Results 26,781-26,800 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Group 2 amendments consist of a large number of amendments but these are all minor drafting amendments which are necessary to improve clarity and in turn the consistency of the text of the Bill and to excise errors and omissions. The group 3 amendments primarily address the issue of a new appointments mechanism proposed by the boards of the BAI, RTE and TG4. Amendments Nos. 11 and 132, in...

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

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services can be provided over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre by private sector service providers. I understand that broadband is available in Rathmullen, County Donegal, from DSL, wireless, mobile and satellite service providers as detailed in the following table. My Department operates a dedicated...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services can be provided over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, satellite and fibre by the private sector service providers. I understand that broadband is available in Knockroe, Kilnamartyra, County Cork from Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), Mobile, Wireless and satellite service providers as detailed in the table below. My...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In order to ensure the highest quality and safety standards of work for all homeowners in receipt of grants under the Home Energy Saving Scheme, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has set a number of conditions which contractors must meet, in order to be registered to carry out works under the Scheme. These conditions include a requirement to carry employers' liability insurance of €13...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In designing the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was approved by the EU Commission, my Department needed to strike a balance between reaching as many unserved premises as possible and minimising the impact of the scheme on businesses already providing broadband services in rural areas, thereby minimising market distortion in accordance with EU state aid rules. EU State aid and...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid, with the approval of the Government, is developing the East West Interconnector to schedule. The Government is fully committed to the cost effective delivery of the interconnector in the interests of consumers as a key strategic energy infrastructure project. The Government decided in 2006 that the interconnector will, as a national strategic asset, remain in public ownership and...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 430 and 431 together. I can advise the Deputy that my Department has not carried out any advertising campaigns during the first six months of 2009. Any such campaigns carried out by bodies under the aegis of my Department are day to day operational issues and a matter for those bodies.

Written Answers — Home Energy Saving Scheme: Home Energy Saving Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving Scheme, which I launched in February, has funding of €49m in 2009. Already over 12,000 householders have been approved for grant aid under the scheme and there is potential for up to 30,000 householders to benefit from the range of energy efficient measures available by the end of the year. It is important to strike an appropriate balance between value for money in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Where the Department enters into contracts relating to exploration for or production of oil and gas, it does not revoke such contracts unless there is a breach of the contract terms by the other party. The Department is actively engaged in promoting opportunities for exploration for oil and gas offshore Ireland with the aim of attracting an increased share of mobile international exploration...

Written Answers — Home Energy Saving Scheme: Home Energy Saving Scheme (23 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Since the Home Energy Saving Scheme was officially launched on 25 March, there have been no specific changes made to the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and its website carries a wealth of information on the measures supported and how homeowners can apply. Where queries have arisen from homeowners regarding interpretation of...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is difficult to resume in mid-possession because I have to pick up the threads again. While there are difficulties and losses with the current system, it is the most effective system we have. If an alternative system can be introduced, we will certainly do that. At this stage, it is not available and I cannot accept the amendments regarding the television licence.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy McManus is correct in referring to Germany, which introduced legislation that applies a licence fee to an Internet link in 2007. There is a similar measure in Denmark, where an Internet connection is charged a licence fee. The deliberate decision taken is that we want to create a culture that encourages new technologies and this is not best served by applying a licence fee to...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Those countries have done that. We felt it was not the best strategy. It may be the strategy in the future as matters evolve and the nature of the platform changes as the nature of broadcasting changes. I am not saying we should not do it but it might be better not to do it quickly. We should give these technologies some room to evolve and develop and to allow consumers to adapt in a...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There is a choice. If one does not have a television, one does not have to pay. Otherwise, there would be a citizens charge applied to every citizen in the State. There is always a choice as to whether one uses television services and purchases a licence. If one does not, the licence fee does not apply. By maintaining the current system, there are difficulties but, according to RTE and...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No 141: In page 147, line 12, to delete "by post".

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I will leave it at that.

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 142: In page 148, to delete lines 12 to 18 and substitute the following: "(4) A fixed payment notice shall not be served on the person unless at least 2 reminder notifications have issued to the person and until— (a) a period of 28 days has elapsed since the issue of the first reminder notification, and (b) subsequent to that period, a period of 28 days has elapsed...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 146: In page 150, line 40, after "adult" to insert "or media". Media literacy, which aims to increase our awareness of the nature of the many forms of media messages encountered in our everyday lives, is increasingly recognised both here and across Europe as a key element in the economic, cultural and democratic development of society. Amendment No. 146 proposes to...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: While I agree with Deputy McManus, to date more than half of the money for radio programming in the broadcasting fund has gone to community radio. Sometimes we must be careful not to set quotas or restrictions which could affect the fund's flexibility. Deputy Coveney is correct about the importance of news and current affairs to any broadcaster's schedule. A Committee Stage amendment opened...

Broadcasting Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 148a: In page 162, line 39, after "continues" to insert "in being".