Results 28,121-28,140 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Under Section 8 of the Gas Act, 1976, as amended by Section 11 of the Gas Amendment Act, 2002, Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) has a duty to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. BGÉ is a commercial Semi State body and is not in receipt of Exchequer funding. The development, expansion, upgrading, renewal and maintenance of the gas...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market, and prices at the pump for both petrol and diesel reflect market factors notably global market price, transportation costs, Euro/Dollar fluctuations and other operating costs. The significant price rises of recent months reflect the exponential increase in global oil prices. In so...

Written Answers — Electricity Supply: Electricity Supply (10 Jul 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 our transmission and distribution networks that has taken place in the period 2001 to...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I discussed energy security of supply issues with EU Ministerial colleagues and Commissioner Piebalgs at the Informal Energy Ministers Meeting last week. The causes of high oil prices are highly complex. The European Council, at its meeting in June, expressed grave concern about the continued surge in oil and gas prices and their social and economic consequences. The Council invited the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 39 and 47 together. 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. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority...

Written Answers — Energy Costs: Energy Costs (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 36 and 48 together. Rising energy costs are a major concern for all sectors of the economy and consumers, but clearly they have a particular impact on vulnerable members of society. My Department is setting up a new working group with the Departments of Finance, Social and Family Affairs and Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the CER, Sustainable...

Written Answers — Electricity Sector: Electricity Sector (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 60 together. I would refer the Deputy to my statement of 13th March on the future of Ireland's electricity sector. In that statement I affirmed the Government's decision in the Energy Policy White Paper and the Programme for Government, to transfer the ownership of the electricity transmission assets from ESB to EirGrid. It is also fundamental...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 986 together. The Government decision of 8 July in relation to expenditure savings in the remainder of 2008 identifies savings of €1.75m to be delivered across my Department and agencies under its aegis. These savings are to be realised in administrative efficiencies and overhead reductions.

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set a target of achieving 20% energy efficiency savings across the economy by 2020 and to demonstrate its commitment to achieving this goal, has a further target of achieving 33% saving on energy use across the public sector, also by 2020. I published a draft national energy efficiency action plan for public consultation towards the end of 2007. The draft plan sets out the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 37 and 58 together. I launched the consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband on Thursday the 3rd of July 2008. A copy of the consultation paper is on my Department's website. The consultation period will run until the 30th September 2008. As part of the consultation process a public forum will be held this September. The precise date has yet to...

Written Answers — Advertising Codes: Advertising Codes (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, EU Member States and the European Commission are required to encourage media service providers to develop codes of conduct regarding inappropriate audiovisual commercial communication, accompanying or included in children's programmes, of foods and beverages containing nutrients and substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. This...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (10 Jul 2008)

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

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The UK has a schedule to switch off analogue TV in different regions from 2008 to 2012 in favour of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). Analogue TV services in Wales, for instance, are expected to switch off in 2009 and this will impact on viewers in Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow and Dublin who receive UK TV channels via overspill from the UK. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The latest data published by EirGrid to December 2007 show that a total of c. 800 megawatts (MW) of wind-powered generating capacity is connected; there is a further 1600 MWs which have connection offers under Gate 1 and Gate 2 and a further 4000 MW approximately awaiting connection offers under Gate 3. I understand that a further 4000 MW have applied to GATE 3 since the start of 2008....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department has paid a total €586,000 in fees in respect of consultancy services for the National Broadband Scheme to date, details as follows: Consultancy Service Consultants 2007 2008 Subtotals €000's €000's €000's Legal McCann Fitzgerald 0 255 255 Financial & Technical Analysys Masons/ Norton 157 68 225 Mapping ESRI 14 32 46 ICT Expert Aneta Scieplek 31 29 60 Totals...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government target refers to a 3% reduction per year on average in greenhouse gas emissions. It does not contain an individual target for Departments emissions reductions as the levels of reductions will vary from each sector. The energy sector will have to make a leading contribution towards reducing green house gas emissions through a range of measures designed to improve...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The consultation process on the liberalisation of the postal sector was launched by my Department on 29th April. It invites views from the public on the key issues and the key decisions to be made for Ireland arising from EU Directive, EC/2008/6, which sets out the date and terms of the full liberalisation of the postal market, EU-wide. While a number of EU States received a derogation to...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: A study for a suitable grid-connected test site for wave energy devices, undertaken by ESBI and the Marine Institute, has identified Belmullet as the optimum location for the wave energy facility. Final consultations on the specific location are being completed. It is anticipated that permitting and infrastructure preplanning will commence in the near future. The Ocean Energy Unit, located in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Work on the construction of the Corrib Gas Terminal is continuing and the developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Limited, expect that the majority of the construction work will be completed by the end of this year. Work has also commenced on the offshore section of the Corrib Gas pipeline, which is to be installed this summer. Following a recommendation made by mediator Mr....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There are 344 staff currently employed in my Department, amounting to 310 equivalent full time posts. Currently, these staff are assigned within my Department as follows: Area Number of Staff Energy 54 Natural Resources 113 Communications and Broadcasting 44 Corporate Divisions 125 Minister/Minister of State's Appointees 8 I have appointed three external advisors to my Department....