Results 26,461-26,480 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I agree. However, the study being carried out by EirGrid is strategic and is correct. EirGrid is prioritising investment and developments on the basis of how the grid can be rolled out.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy's second point, namely, that the planning decisions made in respect of this matter must be the correct ones, is valid. I understand that approximately half of the applications made in respect of the development of wind farms have been rejected. Decisions in this regard are appropriate on a range of grounds, including the proximity to housing, the effect a project could have on...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I speak for the Government, which is fully supportive of the process in which EirGrid is engaged and which is aware of the fact that critical infrastructure is going to have to be rolled out. The Deputy referred to the North-South interconnector. In that context, if areas such as Cavan-Monaghan are intent on attracting industries in the future, they will be obliged to have in place...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government will be supportive, despite the difficult decisions that must be made. Deputy McManus referred to the period relating to planning permissions running out. We accept that this is an issue and that is why the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government wrote to county managers to discover whether they could assess the projects that have been built. He also...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am sure the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has done so. Equally, one does not want a local authority taking such an interpretation that makes any development of wind farms possible. Within the confines of the law and the planning system, they are to do what they can to assist development in this area because it is in the national interest.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: That is the true response.

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In my initial reply to the Deputy I stated that where someone is not able to avail of a gate 3 connection it will go back into a pool to develop an alternative project. The CER and EirGrid will have to do this in a very timely manner and recognise that the targets we have set are ambitious and require action. The Irish Wind Energy Association and others recognise that every system will have...

Electricity Generation. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The low price of dairy products makes this a particularly difficult time for the dairy industry, where there is huge potential application of micro-generation. However, I see that as an area with huge potential for us to develop a distributed electricity generation system.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take questions Nos. 41 and 63 together. Broadband services are provided across the country by private service providers over various platforms including DSL over telephone lines, fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre. Details of broadband availability throughout the country are available at www.broadband.gov.ie. Information contained on this website is provided by...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The speeds mandated are 1.2 MB for download and 200 kb upload. I have been informed that to date the technology is working. It provides those levels of service and above. Obviously, it varies according to distance from a mast and the level of contention at any time but we have minimum standards and they are being met. The roll-out is proceeding along the projected target timelines. It...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have that information but I will provide it to the Deputy. I will have to revert to the Department to get the precise figure.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The contractual documents for the national broadband scheme are four or five times the thickness of the pile of papers in front of me. Working out the details took time but we got them right in the end. The contractual arrangements give me the confidence that the scheme will provide the level of service we seek.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The specific example to which the Deputy referred pertains to a fixed line company. Difficulties have arisen in regard to split lines and distance to exchanges, particularly given that 40% of rural houses are once-off developments.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is more difficult to service such areas. We are delivering alternative solutions, such as wireless, WiMAX, mobile and fixed wireless, in addition to the crucial role played by fixed lines. Competition among these alternatives will deliver the best service possible.

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Every square inch of the country was examined and areas in which the majority of the population were unable to access any service were targeted for the national broadband scheme. In respect of areas in which a small percentage of the population lacked access, we are working with the European Commission to establish, subject to State aid rules, a final support scheme to give every house, be...

Telecommunications Services. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am very familiar with Ahakista, Kilcrohane and Durrus. The Government has made a clear commitment that no house in any of those villages, or in any other village in the country, will be unable to access standard broadband services. We have put in a place a variety of mechanisms to cover the country in that regard.

Digital Terrestrial Television. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 35 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, RTE continues to...

Digital Terrestrial Television. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I, too, have been deeply frustrated about the delays. It is not a lack of ambition or intention on my part that has delayed the process. However, a process is set out in the 2007 Act, which was adopted by the 2009 Act, and we must follow it. The process will comprise a free to air service and the commercial multiplex. The contractual arrangements for the multiplex must be negotiated...

Digital Terrestrial Television. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I would aim for the 1 January deadline if we could make it. When we have our system up and running, the switch off may give a commercial advantage. It may help the market to deliver but I cannot commit to this because we do not know yet. We have not signed off on the contractual arrangements for the commercial multiplexes. That is a deadline I will look to achieve but if it does not...

Digital Terrestrial Television. (25 Nov 2009)

Eamon Ryan: With regard to whether RTE should already have switched from analogue to DTT, we deliberately changed the legislation to give us flexibility in this regard and not to impose a legal requirement on RTE to switch off at the end of this year. I thought about the matter and considered it better to give a certain flexibility. This was fortunate in the event of what has happened, that is, a delay...