Results 28,881-28,900 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The delivery of commitments by An Post in regard to access issues at company-owned post offices is an operational matter for the board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department, along with the chief executives of the fisheries boards, is currently examining all of the legislation governing the inland fisheries sector with a view to bringing forward proposals for legislation to replace the existing 17 statutes. This exercise is being undertaken in tandem with the work of a subcommittee of the Fisheries Boards' Liaison Group, in respect of restructuring...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Feb 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. I have no function in the matter of the enabling of exchanges owned by private companies. However, it is hoped that the...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Once the Third Postal Directive has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union in the coming weeks, I intend to hold a public consultation process examining the key issues arising from the Directive. The results of the consultation process will assist my thinking with respect to the transposition of the directive into Irish law, including any possible consolidation of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 516 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 role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department retains the services of a taxi operator that has confirmed that approximately 10% of its entire fleet is made up of vehicles that are accessible for people with disabilities and wheelchair users. The service provided includes pre-booking of a suitably accessible vehicle. The issue of taxi use by the State agencies is a day-to-day operational issue for each of the agencies...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The proposed restructuring of the inland fisheries sector contained in the Government decision made on foot of the Farrell Grant Sparks Review of the Inland Fisheries Sector in Ireland, which itself is more than two years old, met with a lot of stakeholder resistance. In these circumstances and responding to a call of the Fisheries Boards' Chairpersons for a somewhat different approach to...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I will cite an example of why consulting with international experts who have no vested interest in our plans is exactly the policy we should follow. A previous international forum was set up in 1999 and its recommendation was for the State to invest in a global crossing connection, costing €77 million. It has proved successful in reducing our international connectivity prices to among the...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Local loop unbundling is in place. Eircom is advancing plans, which I welcome, to upgrade its network so it can provide higher speeds. Similarly, the cable company UPC announced it intends to spend €300 million upgrading its network, which will help to provide a competitive environment. We have a regulator with real powers and we are starting to see prices come down. Overall,...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The process we are engaging in, which is recognising the reality, having real ambition and engaging in detailed, properly thought-out policy analysis is the right way to go. In the past we have jumped at rash solutions here, maybe often for political gain, but they did not prove to be the right investment decisions. We must, in a fast-changing and complex market, make sure we make the right...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That is what our amendment sets out.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That is why I am looking for support for it. I look forward to listening to the debate and hearing other Members' views on the matter.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: They are one and the same. Always united.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: It was Deputy McManus's interventions which threw me.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: Recognising that: broadband is a key enabler of the knowledge economy and a driver of balanced regional development and social equity; Ireland has experienced the fastest growth in broadband penetration in the OECD in the last year; broadband in Ireland is now offered over a multiplicity of...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, 85% of the population.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There are such areas, and we intend to address this issue. There is a range of DSL platforms from fixed-line operators, as well as innovative wireless operators that have provided solutions because the market was not delivering. We have taken steps with new technologies that provide solutions. There is a whole range of operators — cable operators, fibre-optic operators, mobile operators...

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: No, the OECD's figures do not include mobile services. I will go into further detail about the OECD figures, but one of the difficulties with them is that they do not include the whole range of technologies, some of which represent major progress. The OECD figures show that we are, in the last year, the fastest growing country in terms of pick-up.

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: That is true, but we are the fastest growing——

Broadband Services: Motion (26 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: When we are close to doubling the numbers of subscribers in a year, that is not insignificant.