Results 27,861-27,880 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I would stress that the primary source of investment in Next Generation Broadband Networks is the private sector. Exchequer funded investment is in targeted interventions where the private sector is unlikely to invest. The total 2009 estimate for expenditure on Information and Communications Technology Programme is €40.4m. The main projects for investment under this Programme include the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The International Advisory Forum met on the 26th and 27th February to advise me on the optimum role for Government in the development of Next Generation Broadband in Ireland. The members of the forum brought a diverse range of knowledge and experience from around the world and critiqued a draft policy paper on Next Generation Broadband (NGB), which was prepared by my Department. The insight...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Facilitating the development of micro generations is a key priority and my Department is working with Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Commission for Energy Regulation as well as ESB Networks to address all barriers to microgenerations deployment. Developments of an export tariff for micro generation is being progressed by the CER. I am advised that the CER will shortly be conducting a...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government underline the Government's priority commitment to energy research development and innovation in line also with EU priorities. The Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy and the National Development Plan both reflect the vital importance of energy research and innovation to underpin the energy sector and the imperative to...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 155 together. 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 continues to support the installation of a variety of technologies in existing...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government target refers to a 3% reduction per year on average in greenhouse gas emissions. The energy sector for which I have policy responsibility will make a leading contribution towards reducing green house gas emissions through a range of measures designed to improve energy efficiency and increase the penetration of renewable energy across the electricity, heat and...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Oct 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. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 171 together. The National Postcode Project Board (NPPB) presented its recommendation in July 2006 as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation, promotion and maintenance plan. The board was assisted by technical and economic consultants, recruited by...

Written Answers — Nuclear Power: Nuclear Power (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have consistently encouraged a debate on nuclear power in Ireland and it is clear that there is a range of views and perspectives on the matter. Informed debate on nuclear energy, as indeed with all dimensions of energy policy, is fundamental to ensuring informed policy making. The Government maintains, as have successive Governments over many years, that nuclear power is neither...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (29 Oct 2008)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The additional salary requirements set out in my Department's 2009 estimates reflect the once off transfer of the Information Society and inclusion functions from the Department of the Taoiseach with the consequent increase in Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources staff numbers and a technical once off adjustment arising from the transfer of functions to the Department of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There is no proposal to privatise ESB or EirGrid. It is stated Government policy that strategic electricity and gas assets should be retained in State ownership in perpetuity. The decision to transfer the transmission assets to EirGrid, as the State-owned independent system operator, is fully in line with that position. Implementation of the transmission assets decision will be progressed...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: 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 infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high quality telecommunications services, by competing private sector service providers. The widespread provision...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of electricity and gas prices is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. I have no function in setting or regulating energy prices. I am, however, advised that the Commission has commenced phase two of its tariff review of Bord Gáis Energy Supply. Any variation that may be applied to gas tariffs from 1...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The EU has set a target of 10% of renewable energy in transport by 2020. Biofuels will make a contribution to the achievement of this target. This contribution will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as more evidence comes to light on the effects of biofuels in the world food markets and as new technologies come on stream. We are committed to the development of an Irish biofuels industry and...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 151 and 157 together. The Government has set targets to increase the contribution from renewable energy resources to electricity consumption to 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020. There are approximately 1200 MWs of renewable energy powered capacity already connected and a further 100 MWs is expected to be connected by the end of Winter 2008. There is in excess...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In February of this year I announced a tariff of €140 MW hour for offshore wind energy projects within the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) support scheme. This is a new category within the REFIT support scheme which would previously have been subject to EU State aids clearance. However last August the European Commission adopted a new General Block Exemption Regulation which gives...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Biomass energy offers undoubted potential in the context of strategies to develop indigenous energy supplies from renewable resources, thereby contributing to security of supply, lower emissions and alternative sources of income for the forestry sector as well as the agriculture and waste management sectors. It also has the potential to provide a source of low-cost energy across all sectors...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Oct 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 — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (29 Oct 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Statutory responsibility for monitoring and ensuring quality of electricity supply rests with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The performance of the electricity networks has significantly improved in recent years. This reflects the considerable investment of approximately €3 billion in both the transmission and distribution networks that has taken place in the period 2001 to...