Results 29,041-29,060 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The results of the research component for the Waterford Initiative will be available in summer 2008. The research is assessing the effectiveness of the delivered interventions in addressing fuel poverty, the bulk of which were carried out during 2007.

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1435 and 1436 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 — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Throughout the period in question the sources of Ireland's natural gas supply have been indigenous production combined with imports from the UK to Ireland via sub-sea gas interconnection to the Moffat entry point located onshore in Scotland. The source of imported supply has largely been the North Sea although this situation is changing as the UK has moved to become a net gas importer. UK...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Sustainable Energy Ireland advises that in 2006, the latest year for which full statistics are available, 66% of Ireland's total energy requirement was imported from the UK. Ireland's total energy import dependency was just over 90% in 2006. Oil represents 63% and gas 35% of the quantity of fuel imported from the UK. It is also the case that 90% of Ireland's gas supply is imported from the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The table below contains a list of Acts passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, which were sponsored by my Department in each year from 2003 to 2007 with reference to any EU legislative obligations. Year Act Legislation requirement with regard to EU obligations Ireland's discretion as to the manner in which EU obligations were translated into domestic law 2003 Broadcasting (Major Events...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1440, 1442, 1444 and 1466 together. 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. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: The first phase of the procurement process (Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)) for the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is now complete, and four candidates pre-qualified to enter the next phase of the procurement process. As my Department indicated on 2 September 2007, the four candidates were, in alphabetical order, BT Communications Ireland Ltd Consortium, eircom Ltd, Hutchinson 3G...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 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 Properties: Departmental Properties (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: There have been no reported losses of desktop PCs or memory keys in my Department over this period. The number of laptop PCs and Blackberry devices lost in the same period is shown in the table below. Year Laptop Blackberry 2002 0 0 2003 4 0 2004 0 0 2005 4 0 2006 1 0 2007 1 1 Total 10 1 Laptop devices are accessed via a strong password (a combination of any three from uppercase,...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: Virtually every computer or network connected to the internet is being probed for vulnerabilities by third parties. My Department's network is no exception, and it receives a high volume of spurious traffic. There is no record kept of these probes. The traffic is stopped by firewalls on the Department's IT system. All traffic that is permitted through the external firewall is inspected by...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I intend to launch the public consultation process on the proposed Biofuels Obligation shortly. The outcome of the consultative process will inform the design and implementation of the Biofuels obligation. The Energy Commission has recently published its proposals for a new Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, which include the minimum mandatory target of...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I can advise that the study, Gas to the Northwest, which was finalised and submitted to my Department in October last will be submitted to Government shortly for its consideration.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 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. The role of the Government is to formulate regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision of high...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1452 to 1455, inclusive, together. The House of Tomorrow, as with all of Sustainable Energy Ireland's (SEI) grant programmes, involves the disbursement of Exchequer funding to private sector clients for the installation and/or demonstration of a variety of different sustainable energy technologies and solutions. In all SEI programmes the particular qualifying...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 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 — Community Development: Community Development (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1457 and 1458 together. The Community Support Scheme, recommended by the Report of the Independent Group, has been drafted to focus primarily on those communities where commercial salmon fishing has been a well-established activity and where its withdrawal demonstrably impacts on the economic and social fabric, for example, Gaeltacht areas. The scheme is to be...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: RTÉ transmits on a free-to-air terrestrial platform and also makes its programmes available to cable and satellite operators. To avail of the services provided by these operators, a person must pay the service provider separately for these services. RTÉ currently has exclusive carriage contracts with SKY therefore their services are unavailable on any other satellite network. Under the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1460 and 1461 together. Under the First Phase of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme Cork City received a MAN of 58.70 KM in length at a total cost of €12.10 million. This MAN is being managed by eNet the Management Services Entity (MSE) appointed for all Phase 1 MANs. By linking local and backhaul networks and through the deployment of 200...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: My Department's Press Office operates a print media press clippings service that is available on subscription to all staff in the Department. Daily press clippings, relevant to the Department's business, are provided electronically by an outside agency, contracted by the Department following an open tender competition in mid 2005. Between 2003 and 2005 a similar service was provided to the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (30 Jan 2008)

Eamon Ryan: EirGrid has been asked to work with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in developing options for a State owned landbank and preliminary analysis is under way. The process of divestment of ESB sites is a commercial matter for the Board and Management of the ESB in accordance with the terms of the Asset Strategy Agreement with the Commission for Energy Regulation and not one in which I...