Results 28,161-28,180 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: I am unaware of any such embargo as suggested in the Deputy's question. Staffing levels in my Department and its agencies will continue to be governed by overall Government policy in relation to the management of the public sector payroll. In this context appropriate actions will be taken in my Department and in relevant agencies under its aegis in the context of the announcement on 8th...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The decentralisation of the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) under the Government's Decentralisation Programme involves the relocation of 62 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. To date, none of these posts has been decentralised but I can advise the Deputy that 35 staff have been assigned to posts that are relocating. Property solutions are being pursued in respect of my Department and its agencies as...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 952 and 953 together. In accordance with the Regional Fisheries Boards (Postponement of Elections) Order 2007 (SI No. 811 of 2007), elections to the Regional Fisheries Boards which were due to be held in 2007 have been postponed until 2008. As I have previously advised the House, in response to a call from the Fisheries Board's Chairpersons late last year in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 954, 955 and 957 together. The Government's decentralisation programme provides for the relocation of my Department in its entirety to Cavan by the end of 2010. This involves the relocation of 159 administrative posts at Executive Officer or above, 72 administrative posts at Staff Officer or below and 72 professional and technical posts. To date some 53...

Written Answers — Nuclear Power: Nuclear Power (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have no plans to commission a financial analysis of the feasibility of constructing and operating a nuclear generation plant. However, I would welcome and encourage debate on the issue and I have previously suggested the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security as an appropriate forum for such a debate. I would, however, stress that the Energy Policy Framework and the...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 960, 970, 981 and 982 together. Data on the percentage of the vehicle fleet here run solely on bio-fuels or other alternative energy sources is not available. Following the introduction of the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes, much of the road fuels sold at forecourts contain at least some bio-fuel content. All vehicles are capable of taking blends of up to 5%...

Written Answers — Carbon Capture Technology: Carbon Capture Technology (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My approach to determining policy in relation to carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Irish context is to ensure that the potential for Ireland is examined carefully, taking account of the range of complex issues that arise, for example on the technical, engineering and environmental fronts and of the number of stakeholders involved. The monitoring of international developments and...

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 for emissions reductions as the levels of reductions will vary from each sector. The energy sector will have to make a leading contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a range of measures designed to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. The figures supplied relate to air travel. Minister Date No. of Trips Cost â'¬ July 2007 1 4,566.45 November 2007 1 490.81 December 2007 1 402.81 January 2008 1 212.54 February 2008 3 1,368.06 March 2008 1 503.15 June 2008 3 5,855.95 Total 13,399.77 Minister of State Date No. of Trips Cost â'¬ June...

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

Eamon Ryan: The procurement activities of the bodies and agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are a day to day operational matter for those bodies and agencies. Each body and agency submits an Annual Report in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Corporate Governance of State-sponsored Bodies of which compliance with procurement requirements is an integral component. All of the...

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

Eamon Ryan: In arriving at its recommendation to introduce postcodes, the National Postcodes Project Board was assisted by advisors, appointed by ComReg. The advisors carried out two extensive consultations with stakeholders both within the postal sector and outside it with a view to arriving at a postcode model that would best meet the needs of the stakeholders and to measure the likely costs and...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 971 together. Currently, over 90% of Ireland's energy needs are provided for by imports. In order to ensure the security and sustainability of our energy supply, we must reduce our reliance on imports and significantly enhance the diversity of our energy mix. While Ireland does not currently maintain a strategic gas reserve, commercial reserves of...

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

Eamon Ryan: My Department is advised that the current number of applications for connection to the national electricity network at transmission and distribution voltages is 320 applicants from the wind/renewable sector, comprising approximately 8,000MW, and 14 applicants from the conventional generation or interconnection projects comprising 2,400MW. Together with current transmission projects undertaken...

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

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid is the State body with responsibility for operating the electricity transmission system in Ireland, including the wholesale electricity trading system. It delivers connections, transmission and market services to generators, suppliers and customers, using the high voltage electricity system. It is also responsible for planning the construction of high voltage transmission lines....

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

Eamon Ryan: The Government has set ambitious but essential targets for the use of renewable energy sources in electricity, heat and transport. These targets are set out in the following table. Delivery on these targets will contribute to the progressive displacement of fossil fuels and the carbon liability arising. Technology 2020 target i.e., contribution to overall consumption by sector Electricity...

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

Eamon Ryan: Statistics on the renewable energy sector are collected, calculated, verified and published annually by the Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). The specific information requested by the Deputy for the current year is not yet available. The most recent published report is "Energy in Ireland 2006", which was published in late 2007. In this publication,...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 975 and 985 together. The Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) programme, which is administered by my Department, supports the production of electricity from new electricity generating plants powered from renewable energy sources. These include wind-power and biomass which could include bio-ethanol and bio-diesel from vegetal matter, which is...

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

Eamon Ryan: Section 19(11) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, (BCI), shall make rules requiring each broadcaster to take specific steps to promote the understanding and enjoyment by persons who are deaf or hard of hearing of programmes transmitted by each broadcaster. This is a function in which the Oireachtas has provided the BCI with statutory...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Project: Corrib Gas Project (10 Jul 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to question number 192 on 29 May 2008. The position remains that the developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the second half of 2009. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas. At peak...

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

Eamon Ryan: RTÉ's statutory mandate, as defined in Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that RTÉ's radio and television services shall be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the Island of Ireland. In addition, Section 3 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, amends RTÉ's public service remit by requiring the national public service...