Results 25,201-25,220 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 576 together. Directive 2009/28/EC requires each Member State to submit a national renewable energy action plan. These plans are to set out Member States' national targets for the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport, electricity and heating and cooling in 2020, taking into account the effects of other policy measures relating...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The European Commission Decision (C(2009)5174) of 30 June 2009 established the mandatory template for National Renewable Energy Action Plans under Directive 2009/28/EC. The purpose of the template is to ensure that National Renewable Energy Plans are complete, cover all the requirements laid down in the Directive and are comparable with each other and future Member State biannual reports on...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: REFIT is the 'Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff' scheme, which is the support scheme for renewable generation administered by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Prior to the introduction of REFIT, renewable generation was supported through a tendering scheme known as AER (Alternative Energy Requirement.) State aid clearance for the original REFIT scheme was...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: There is currently no accredited course for hydro in Ireland. The micro-hydro course on offer by the Renewable Energy Installer Academy (REIA) is not accredited as confirmed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with City and Guilds and contact directly with the REIA. The SEAI website refers to City and Guilds accredited microgeneration courses offered at the REIA. The PV...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: While I announced plans for a microgeneration pilot trial in 2008, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) small- and micro- scale generation pilot field trial was actually launched on 26th February 2009, as an open call for proposals, with defined eligibility and evaluation criteria for proposed generator installations and a defined profile of sites and technologies sought. The...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The rules applying to the Scheme of Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) for Energy Efficient Equipment are set out in section 285A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as inserted by the Finance Act 2008. Those provisions require that for a particular technology to be eligible for accelerated capital allowances, an Order in required specifying the minimum energy efficiency criteria to be...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: REFIT is the 'Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff' scheme, which is the support scheme for renewable generation administered by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The original REFIT scheme covered small hydro (5MW and below), small wind (5MW and below), large wind (above 5MW), landfill gas and biomass combustion. I have announced the expansion of REFIT under certain...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am informed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEAI) that there are two types of solar technology supported by the Greener Homes scheme, namely evacuated tubes and flat plates. Evacuated tube solar products are more efficient than flat plate products if compared on an area basis. SEAI also indicate that evacuated tubes are, however, not suitable for all applications, and thus a significant...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 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. Section 162 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, provides that I may by order...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: An invitation to tender 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. These consultants, when appointed, will work with my Department's team to introduce a six digit alpha numeric model capable of being refined into a location based code. I expect a national postcode system for Ireland to...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the Government's strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand, deliver smart networks and enable greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. The harnessing of renewable energy and the development of micro generation and electric vehicles is creating an utterly different supply and demand energy...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Since the formation of my Department in June 2007 one Secretary General and one Assistant Secretary have retired. A total of €644,129 in lump sums was paid in respect of these two retirements. Amounts paid to individuals on retirement are personal to the individual but the percentage of final salary was 183% in the case of the Secretary General and 148% in the case of the Assistant...

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I wanted five, but I will try in that time to set out the plan as I see it. The plan is to sell more to the rest of the world. We will sell food to the world. The food industry is worth €8 billion in exports and employs 167,000 people. Our comparative advantage is that our food comes from the field, not from the factory. Tourism is worth €5 billion. Our advantage in that area is that...

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Those are our six big trading areas. We also need to get various things right to make ourselves quicker, cheaper and better and help these industries. We need to develop the digital infrastructure, not just by investing in broadband but also by making information freely available. We made our census information freely available and this has been a major boost to tourism. We released the...

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: In that minute I will say that this morning I heard the Minister - that is-----

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: -----the Opposition spokesperson on the Labour side explain what she would do differently in the banking sector. She proudly said that she would try to restore AIB and Bank of Ireland to a sound footing. That is something we can all agree on, but a plan for achieving this is something I would be interested to hear from both the Labour Party and Fine Gael. Fine Gael now has an opportunity,...

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy should get used to it. He will be facing it a lot over the next few months.

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Because the Labour Party and Fine Gael could not agree on anything.

Economic Issues: Motion (Resumed) (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: They could not make hard decisions. They could not make a single call. I remember it.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (7 Jul 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), commenced in March 2009 and provides grant assistance to homeowners for retrofit energy efficiency measures such as attic and wall insulation, very high efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. Homeowners can apply online and receive same day...