Results 25,361-25,380 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Carbon Levy: Carbon Levy (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The introduction of a carbon revenue levy has been the subject of much public discussion since the single Electricity Market was established in 2007 and the decision by the SEM Committee to allow generators to pass through carbon while availing of the free allowances to 2012. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has consistently taken the view that the introduction of a levy was a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Prior to the commencement of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) a detailed mapping exercise was carried out to help determine those areas that would be included in the scheme and those which, by virtue of being already substantially served by existing broadband suppliers, were to be excluded. EU State aid and competition rules govern how states can intervene in areas where there are existing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I can inform the Deputy that officials are currently undertaking an appraisal exercise to explore options for investment, including further phases of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, in line with Department of Finance Guidelines. I will consider the outcome of this appraisal when it is completed. Decisions on future investment will be guided by; (i) the outcome of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: 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 more than 65% of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) to be covered under the Scheme. Under the NBS contract, all EDs in the NBS...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 444, 447 and 449 together. I recently announced new Renewable Energy Feed In Tariffs (REFIT) for biomass, which will range from 8.5 cent per kilowatt hour to 15 cent per kilowatt hour depending on the technology deployed. The tariff is payable to the generator. The technologies supported include Anaerobic Digestion Combined Heat and Power, Biomass Combined...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Printed payslips issue to 38 staff in my Department. All other staff have access to their payslip via an on-line facility. The costs associated with issuing of payslips relate to the printing and delivery of same. The printing of payslips is part of the overall payroll process and it is not possible to disaggregate the cost for the printing element of the process. Delivery of payslips to...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that an application under the Warmer Homes Scheme, has been received from the individual in question. SEAI has recently surveyed her home and her Warmer Homes upgrade has been scheduled for installation within the next 6 weeks. More generally the Deputy may wish to note that a dedicated Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) hot line -...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 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. In cases of market failure the Government...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Telecommunications services, including mobile telephony services, are provided by various private sector companies operating in a liberalised open market under EU and national legislation. The authority of member states is generally limited to regulation and occasional investment intervention to address market failure. Both my Department and the national regulatory authority, the Commission...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is charged with, inter alia, providing a regulatory environment that is stable and predictable and that will facilitate the development of a broadcasting sector in Ireland that is responsive to audience needs. The BAI is also charged with stimulating the provision of high quality, diverse and...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Government policy on the development of the electronic communications market in Ireland is set out in "Next Generation Broadband – Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June 2009. The policy paper was developed in accordance with various key principles, which are crucial to the development of the market including - (i) competition, at platform and service levels, which...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 455 and 456 together. 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...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides the legislative basis for the development of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland and for analogue switch off. Under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is required to develop a national free to air DTT service which enables the switch off of their analogue television services in 2012. In this regard, I recently...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish Postal market is due to be liberalised from the 1st of January next year in accordance with the 3rd EU Postal Services Directive. Following comprehensive consultation with relevant stakeholders, legislation to transpose this Directive has been prepared and will be brought to Government shortly. In designing the new regulatory framework, the key principles are the maintenance of a...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid figures show that there are just over 100 wind farms connected to the grid with an installed wind capacity 1264 MW. There are an additional 100 wind farms with a total contracted capacity of 1415 MW which have contracted for grid connections which will be built out over the next number of years. Detailed information is provided on the number and location of wind farms awaiting...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: A report just published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland which is entitled 'Renewable Energy in Ireland 2010 Update' sets out the latest position in this matter. Renewable Electricity (RES-E) - The share of electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES-E) in 2009 was 14.4% (provisional), exceeding the interim EU target of 13.2% by 2010 and placing Ireland firmly on...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: Television licence revenue is generated from the sales of television licences and the recoupment of the cost of free television licences from the Department of Social Protection. There is no fund reserve as such because the revenue generated is received and paid out on an ongoing basis. The income generated from television licences was €226.2 million in 2009. Under Section 123 of the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The National Oil Reserves Agency Limited (NORA) is responsible for ensuring that Ireland meets its EU and International Energy Agency (IEA) obligations to maintain 90 days' oil stocks for use in the event of an oil supply disruption. NORA meets its stock-holding obligations by a combination of wholly-owned stocks and by entering into agreements with third parties in Ireland and other EU...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) is continuing to work towards its development objectives to grow the Digital Hub. As I indicated in my reply to a similar question in April, there were, as of early this year, 98 companies operating in the Digital Hub with 664 full time and a further 220 part time employees. The DHDA continues to promote the identity and brand of the Hub and...

Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (Carbon Revenue Levy) Bill 2010: Second Stage (1 Jun 2010)

Eamon Ryan: I am pleased that we have been able to have this Second Stage debate and that we have been able to introduce stand-alone legislation. As Deputies have stated, the Bill is complex and difficult. As I have mentioned several times, I was told by my Department that it would have been possible to handle this matter in an alternative way, but the flexibility shown in getting through Second Stage...