Results 26,621-26,640 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amount spent by my Department on overtime in 2008 was €89,780. The amount spent to date in 2009 is €35,741. Issues in respect of pay and overtime in the agencies under the aegis of my Department are a day to day operational matter for the agency concerned.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amount spent by my Department on all non-core pay in 2008 was €265,207. The amount spent to date in 2009 is €170,355. These figures include overtime expenditure. The issue of pay in respect of agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day operational matter for the agency concerned.

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

Eamon Ryan: My Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). "3" is required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. The Company is progressing its network roll-out and services have gone live in a number of areas. The entire NBS area must be...

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

Eamon Ryan: My Department has been advised by ComReg that the matter referred to in the Deputy's question is before the Courts. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment.

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

Eamon Ryan: There are currently in excess of 1,400 megawatts (MWS) of renewable powered electricity generating plants accessing the electricity grid. Wind powered technology is the dominant renewable technology. There are 92 windfarms connected with a combined capacity in excess of 1,000 MWs compared to hydro-power with 240 MWs approximately connected and a lesser volume of biomass powered plant...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Act 2009 assigned responsibility to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to develop and administer schemes under the Broadcasting Fund, which are designed to support the production and transmission of high quality programming based on Irish culture and heritage. Details of the scheme are available from the BAI at www.bai.ie The Broadcasting Funding Scheme, Sound and...

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

Eamon Ryan: Statutory responsibility for the promotion and regulation of Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, under the Communications Regulation Act of 2002 and the transposed EU regulatory framework for Electronic Communications Networks and Services. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions. Experience in other countries...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. The number of companies and employees based in the Hub has remained buoyant, with continued demand for additional space for digital media companies. There are now 840 full-time employees working in 97 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 500 employees approximately are engaged on a part-time...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland was responsible for the licensing of local and commercial broadcasters up until 30 September 2009. This responsibility rests with the newly established Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with effect from 1 October 2009. The Commission was, and the Authority is, an independent statutory body and I have no function in this matter. Information on such...

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

Eamon Ryan: I have met a number of times with An Post management to discuss issues of importance to An Post, including the future of the company. In respect of extra responsibilities undertaken by the company in relation to its future operation, it is the responsibility of the board and management of the company to make strategic decisions regarding its future and how it will prepare itself for...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy will be aware that following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation required that all Member States prepare a...

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

Eamon Ryan: Following recent Government approval for the introduction of postcode, my officials and I are now working to address the next steps in this project, including the selection of a body to implement the proposed system. Provision for postcodes will be made from within my Department's multi-annual capital budget and will be subject to agreement with the Minister for Finance. As Minister with...

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

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGÉ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. The CER has exited from the regulation of tariffs for large energy users. In the electricity sector more than 90% of business has switched to the...

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

Eamon Ryan: The policy framework for future broadband development is set out in the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband, which I published in June 2009. A central commitment is that Ireland will have universal access to broadband by 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in comparator EU regions. The key elements of the policy are: promotion of private sector...

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

Eamon Ryan: Sustainable Energy Ireland figures indicate that 320 kilo tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe), of renewable energy was used in the generation of electricity during 2008 (from hydro, wind and biomass). The renewable inputs to electricity generation avoided, in primary energy equivalent terms, 669 ktoe of primary energy requirements. As coal is used as baseload, the renewables used in electricity...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes have resulted in 18 projects being awarded excise relief between 2005 and 2010. Of these projects, four are in the biodiesel category, five are in the pure plant oil category, four are in the bioethanol category and five are in the captive fleets category. Since the excise relief schemes were introduced there has been a steady increase in biofuels...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together. The figures for electricity imported and exported through the existing North-South electricity interconnector on an annual basis in each of the past five years is set out in the following table: North to South (MWh) South to North (MWh) 2009 689,908 -113,898 2008 753,031 -302,815 2007 1,415,500 -76,300 2006 1,781,499 -10,260 2005...

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

Eamon Ryan: The roll out of the national Smart Metering Programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government's Energy Policy Framework and in the 2007 Programme for Government. The Smart Metering Programme is a central component of the strategy to radically enhance management of energy demand and to deliver greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting-edge technology. This is...

Written Answers — Home Security Systems: Home Security Systems (13 Oct 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Issues relating to deficiencies with alarm systems are matters for the service providers concerned. Neither I nor the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) have any function in such matters.

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

Eamon Ryan: Earlier this year, I published "Next Generation Broadband: Gateway to a Knowledge Ireland". That policy paper sets out government strategy on (i) ensuring the availability of broadband services throughout Ireland and (ii) improving the speed and quality of those services. The paper also set out the policy principles underpinning broadband regulation and required the Commission for...