Results 29,001-29,020 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Energy Review: Energy Review (7 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan which I will publish in April this year, details all actions being undertaken or developed to deliver Ireland's energy efficiency targets as stated in the Energy White Paper. The draft Action Plan, published for consultation in October 2007, states that we will significantly expand our demand side management (DSM) measures and will publish a...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The legal unbundling of Bord Gáis Éireann's transmission and distribution systems operator functions from its other functions is in the process of being completed. Statutory Instruments numbers 760 of 2005, and 377 of 2007, transposed the provisions of EU Directive 2003/55/EC into Irish legislation. Bord Gáis Éireann has established 'Gaslink Independent Systems Operator Limited', a...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I can advise the Deputy that work in relation to the legal unbundling of the Distribution Systems Operator as an ESB subsidiary is at an advanced stage. My Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel has engaged in an extensive drafting process on a Statutory Instrument to provide for the creation of the Distribution System Operator subsidiary company and for its...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Decisions on any necessary actions to be taken by the Department and/or the Commission for Energy Regulation as a consequence of any changes to the UK gas regulatory regime will be taken in the context of the publication by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM), of revised proposals to the current regime. The publication of such proposals is awaited. OFGEM is the Office of the...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (6 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have a direct role in the provision of services by An Post. Statutory requirements on the company are principally set out in the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, and the European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002. Under this legislation, An Post is required to provide a nationwide postal service including a delivery to every address in the country on...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (6 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met. The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next...

Electricity Interconnector. (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the four Deputies for raising this issue, which is rightly the subject of extensive debate, both here and in the Oireachtas committee where the discussion has already started. It is part a broader discussion which is of vital national importance. This is the need to ensure our electricity transmission system is adequate to meet current and future electricity demand and how we can...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 707 together. The Statutory Bodies, including establishment dates, for which I have responsibility, are detailed in the following table. The annual operating cost for each of the past five years of each statutory body can be found in the annual reports and accounts published by each of these bodies, which should be available through the library of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The procurement process for a National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for broadband in unserved areas are met. The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There are no task forces operating in my Department at this time.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was established in June 2007. The majority of current Departmental functions arise from significant transfer of responsibilities between Departments in 2002, 2006 and again in 2007. The identification of records prior to January 2006 cannot be facilitated without undue...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The total non-property costs incurred by the Department in respect of the Government's decentralisation programme and reported to date to the Department of Finance are €104,538. This expenditure relates to advance moves of functions and staff resources to Cavan and Clonakilty. The majority of costs relates to the relocation of the entire seafood functions to Clonakilty and as the Deputy...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: As part of the Government's decentralisation programme, the headquarters of my Department is scheduled to relocate to Cavan at the end of 2010. This will involve the relocation of approximately 300 civil service posts. An advance party of 45 is currently in situ in Cavan.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance 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 services throughout the country are available on my Department's broadband website...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I have no statutory functions with regard to the connection of towns to the gas network. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In December 2006, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) was requested by my Department to initiate a pilot extension of its energy services for business, based on engaging a wider range of firms, especially SMEs, and testing the effectiveness of the energy agreements approach across the enterprise sector. SEI accordingly developed and implemented a new programme in 2007, with particular emphasis...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: In the context of continuing cooperation with Northern Ireland to mutual economic and social benefit on energy matters, I have agreed with Minister Nigel Dodds that the scope for further cooperation on energy efficiency initiatives will continue to be explored. Both Departments are working together to this end. In the meantime respective energy efficiency awareness campaigns are continuing...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The following table sets out the EU funding received by the Department for programmes and schemes administered by the Department and agencies under its remit as and from 1 January 1997. It should be noted that the receipts relate to the specific responsibilities that were under the Department's remit at the time received. The receipts are shown primarily on an activity related basis. It...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The decentralisation of the Central Fisheries Board under the Government's programme involves the relocation 62 posts to Carrick-on-Shannon. To date, none of these posts has been decentralised. At present 20 staff have been recruited to posts relocating since the announcement of the Programme and some 20 staff have a relocation clause in their employment contract. The Government has always...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Serving the needs of this House and the democratic process is an essential everyday part of the work of staff in the Department. Work related to Parliamentary Questions is an important element of this process built into the business plans of individual divisions of the Department. In addition, input into individual questions varies depending on the complexity of the issue raised and the...