Results 27,321-27,340 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The installation of any equipment to facilitate the provision of broadband services is a matter for the network owners. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms, including DSL...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have used the Government jet on two separate occasions between June 2007 and March 2009. I used the jet on the 25th and 26th September 2008 to attend a British-Irish Council summit which took place in Edinburgh, Scotland and I also used the jet on the 8th December 2008 to return from an EU Energy Council meeting which took place in Brussels. I was not accompanied by advisors on either trip...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Neither I, nor my advisors, have used the Government helicopter between June 2007 and March 2009.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The particular information which the Deputy previously sought and which is not available relates to his request for details of the number of companies licensed for the production of biofuels. As the Deputy has been advised in previous replies no specific licences are required from any Department or Agency for the production of biofuels. The Deputy also sought details in relation to the...

Written Answers — National Electricity Grid: National Electricity Grid (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 906 and 907 together. The East-West Interconnector is a 500MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and Britain. The total length of the interconnector from the Irish connection point at Woodland, County Meath, to the UK connection point at Deeside in Wales, is approximately 260 km, of which 185km...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I can confirm that none of the political appointees in my Department have any previous employment history with the ESB Group and that no consultants active in my Department have a similar background.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The retention of consultants and advisors by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), as well as the employment history of its employees are day to day operational matters for the CER and I have no function in these matters.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The employment of staff and the hiring of consultancy services by EirGrid is a matter for the EirGrid's Board and management and not one in which I have a function. Under the legislation which established EirGrid as Transmission System Operator from July 2006, a transfer scheme was provided which allowed staff who had previously been employed by the Electricity Supply Board's (ESB) National...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The annual dividends payable by the State companies are the only income (other than general taxation receipts), which the Exchequer receives from those companies that are involved in the generation, sale or supply of electricity. The dividends payable by the State companies are a function of the after-tax profits of each company, which relate to all of the business conducted and not just...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Any future broadband investment decisions, including investment in any further phases of the MANs Programme, will be guided by (i) the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband, which is being finalised at present, (ii) the Value for Money and Policy Review undertaken on Phase I of the MANs Programme (iii) any other analysis as appropriate and (iv) the availability of resources.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are two civilian drivers employed by the Minister of State at my Department, working on a week on — week off basis. The current salary of both drivers is €34,826 per annum.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There are no drivers employed directly by me. Under a long-standing arrangement, all Government Ministers and certain other State officials are provided with a State car which is driven by a member of An Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí, two of whom are assigned to me. These Gardaí provide personal protection in addition to their driving duties. The cost of this service is funded...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Mar 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 last, 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 — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The initiation of a pilot trial by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) of micro and small-scale generation technologies is designed to investigate and test technical, market and regulatory issues associated with the deployment of micro-generation technologies including installation, network connection and operation, and generation. Grant aid for up to 50 pilot installations, will be provided as...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. Broadband services are available from competing service providers over multiple platforms, including DSL (telephone lines), cable, fixed wireless, mobile and satellite. I understand that broadband is available in Ogonnelloe,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The number of individuals who are in receipt of fixed car allowances within any semi-State body reporting to my Department; the cost of same for 2008 and the anticipated figures for 2009 is a day-to-day operational matter for the semi-State bodies themselves and I have no function in that regard.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The following table sets out the current breakdown of generation capacity and market share of all the participants in the Single Electricity Market. Generation Company Name Installed Capacity (MV) Percentage Share % ESB PG 3,569.50 35 Northern Ireland Electricity Power Procurement Business NIE PPB 1,650.40 16 Endesa 1,001.40 10 ESBI 828.00 8 Bord Na Móna 117.60 1 Viridian...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The issue of imprisonment of persons who have failed to pay a court imposed fine is a matter that will fall to be addressed in the first instance by my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the forthcoming Fines Bill. However, I have introduced two new provisions in the Broadcasting Bill 2008, which I anticipate will reduce the necessity for criminal proceedings in...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the process for collection of television licence fees in other countries, including Greece to which the Deputy refers. In that country, as well as in some other European countries, the licence fee is a levy calculated as a percentage of the electricity bill which is then added to the bill. While such a system may have an advantage in terms of a reduction in collection costs and...

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (24 Mar 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The timing of summertime daylight hours is one of very many factors influencing energy usage among consumers. It is difficult to quantify its effects in isolation, as daylight savings have both positive and negative impacts. It is therefore not possible to give the estimates sought in the Deputy's question. My Department, together with Department of Environment, Heritage and Local...