Results 27,081-27,100 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 May 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 (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The EU Commission's proposals for reform of the electronic communications framework have been the subject of intense negotiation at EU Council and Parliament over the past sixteen months. As Minister for Communications, I and my officials have fully participated in these negotiations. I have strongly supported the package of proposals agreed by Council, especially the measures aimed at...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting (Funding) Act 2003 assigned responsibility to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) 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. The Broadcasting Funding Scheme, Sound and Vision, has been operational since 2006 and has been...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Saving scheme is one strand of the National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery, under which funding is also provided under the Warmer Homes scheme and the schemes for social housing. It is important to strike an appropriate balance between value for money in relation to the cost of the investment in delivering energy efficiency savings measures and the value of those...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Infrastructure: Telecommunications Infrastructure (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In July 2008 I published a consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband. One of the proposals in this paper is to establish a one-stop-shop to provide electronic communications service providers with flexible and open access to existing and future State ducting infrastructure to facilitate the provision of backhaul. The proposal for a one-stop-shop received a largely positive response in...

Written Answers — Greener Homes Scheme: Greener Homes Scheme (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme, since its launch in March 2006, has provided support for home owners investing in renewable energy heating technologies. The scheme has evolved over that period, supported by appropriate budgetary allocations year on year. Phase III was launched in July 2008 and continues to support the installation of a variety of technologies in existing homes. To date,...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are various methods of collection of television licence fees in other countries which could be adopted here. While such other systems may have advantages, I have not yet formed any conclusive opinions of which new method, if any, would be appropriate for this country. In relation to the imprisonment of persons, I have introduced two new provisions in the Broadcasting Bill 2008, which I...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I launched the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2009-2020 on Friday last, 8 May. The plan is a further comprehensive development of the Government's energy efficiency strategies as set out in the first Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which was published and submitted to the European Commission in October 2007. The new plan has been informed by the public consultation process conducted...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 377 and 378 together. The Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes were introduced in 2005 and 2006 on the basis of competitive calls for proposals. The scoring mechanism was published as part of the application form and accompanying documentation. There were specific limits on the amount of excise relief available under the various categories in each...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish postal market is due to be liberalised from 1 January 2011 as set out in the 3rd EU Postal Directive. My Department is currently developing a framework dealing with the key issues to be decided in transposing the Directive into Irish law by the end of next year. The initial consultation process has been completed and all of the submissions received, as well as the experiences of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 370 together. Under the terms of the Broadcasting Authority Act 1960 (as amended), RTÉ pension schemes and arrangements are subject to my approval with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. Officials from my Department are continuing to engage with officials from the Department of Finance to progress RTÉ pension issues so that the RTÉ hybrid...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There have been no consultants or lobbyists employed to act for my Department outside the State in the past five years.

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The employment of meter readers and potential future arrangements arising from the introduction of smart metering are day-to-day operational matters for the Board and Management of ESB, as regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and not ones in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The management of the competitive tendering process is an operational matter for EirGrid. I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The identification of records prior to 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. As the Deputy is aware, when bills are passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, they are then published and are available in hard copy or electronic format at www.irishstatutebook.ie and will have Council Directive referenced in the preamble where appropriate....

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The 2009 Revised Estimates for Public Services, published on 23 April 2009, sets out details of the programme allocations for sustainable energy and energy research programmes funded by my Department in 2009. The table below gives details relating to the programmes in the area of energy efficiency or energy conservation. This is a substantial increase on the 2008 allocation and a clear...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Bill 2008 sets out my proposals for regulatory and organisational structures that will underpin the growth and development of public service, commercial and community broadcasting in Ireland in the coming years. The Bill has been the subject of full discussion in both Houses and is expected to be enacted shortly.

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to compete in a liberalised market, provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide, customer-focussed network of post offices. While the Government will support An Post and its network in any way it can, it is the responsibility of the board and management of the company to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 62% of Irish households and 83% of Irish SMEs now have a broadband connection. According...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 May 2009)

Eamon Ryan: A variety of platforms using fixed, mobile and wireless technologies will be deployed to meet the needs of the telecommunications sector in relation to the roll out of new infrastructure and services into the future. The evolution to next generation networks will be driven primarily by the private sector, operating in a fully liberalised market. As Minister for Communications, my role is to...