Results 27,541-27,560 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Natural Gas Grid. (10 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is, in the first instance, a commercial matter for Bord Gáis Éireann, BGE, which is mandated under section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is a statutory, independent body, has,...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (5 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Details of the items which were lost or stolen from my Department from 2007 to date in 2009 are contained in the following table. Items lost or stolen from bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, are a day to day operational matter for those bodies and one in which I have no function. Year Lost/Stolen item Circumstances of Loss Recovery Action 2007 1 Laptop computer Lost while...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has a credit account with one taxi firm. The expenditure on this account for the years in question is as follows: Year Spend 2007 36,798.05 2008 27,712.05 There is a new draft taxi usage policy document under preparation in my Department with a view to reducing taxi costs going forward. Also, in 2008, my Department implemented a scheme whereby a number of bicycles have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Office of Public Works (OPW), through a contract with a service provider, provides dedicated file storage facilities for the public sector. The cost of this storage is met by OPW. My Department uses one of these facilities in Dublin for storage of files relating to the work of all functions of the Department that are Dublin based. My Department uses a file storage facility in Collonney,...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government set out the Government's commitment to delivering a reliable and competitively priced energy supply in support of economic growth and competitiveness. The introduction of the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) in November 2007 marked an important milestone in the development of competition in the Irish electricity sector....

Written Answers — Energy Savings Scheme: Energy Savings Scheme (4 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Sustainable Energy Ireland is finalising the detailed preparation for the launch of the Home Energy Savings Scheme which I intend to announce shortly. The improvement of energy efficiency in the building stock is one of the most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills and is a key Government priority as reflected in the significant funding provided in Budget 2009. Energy...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested in respect of my Department. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Energy Prices: Motion (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Minister for Finance will be out after it tomorrow to pay off our debt.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. The improvement of energy efficiency in the building stock is one of the most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills and is a key Government priority as reflected in the significant funding provided in Budget 2009. Energy efficiency measures to tackle deficiencies in households will also support employment in the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of high 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. I established, last year, an Inter...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland's ocean energy potential. The multi annual Ocean Energy Package, which I launched last year, encompasses the establishment of the Ocean Energy Development Unit based in Sustainable Energy Ireland; the creation of a state-of-the-art National Ocean Energy facility in University College Cork; the development of a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for the private sector. 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,...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Home Energy Savings Scheme operated on a pilot basis in 2008 and provided grants towards the cost of retrofitting energy efficiency improvement measures in older housing. I intend to announce the details of a national roll-out of the scheme shortly. For households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit, the Warmer Homes Scheme can...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Feb 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 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. 3 is currently planning the construction and roll-out of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the provision of the...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The implementation of the Irish Languages Act 2003 is an integral function of the day to day activities carried through in my Department. As it is embedded in the administrative processes it is not possible, without a considerable allocation of resources, to easily disaggregate costs that may have been incurred.

Written Answers — Energy Regulation: Energy Regulation (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Statutory responsibility for the regulation of electricity prices resides with the independent Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regulation Act as amended. The Act is not prescriptive in terms of the methodology to be used by CER in its regulation of charges by ESB Customer Supply. The legislation does not, by definition, preclude the regulator reviewing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (3 Feb 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 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. 3 is currently planning the construction and roll-out of the required infrastructure for the purposes of the provision of the...

Written Answers — Media Funding: Media Funding (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I have not made inquiries in relation to any of the matters raised by the Deputy insofar as they relate to broadcasting. I have no function in relation to the print media.

Energy Prices: Motion (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: recognises: the global energy challenges faced by all countries in providing a competitive, secure and sustainable energy supply; that Ireland faces particular acute challenges as an island nation on the periphery of the EU, which has a 90% energy import dependency and limited indigenous fossil...

Energy Prices: Motion (3 Feb 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In the past year, gas prices have not followed oil prices, which have fallen from $147 per barrel to $40 per barrel. While gas prices have also declined, the fall has not been on the same scale as the fall in the oil price. I will address the reasons electricity prices will decline this year in a moment. The first reason for higher energy prices in Ireland is, therefore, the lack of...