Results 27,701-27,720 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is 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. Matters in relation to service provision are for the service providers and if necessary, ComReg. The role of the Government...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As I have stated consistently the Government has no plans to privatise any part of the ESB. Government policy in relation to the ownership of the electricity transmission and distributions networks is clearly set out in the Energy Policy White Paper and reconfirmed in the Programme for Government. It is the Government's explicit position that the transmission and distribution network assets...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Encouraging a competitive, least-cost energy supply is a key policy objective for the Government. Rising energy costs are a major concern for all sectors of the economy and for consumers. It is a major concern for the European Union and globally. In this context, I welcome Sustainable Energy Ireland's report on Understanding Electricity and Gas Prices in Ireland, which provides a valuable...

Written Answers — Electricity Interconnector: Electricity Interconnector (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government, we are committed to the progressive development of a regional electricity market with the UK and North West Europe underpinned by new interconnection. The current focus is on the East West Electricity Interconnector, which is of vital strategic importance to Ireland and its delivery to schedule by 2012 is a key Government...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Broadband services are crucial in bridging digital divide. The provision of telecommunications services including broadband 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. The widespread provision of broadband...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am assuming the Deputy is referring to the European Communities (Energy Performance of Buildings) Regulations (S.I. No. 666 of 2006). The regulations in question are made by the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government. Under the regulations, enforcement is a matter for authorised officers of the local authorities. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) as Issuing Authority...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 379 and 384 together. The public consultation process in relation to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme has recently been completed and there were over 30 submissions received as part of the consultation process. My Department will now be analysing the submissions with a view to preparing specific details for a final Biofuels Obligation Scheme which will be...

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has established a Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and energy security to ensure that a comprehensive and cohesive policy is in place to deliver in these critical policy areas. The committee has established an inter-departmental senior officials group to address the challenges posed to Ireland in achieving these targets, including consideration of the costs and benefits of...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In the context of the development of broadcasting policy my officials and I have cause, on a regular basis, to meet with the various interests that comprise the broadcasting sector including, but not limited to, commercial broadcasters, public service broadcasters and independent producers. Discussions cover a wide range of broadcasting issues and help inform my consideration of policy options.

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the authorities in Northern Ireland, private sector companies and not-for-profit organisations recently conducted a public awareness campaign called "makeITsecure" to promote the safe use of the internet. The campaign was designed to increase awareness among citizens of the most common security risks...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 to 391, inclusive, together. The Government's policy with regard to the future development of the postal service is to ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in key comparator economies elsewhere in the EU. Electronic communications...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is 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. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. There are now 857 employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. When contract employees are taken into account the number rises to over 1,000 people working daily in the Digital Hub. Approximately one in six digital media companies currently operating in Ireland is based in the Digital...

Energy Resources (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Electrical vehicles offer an increasingly realistic solution in terms of reducing the transport sector's greenhouse gas emissions and Ireland's dependence on imported fossil fuels. There has been very significant global investment in research and development in this field. The technology is now maturing to a point where large scale commercial deployment is looking feasible in the medium...

Energy Resources (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The membership of the taskforce will include persons from the Departments of Transport, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Finance, from Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Sustainable Energy Ireland and agencies such as the ESB which has already set out a significant amount of work in this area. It will continue work that has already been done by...

Energy Resources (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The key driver in this is also energy security. The reason Israel is promoting the move to electric vehicles is that it is concerned about the availability of oil coming from the Middle East——

Energy Resources (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: ——and therefore energy security is a key driver. When it comes to emissions the Deputy is absolutely right. This helps us to reduce our emissions and that is a crucial second motivation and it is where we have a competitive advantage and will not be following, but leading. In setting a 40% renewables electricity target, particularly for variable power supplies such as wind, we have a...

Energy Resources (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: By being ahead of the countries I have mentioned, in terms of the work we are doing in deployment of smart grids and smart networks, we have a competitive advantage which makes Ireland a country that will and can lead. I am very confident that by starting this process, putting the word out to the international motor companies and the infrastructural companies that we will do exactly that.

Telecommunications Services. (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 76 together. The preferred tenderer for the national broadband scheme, NBS, was appointed following an open tender process using the competitive dialogue procurement process. Significant time, expertise, human and financial resources have been invested to ensure the optimum outcome and best possible broadband service, from the procurement process. The...

Telecommunications Services. (2 Dec 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am reluctant to give this information until the contracts are signed, which will be within the week. It is better and proper to have that hurdle overcome, and then we may provide the more detailed information. To a certain extent, we must learn from processes in the past, where, for whatever reasons we may have tried to push through a process in terms of procurement, particularly in the...