Results 28,281-28,300 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am sympathetic to the points that were raised by Senator O'Toole and he has acknowledged my amendment No. 76 as including representation from the Gaeltacht in the bodies we are creating. RTE's website does include Irish language material, especially in its Irish language output. The Bill also allows the use of public money on the website for the first time. I would like to see the use of...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: We had an interesting discussion on Committee Stage. When Senator O'Reilly raised amendment No. 17 on Committee Stage, proposing a change to the objectives, I expressed the view that this had already been sufficiently dealt with elsewhere. I do not want to accept this amendment, but I said then that we would look at how the Bill might be amended so that the issue of the quality of...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Quality, especially in communications, is a subjective area. Amendment No. 41 gives clear direction to the broadcasting authority to consider the quality assurance two-year review. This would be taken up by the authority and it would present its analysis. Legislation does not need to be prescriptive to the nth degree. A clear direction to consider the quality issues will lead to a report...

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Amendments Nos. 2 and 103 are intended to address the drafting issues raised by Senators in amendments Nos. 3 and 104. Amendment No. 1 is intended to remedy a minor associated error in section 2. The provisions are largely technical and I welcome the opportunity to introduce them on Report Stage.

Seanad: Broadcasting Bill 2008: Report Stage (25 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Sections 9 and 82 define the experience or capacity required of persons considered for appointment to the boards of the broadcasting authority of Ireland, RTE and TG4. Having considered the issues raised on Committee Stage by Senator Doherty, I have proposed in amendments Nos. 6 and 64 a modification of the criteria in sections 9 and 82 to encompass experience of, or capacity in, sports...

Seanad: Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Bill 2008: Second Stage (24 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to present the Electricity Regulation (Amendment)(EirGrid) Bill to the House. The Bill, which was initiated in the Dáil in April, forms a key part of the Government's priority legislative programme and underpins a number of key elements of the Government's energy policy. The Bill provides for an expanded role for EirGrid, the national transmission...

Written Answers — Radio Broadcasting: Radio Broadcasting (19 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Broadcasting Bill 2008, which is currently before the Seanad, proposes a number of additional measures designed to support the community radio sector in Ireland including: Setting the proposed broadcasting regulator, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), the explicit objective of stimulating the provision of high quality, diverse and innovative programming by community...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Sustainable Energy Ireland have advised me that the applicant to whom the Deputy refers did receive a letter of offer for grant aid under the Greener Homes Scheme on the 1st of December 2006, and a reminder of same in August 2007. The offer was revoked on the 21st of December 2007, as the letter of offer lapsed after one year, as set out under the terms of the scheme. A request for payment...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (18 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 949 of 17th June 2008, which detailed my Department's conduct of Regulatory Impact Analysis in respect of legislation for the period in question. Regulatory Impact Analysis is conducted in my Department in accordance with the guidelines, published in 2005 by the Department of the Taoiseach. If the Deputy has a question about any specific...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jun 2008)

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. Details of broadband suppliers, prices and locations throughout the country are available on www.broadband.gov.ie. The role of the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The Greener Homes Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of domestic renewable energy heating technologies including solar panels, biomass boilers and stoves and heat pumps. Having met the original targets for the scheme three years ahead of schedule, Phase I of the Greener Homes Scheme was closed on 3 September 2007. Phase II of the scheme was opened on 1 October. The...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Jun 2008)

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. Details of broadband suppliers, prices and locations throughout the country are available on www.broadband.gov.ie. As regards...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 944 to 947, inclusive, together. Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource rests with the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, in this case the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board (ShRFB). The information on prosecutions and fines sought by the Deputy has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to details of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the following table: Sector Agency/Board Name Status Communications Broadcasting Commission Of Ireland Non Commercial Broadcasting Complaints Commission Non Commercial RTÉ Commercial TG4 Commercial An Post Commercial Commission for Communications...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The following is a list of occasions upon which my Department has carried out a screening regulatory impact analysis on Statutory Instruments, Bills and EU Directives in the years 2006, 2007 and to date in 2008, the occasions on which it was subsequently decided not to carry out a full regulatory impact analysis and the reason this decision was made in each case. S.I.s, Bills and EU...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Jun 2008)

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. Details of broadband suppliers, prices and locations throughout the country are available on www.broadband.gov.ie. The role of the...

Written Answers — Energy Reserves: Energy Reserves (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020 the Government is committed to rebalancing the strategic oil reserve by maximising Ireland's wholly owned stocks of oil and the level of stocks held on the island, subject to increased storage availability and value for money considerations. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is working to increase the volume of NORA owned oil stocks stored on...

Written Answers — Energy Reserves: Energy Reserves (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 952 and 953 together. The Strategic Energy Infrastructure Programme of the National Development Plan envisages investment of over €1.25 billion in key strategic energy infrastructure projects in the period of the plan. A number of large scale public good energy infrastructure projects are identified in the Programme. These projects include enhanced...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Network: Natural Gas Network (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 954 and 955 together. 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,...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (17 Jun 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) is financing the construction of the 400 MW gas-fired electricity generating station at Whitegate, Cork, from its own resources. No funding has been or will be provided by my Department, for the project. The cost of the project is €400 million and I am advised by BGÉ that the plant is on schedule for completion in July 2010.