Results 25,161-25,180 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) collects and publishes energy statistics to support policy analysis and development in line with national needs and international obligations. The latest available comparative data from Eurostat is published by SEAI in their report "Electricity & Gas Prices in Ireland", published in May 2010. The data contained in this report covers the last...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: There are no plans for a single all Ireland digital free to air network carrying all the UK Freeview and Irish TV channels. The Memorandum of Understanding that I signed with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State Ben Bradshaw, MP, on 1 February 2010, deals with broadcast services and related radio spectrum issues in the context of the provision of digital terrestrial services on the island of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The objective of achieving 30% co-firing of biomass with peat in the 3 peat fired power stations by 2015, was set in the Energy Policy Framework 2007. Electricity generated at the 3 Peat fired power stations is covered under the Public Service Obligation which was introduced in 2001. This allows the companies involved, Bord na Móna and ESB, to claim back certain costs from the Public...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has set up a Digital Switchover Steering Group combining those organisations with key responsibilities for the digital terrestrial television rollout and the analogue switch-off processes. The purpose of the Group is to make the timely decisions needed to keep the analogue switch-off process in Ireland on track for completion by October 2012. The Steering Group, which is to...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1577 and1578 together. The Government's policy in relation to the transfer of the electricity transmission network to EirGrid as the national transmission system operator is clearly set out in the Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020 and reaffirmed in the Programme for Government. I have consistently underlined the need for transparent and inclusive engagement...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department, together with Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), is completing analysis of the micro-generation and small commercial scale renewable technologies sector to evaluate options around the introduction of a Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) scheme. The purpose of the analysis is to inform the development of such a scheme by analysing tariff options, scheme terms and conditions,...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has set up a Digital Switchover Steering Group combining those organisations with key responsibilities for the digital terrestrial television rollout and the analogue switch-off processes. The purpose of the Group is to make the timely decisions needed to keep the analogue switch-off process in Ireland on track for completion by October 2012. The Steering Group currently...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The independent analysis in relation to the electricity transmission assets being carried out by Frontier Economics Limited is being finalised and will be submitted to me in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role in reducing the transport sector's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and in reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels. There is now very significant global investment under way in research and development in the electrification of transport. The technology is maturing to a point where large scale commercial deployment of electric...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: An invitation to tender was issued on the 10th May 2010 for consultants to assist in selecting a body to implement and manage the delivery of a working National Postcode System (NPS). These consultants have now been appointed and are working with my Department's Steering Group to introduce a six digit alpha numeric model that is also capable of being refined into a location based code. I...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency Programmes: Energy Efficiency Programmes (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The table below gives a breakdown of monthly expenditure to date in 2010 on energy efficiency progammes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). € Warmer Homes Scheme 12,541,000 Public Sector Energy Efficiency 393,000 Industry & Business 1,643,000 Retrofit Programme 121,000 Home Energy Saving 28,720,000 These programmes are directly funded through my...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The REFIT scheme, which guarantees a minimum price for certain classes of renewable electricity generation, is designed to underpin the business case for investors in the renewable generation sector. A key component of the scheme is the requirement for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) between renewable energy generators and suppliers. The PPAs create certainty for generators and incentivise...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Article 35 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union forbids any quantitative restrictions on exports and all measures having equivalent effect. This Article would prevent Ireland or any Member State from placing any restrictions on the export of electricity whether the power benefits from a feed in tariff or otherwise. Under the terms of the Renewable Energy directive, the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: A range of international, EU and national analysis underpins the case for support schemes, such as REFIT, for renewable electricity technologies to provide greater certainty for investors thus facilitating the financing of the investments. As set out in Ireland's National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), it has been estimated by the Commission for Energy Regulation and EirGrid that...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Liberalisation of the postal services market is required under the third Postal Services Directive by the 31st of December, 2010. The Directive is based on an EU Commission study on the impact on the universal postal service of the full accomplishment of a liberalised postal services market. This study concluded that full market opening is achievable in all Member States. The postal market...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1589 to 1598, inclusive, together. The table below shows the current status of proposals in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes relating to my Department and to Bodies and Agencies under its remit about which the Deputy is inquiring. As the Deputy is aware the Report of the Special Group on Public Service...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The provisions in relation to the submission of the Authority's three-year estimates and expenditure proposals and their publication are set out in section 37 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. In relation to the estimates for the period 2011-2013, which are due to be submitted by the Authority no later than 30 September, I can confirm that these estimates have not yet been received in my...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1601 and 1602 together. Under the terms of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract, 3 is obliged to provide coverage in all of the 1028 Electoral Divisions (EDs) within the NBS area by 23rd October next. I am happy to report that 3 is on track to deliver on this contractual obligation. In relation to the status of the NBS roll-out in Kildare I can...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to spend on mobile communications from 2007 to 2010 is set out below. This includes mobile phones, Blackberrys and modems. Year Total spend € 2007 138,065.46 2008 79,466.94 2009 64,423.46 Jan – June 2010 32,239.45 There are 108 staff within the Department with an official issue mobile device. The contract for the provision of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Sep 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I can inform the Deputy that the number of persons employed in my Department by grade is as detailed in the table below. There is a further table that details the number of Non Commercial Agencies under the remit of my Department, together with the number of staff employed in each Agency. The grade structure varies across each Agency and is a matter for the Agency. Department of...