Results 26,401-26,420 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have no statutory function in regard to issues relating to the siting of telecommunication masts; these are matters for the relevant local authorities under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Therefore it would not be appropriate for me to request a commercial company to meet with any group regarding such matters.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's core policy goal for the postal sector is to ensure that Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services. An Post has a statutory obligation to provide a universal postal service, including the provision of a delivery to the home or premises of every natural or legal person not less than five days per week. This is set...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 273 and 274 together. Government policy pertaining to the electronic communications market in Ireland including the provision of broadband services and the underlying telecommunications infrastructure 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...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 278 together. Ireland's high energy costs, by comparison with much of Europe, are primarily due to significant dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly gas, as well a requirement for very significant investment in energy infrastructure, following two decades of under-investment in the networks. The under-investment in networks and power...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to significant development of renewable fuels in the heating sector with consequent benefits in terms of emissions and environmental improvement. The carbon and calorific characteristics of traditional fuels are such that renewable alternatives are the way forward. The Government has set a target for Renewable Heating of 12% by 2020. There are a number of schemes...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am not aware of any research in Ireland on the use of bio-fuel for home heating purposes. Liquid bio-fuels are being developed in the Irish Market as contributor to renewable transport fuel targets. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of the national bio-energy resource, which will in particular, be crucial to meeting the considerable challenge of delivering on the...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The annual dividends payable by State companies are the only contribution (other than general taxation receipts), which the Exchequer receives directly from ESB and BGÉ. The dividends payable by the State companies are a function of the after-tax profits of each company. The amount of dividends paid in respects of the previous year's profits by ESB and BGÉ for each of the past three years...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together. The Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish bio-fuels market in line with overall EU bio-fuel requirements and policy developments. To date, the production of bio-fuel in Ireland has been incentivised under the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes, which have resulted in 18 projects being awarded excise...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 56 and 61 together. The establishment of a "one-stop-shop" is one of the commitments contained in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June this year. The key objective of the "one-stop-shop" concept is to facilitate telecoms operators in gaining access to ducting assets in State owned networks,...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 82, 88 and 90 together. Quantifying the numbers of people who can be classified as fuel poor depends on the methodology employed. The ESRI estimates that some 300,000 or 19.4% of Irish households may have experienced fuel poverty last year. This figure is based on the share of income spent on household fuels. ESRI estimates that based on subjective...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 92 and 93 together. As I advised the House earlier, the Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with EU biofuel requirements and policy developments. The introduction of the National Biofuel Obligation next year will underpin the development of the Irish biofuels market. The Obligation will also...

Written Answers — Emissions Trading: Emissions Trading (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The current EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which runs until the end of 2012, requires a free allocation of carbon credits to electricity generators. The North-South Single Electricity Market Committee, which is statutorily responsible for the operation of the all-island electricity market on the island of Ireland, decided that from 2008 all electricity generators must include the full...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for spectrum management in Ireland and is required, under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, to produce, publish and maintain the national Radio Frequency Plan, which is a national table of frequency allocations. This document details international and European frequency allocations as well as national usage and...

Written Answers — Digital Terrestrial Television: Digital Terrestrial Television (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 49, 74 and 76 together. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides, consolidates and updates broadcasting legislation. Part 8 of this Act replaces and updates the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 which provided for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under the 2009 Act, RTÉ...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 53, 57 and 84 together. A smart economy envisages economic development based on innovation and sustainability and an economy aiming for high end performance requires that the underlying infrastructure supports enterprises based on knowledge and innovation. One key element of national infrastructure which is required is a common spatial identifier across...

Written Answers — Greener Homes Scheme: Greener Homes Scheme (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme supports the installation by householders of renewable energy heating technologies including wood pellet and chip stoves and boilers, gasification boilers, solar panels and geothermal heat pumps. The grant is a fixed amount, based upon the technology selected, towards the cost of purchase and installation of the chosen scheme. Products and installers must be...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52. 65 and 68 together. The Government has ambitious plans for the large scale deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. A target has been set of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020. This would equate to around 225,000 cars on Irish roads. Electric vehicles are an increasingly realistic solution to the challenge of reducing the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Developing the electricity grid infrastructure in the North West in an economically viable and environmentally acceptable way is the key to optimising the North West renewable energy resources to the benefit of the region, the economy and consumers. The North West has the potential to become a net electricity exporter to the rest of the island and beyond. EirGrid's GRID25 strategy sets out...

Written Answers — Electricity Market: Electricity Market (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the fact that the benefits of competition in electricity supply, which have previously been confined to large industrial and commercial customers, are also available to domestic consumers. The entry into the domestic electricity market of two new suppliers, Airtricity and Bord Gáis Energy, demonstrates that policy to encourage competition in electricity generation and supply is...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are no plans to disband the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA). The Agency has enjoyed much success in creating a cluster of young and vibrant enterprises focussing on the creation and development of digital media content which will be key to the success of the smart economy. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes did recommend that the...