Results 29,341-29,360 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Schools Refurbishment. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I will certainly impress upon the Minister for Education and Science the importance of the project. I look forward to returning to Donegal this winter and again in future years, and I hope to see a brand new shiny school there. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education...

Renewable Energy Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with Deputy Bannon, there is huge potential in this area and I want to see the Government deliver on that potential. I welcome this opportunity to update the House on the significant progress achieved in harnessing our renewable energy resources and the challenging target set by the Government to increase the contribution of indigenous renewable energy resources to our electricity...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 22 together. The introduction of net-metering facilities for micro-scale producers will be enabled by the introduction of smart metering technology. The Government's Energy Policy Framework and Programmes for Government commit to the introduction of smart meters to every customer in the country over the next five years. The smart meter programme is a...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission has advised that stocks of salmon in the river Fergus, a tributary of the Shannon, are below conservation limits. For this reason, no killing of salmon by any method was permitted during the 2007 season. The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute will monitor the stocks in developing a management plan for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: There were 653,000 broadband subscribers (excluding mobile) in Ireland at end of quarter two of 2007 according to official figures from Commission for Communications Regulation ComReg. This figure comprises broadband connections through "DSL" — 472,700, "Cable" — 68,900, "Fixed Wireless" — 102,500, "Other Technologies" such as Satellite and Optical Fibre — 8,900. Additionally,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I am advised that Eircom have contacted all of their users who are potentially affected by this issue. I am also advised that Eircom have created a special web site www.eircom.net/wirelesssecurity and have set up a free phone number where information is available on how to address the issue. In general, security issues in relation to public communications networks provided by eircom and...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is primarily a matter for the private sector. Broadband service providers operate in a fully liberalised market that is 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...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Statutory responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication service providers, including eircom, rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended, and the Regulations, which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. I,...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Section 28(2)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001 mandates RTÉ to provide programmes of news and current affairs in the Irish and English languages, including programmes that provide coverage of proceedings in the Houses of the Oireachtas and the European Parliament. In addition section 45(4) of the Broadcasting Act 2001 mandates TG4 to provide programmes, primarily in the Irish language, of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 213 together. As I have already explained in detail to the House, the recent coverage in the media with regard to potential performance problems at three ESB plants located at Poolbeg, Great Island and Tarbert underlines the necessity to ensure adequate capacity margins on the generation system. EirGrid's 2007 Winter Outlook Report forecasts that...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The National Postcode Project Board was established in 2005 to recommend the most suitable postcode for Ireland. As part of its work on the project, the National Postcode Project Board's technical and economic advisors carried out an extensive consultation with stakeholders, both within the postal sector and outside it with a view to arriving at a postcode model that best meets the needs of...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government's policy with regard to the future development of the postal service, is to ensure Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in key comparator economies elsewhere in the EU. Ensuring that Irish consumers have access to a broad suite of high-quality postal services and the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The assessment of the prospects for geological storage of carbon, in Ireland is at a relatively early stage. A study by Sustainable Energy Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is examining the potential for such storage on the island of Ireland. An EPA-GSI project in the next 2 years will evaluate the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: My Department is continuing to undertake a Value for Money and Policy Review on Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks Programme. The review is being carried out in close cooperation with the Department of Finance. This Review, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2007, along with other policy analyses being undertaken, will help to inform my decisions on future investment in...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Section 3 of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007, enacted and commenced in April of this year, amends RTÉ's public service remit, by requiring the national public service broadcaster to provide a television and radio service to Irish communities abroad, and stipulating that any such television service must be representative of the existing RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4 channels. Section 14...

Written Answers — Compensation Schemes: Compensation Schemes (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The issue in relation to former coal miners who suffer health problems as a result of their time in the mines is primarily one of disability or occupational injuries benefit entitlement and I understand that this matter has previously been referred to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. I am afraid there is no scheme available to me from which to pay such compensation.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I am generally supportive of the introduction of a carbon levy along the lines of the commitment set out in the Programme for Government which states that "Appropriate fiscal instruments, including a carbon levy, will be phased in on a revenue-neutral basis over the lifetime of this Government". In addition, the Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new Commission on...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of today.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the private sector operating a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I have no function in this matter. I understand ComReg has raised concerns with the authors of the report about the methodology adopted and the accuracy of the results...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The telecoms market is fully liberalised and regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which is independent in the exercise of its functions. ComReg's objectives include the promotion of competition and the promotion of the interests of users. There are now over 600 authorised undertakings for telecoms services and this includes 100 companies offering fixed...