Results 27,581-27,600 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Name Title Salary Cost 2007* Salary Cost 2008* Duties Morgan Bazilian Minister's Special Adviser **45,800 **144,622 Duties as appropriate to the position of Special Adviser as set out in Section 11 of the Public Service Management Act 1997. Bríd McGrath Minister's Press Adviser 48,741 97,855 Duties as...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (28 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: EU State Aid and competition rules prevent States from intervening in the areas already substantially served by broadband. While recognising that some premises within substantially served areas may have difficulties for whatever reason (long lines, pair gains, no line of sight etc) in receiving a broadband service, the NBS scheme cannot cater for such limited instances. It is expected that...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department administers the REFIT scheme, which supports the increased production of electricity from new renewable energy powered electricity generating plants. The share of electricity from renewable energy in 2007, the latest year for which published data is available, was 9.4%, which more than doubles the contribution from renewable energy sources from just over 4% in 2003. In January...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1126 and 1127 together. 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 to implement a National Broadband Scheme (NBS). The NBS is designed to deliver...

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: My Department and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) operate a number of support schemes to increase the penetration of renewable energy technologies in the electricity, heat and transport markets. These programmes are available to all qualifying participants regardless of geographical location. In the case of the Greener Homes Scheme, I have increased the grant rate by 50% for islanders,...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1129, 1132 and 1142 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...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 1130 and 1135 together. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services, by competing private sector service providers. The enabling of exchanges for broadband purposes is a matter for the owners of the relevant exchanges. The design of the National...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Fibrous materials have been commonly used for insulation purposes over many years and have proven thermal qualities. Insulation materials generally are not designed for direct exposure to an inhabited space. They are commonly left exposed in an attic space, as attics are generally designed as ventilated and unoccupied space. Where they are used in a converted or occupied attic space,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1133 and 1134 together. Consultations on the policy paper on Next Generation Broadband have concluded. The finalised paper will be published shortly taking into account the responses that have been received which were broadly in favour of the proposed policy actions. Phase II of the MANs programme is almost completed with 58 of the 60 MANs now available....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Question Nos. 1136 and 1138 together. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services, by competing private sector service providers. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is designed to deliver broadband to areas where the market has failed to provide services including any unserved rural areas in south Tipperary. It will bridge the digital divide, create greater equality in terms of social and economic inclusion and remove the disadvantage caused by a lack of broadband services. It will also facilitate competition in the...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTÉ is required to provide a national digital terrestrial television system with capacity to carry RTÉ, TG4 and TV3. It is anticipated that this new service will eventually replace the existing analogue...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGÉ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regulation Act and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. I welcome the fact that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) announced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gas...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The amount spent by my Department on foreign travel in the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 was €496,395. Expenditure by agencies, offices or bodies under the remit of my Department on foreign travel is a day-to-day operational matter for the organisation concerned and I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: At end 2008 there were 9 staff employed in my private office and 3 in my constituency office. Details are as follows: Title Number Office Special Adviser 1 Private Press Adviser 1 Private/Press Office Personal Secretary 1 Private/Press Office Executive Officer 4 Private Clerical Officer 2 (2 × 0.5 full time equivalent)) Private Personal Assistant 1 Constituency Executive Officer 1...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1148 and 1149 together. There are two civil servants engaged in constituency work on a part time basis, as required from time to time, for the Minister of State at my Department. The salary cost associated with these duties, from the time of the appointment of the Minister of State in May 2008 to end December 2008, was €22,775. The staff concerned work in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1150 and 1151 together. There are two civil servants engaged in constituency work on my behalf in my Department. One of these staff work shares on a 4-day week basis and the other staff member works part-time on constituency matters as required. The salary costs associated with these duties in 2008 were €52,516. The staff concerned work in office space...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Jan 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 — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (27 Jan 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The position in law is that the regulation of Bord Gáis Éireann natural gas tariffs is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions. I have no function in relation to the setting of these tariffs. On 1 December the CER announced, following completion of Phase 2 of the Commission's 2008 review of...