, dissemination and commercialisation of postcodes in order to ensure that all pertinent Data Protection...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: As part of the electricity deregulation process, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) commissioned market research, which indicates that there is confusion among electricity consumers as to the separate identities and roles of ESB as owner and operator of the electricity network and ESB as an electricity supplier. This is of concern because ESB Networks must provide, and be perceived to...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 107 together. My Department is working closely with the Departments of Social Protection and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, in consultation with the inter-Departmental Steering Group to finalise the affordable energy strategy. I expect the Strategy to be submitted to me shortly with a view to bringing it to Government in the coming weeks....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the views expressed by the Irish Farmers Association, having met a delegation recently to discuss their concerns. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme, which came into effect on 1st July of this year, establishes a clear, stable and long term framework for the delivery of the national 2020 target for renewable energy in transport. The obligation delivers the best balance available in...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department liaises regularly with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on developments in technical and safety standards for micro generation. The development of standards for micro-generation equipment is largely coordinated by the relevant international bodies such as the IEC [International Electro technical Commission] and CENELEC [Comité Européen de Normalisation...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The development of fourth generation (4G) electronic communications services that use the radio spectrum is not dependant on the Digital Dividend that arises from the switching-off of analogue television broadcasting services. 4G services will be provided using multiple aggregated bands of the radio spectrum. The Digital Dividend will, however, release additional spectrum, some of which...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Ireland is the only country in the EU and OECD which does not have a national postcode system. There is no correlation between Google street view and the National Postcode Project as they have fundamentally different applications. Google street view is a private sector proposition and I have no role in relation to its design and development. The most recent set of discussions related to the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding bill collection and billing by operators, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with its functions under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. I understand that ComReg advised O2 that it has serious reservations about the decision by O2...

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Directive 2009/72/EC, which provides, inter alia, for the unbundling of transmission systems, entered into force in 2009. Member States are obliged to transpose the Directive into national law by 3 March 2011. My Department is working to deliver transposition of the Directive by the deadline. The Directive requires Member States to ensure from 3 March 2012 that the ownership and operation...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the publication of the Forfás report which highlights among other things the importance of the role played by State owned enterprises in the provision of critical national infrastructure, and as a significant sector in terms of employment. The report is a very useful input into the work of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities and to Government thinking generally about...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving scheme (HES) and Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) are both administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf on my Department. The WHS was established to address poor thermal efficiency performance in low-income housing. The scheme is delivered at no cost to homeowners through a combination of community based organisations (CBOs) alongside a panel of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Oct 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239, 244, 246 and 248 together. At the end of June 2010 there was 1731MW of renewable generation connected to the Irish grid. This included 1459 MW of installed wind capacity from over 100 windfarms; 242MW of hydro power and 30MW of smaller renewable energy generation. In 2009 14.4% of electricity consumption in Ireland is estimated to have come from...