Results 26,581-26,600 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national 'free to air' digital terrestrial television system with capacity to carry RTÉ 1, Network 2, TG4 and TV3. This new service will eventually replace the existing analogue free to air...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are currently in the region of 1,400 megawatts (MWS) of renewable generation plants connected to the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. Almost 100 individual windfarms have been connected with a combined capacity of around 1,100 MWs. 240 MWs of hydro-power are connected. The balance represents biomass plants mainly landfill gas. The...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 48 together. As I have already stated in reply to an earlier question today, the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national 'free to air' digital terrestrial television system with capacity...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 418 together. The Government's Home Energy Saving Scheme, which is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), provides grant assistance to homeowners for energy efficiency retro-fitting measures including attic and wall insulation, very high-efficiency boilers, heating controls and Building Energy Rating (BER) assessments. It is clearly important...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (13 Oct 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 — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 52 together. The "All Island Grid Study" published early last year, examines the ability of the electricity systems on an All-Island basis to absorb power from renewable energy powered projects. Without being prescriptive, its findings showed that penetration of up to 42% renewable electricity is technically feasible without any major increase in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Bioenergy Market Assessment Report by Biopower is a useful contribution to thinking in relation to future directions for bio-energy. It sets out the case for the development of Ireland's indigenous renewable energy resources, particularly highlighting the potential benefits for the agricultural sector, and for levels of employment and enterprise in rural areas. The Report makes a number...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos 12, 27 and 55 together. Electric vehicles offer an increasingly realistic solution in terms of reducing the transport sector's Greenhouse Gas Emissions while at the same time tackling Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels. There is very significant global investment under way in research and development in this area. The technology is now maturing to...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) is a highly efficient way of generating on-site heat and electricity simultaneously. It can offer significantly reduced energy bills for the end user and is a particularly efficient form of energy generation as it minimises any transmission losses involved in getting power to the site. Traditionally, CHP plants were only used in large industrial units with a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in December 2008. The company is required to provide services, using a mix of technologies, to all fixed residences and businesses that are located within the NBS Coverage Area and who seek a service. The NBS is being rolled out on an electoral division (ED)...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 32 together. The establishment of a one-stop-shop is one of the key commitments contained in the Next Generation Broadband policy paper "Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland", which I published in June this year. The objective of a one-stop-shop is to enable access on a satisfactory and an open basis to broadband ducting assets in State ownership. It is my...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Decentralisation Programme as originally announced in December 2003, included the proposal to relocate the Headquarters of my Department to Cavan. As announced by the Minister for Finance in his statement of 14th October 2008, the Government has deferred decisions on the timing of the implementation of elements of the Decentralisation Programme including that of my Department, pending a...

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid is developing the East West Interconnector to schedule. The Government is fully committed to the cost effective delivery of the interconnector as a key strategic energy infrastructure project. The East West Electricity Interconnector is one of a list of high profile and strategically important interconnector projects included in the European Energy Programme for Recovery earlier...

Written Answers — Digital Hub: Digital Hub (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Hub Development Agency has enjoyed much success in creating a cluster of young and vibrant enterprises in the Digital Hub focussing on the creation and development of digital media content. There are now 870 employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 290 approximately contract employees are engaged on a regular basis by Hub companies. Approximately...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to ensuring that the public sector leads the way on energy efficiency with a mandatory programme of efficiency measures, including the sole use of energy efficient lighting and heating in offices, schools hospitals and other public buildings to produce 33% energy savings by 2020. I published the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan in May of this year setting...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister with overall responsibility for spectrum policy, I am committed to ensuring that the spectrum resource is assigned and used effectively. This involves the efficient use of spectrum and also involves ensuring that spectrum policy is sufficiently flexible to accommodate technological development and that it supports and promotes innovation, and research and development, in new...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2009 I launched the Micro Generation programme, which is being operated by ESB Customer Supply and supported by ESB Networks. The programme is aimed at encouraging up to 4,000 domestic customers to become involved in micro-scale projects within the next three years. It will also enable two-way metering, to be installed without additional charge to the customer. The domestic...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I welcome the "Broadband Quality Score" report published jointly by the Universities of Oxford (England) and Oviedo (Spain). The report reflects the significant improvements in the roll out, uptake and quality of Ireland's broadband over the past year. The following points highlighted by the report are worthy of particular mention. The report highlights Ireland's improved broadband...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to the sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with overall EU biofuel policy developments. Transport is one of the fastest growing sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and biofuels offer one potential means to counter rising emissions levels in the sector. The introduction of the National Biofuel Obligation next year will underpin...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Effective competition is a key cornerstone for the development of the electronic communications market. Open access to communications networks is crucially important to the development of the competition needed for the market to thrive. The importance of open access and competition has been continuously highlighted in policy governing electronic communications, most recently in my policy...