Results 26,841-26,860 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Radio spectrum is managed by countries at the national level and through international coordination. The overarching allocation of Radio spectrum is undertaken in an international context and in accordance with international regulations. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), is the statutory body responsible for spectrum management in Ireland and is statutorily obliged...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: When referring to broadband and broadband take-up the most commonly used indicator is the OECD indicator. This is the number of broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants. The most up to date report includes data as at the end of December 2008. Ireland, at 20.6, subscribers per 100 inhabitants, is behind the OECD average of 22.6. This indicator does not take into account mobile broadband...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 26, 29, 44 and 171 together. 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...

Written Answers — Energy Regulation: Energy Regulation (18 Jun 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 finally 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 — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: 27 Phase I MANs are complete and being managed by e|Net. 59 of the 60 Phase II MANs are complete. The 60th MAN, Kinsale, is due for completion in Q2 2010. Phase II of the MANs Programme was originally envisaged to include 94 towns. In December 2007 the Minister suspended the construction of 28 of the Phase II MANs pending the outcome of the Value for Money and Policy Review (VFMP&R) of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have no statutory function in relation to setting policy in this area across the public sector. My Department uses both a lo-call number and standard local number to facilitate a choice for members of the public. These numbers are published on the Department's website and in telephone directories. The use of both a lo-call number and local number by the State Agencies under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Combined Heat and Power (or CHP) is a set of technologies which allows for both the generation of electricity and the use of heat released from the same process, thereby dramatically increasing the efficiency of the system. As such, CHP can make a valuable contribution to reducing energy costs to industry, and to reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, particularly if the fuel source used is...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 57 together. The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland's ocean energy potential. Not only will ocean energy contribute to Ireland's renewable energy targets, it has considerable potential for inward investment and enterprise activity in support of economic renewal. The ocean energy package launched last year is...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Consultation Paper on Next Generation Broadband (NGB), which I launched in July 2008, proposed the establishment of a one-stop-shop to provide service providers with flexible and open-access to existing and future State owned infrastructure suitable for telecoms services. Trade over digital networks is becoming increasingly important and access to high speed broadband networks will be...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 31 and 41 together. I very much welcome the work carried out by the Climate Change and Energy Security Committee in producing a draft Bill to modernise the planning regime for offshore energy projects. The Bill proposed by the Committee is providing useful input into an ongoing review of the offshore planning system. The Government has agreed that the...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 58 together. The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive approach across Government....

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Pipeline: Corrib Gas Pipeline (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The North West Mayo Forum was established by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and I last November. Its objectives are to offer a positive opportunity for furthering the socio-economic development of the North West Mayo Region and to provide an opportunity for dialogue between all parties with an interest in the Corrib Gas Project on all aspects of the project....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In order to provide broadband services to areas that are not currently served by broadband, my Department has entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and which seek a service. 3 is currently planning the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The procurement process for the engagement of a Management Services Entity (MSE) for Phase II Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) is in the final stages of negotiations with e|Net, the preferred bidder. Value for money is a key consideration for the Department in the negotiations. Government approval will be necessary for the contract and, subject to this, I anticipate that the MSE will be in...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: A draft Bill entitled 'Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services) Bill 2009', which has the purpose of transferring the regulation of premium rate services to ComReg and providing for more effective regulation of the sector in the interest of consumer protection, has recently been circulated to all Government Departments for their observations. I expect to submit the draft Bill to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: While the provision of broadband is a matter for the service providers, there are still some parts of the country where the private sector will be unable to justify the commercial provision of broadband services. In this regard, my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage including the Group Broadband Scheme, the Metropolitan Area Networks...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I can confirm that State ownership of eircom is not on my agenda. I am aware that the company is conducting a sales process at present and while I have no direct involvement in this, my view is that eircom remains of strategic importance to the telecoms sector in Ireland. I am also of the view that the development of the telecommunications industry, particularly the evolution to high...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The process and timeline for the renegotiation referred to by the Deputy has not yet been announced. I anticipate that the policy priorities of my Department will be accorded importance in this process thereby ensuring that the ambitious policy agenda for the area as set out in the Programme for Government can be delivered and indeed enhanced.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In February 2009 I announced a number of interim measures to encourage the use of microgeneration in Ireland. Among the measures is a guaranteed price of 19 cent per kilowatt hour of electricity produced. This competitive feed-in tariff will apply to the first 4,000 micro-generation installations countrywide over the next three years. Eligible installations include small scale wind,...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (18 Jun 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a postcode system. In this regard, the National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) presented its recommendation in July 2006 as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation, promotion and maintenance plan. The board was assisted by...