Results 29,381-29,400 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in September 2006 for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative. The Joint Oireachtas Committee published its conclusions on the draft general scheme in April 2007. It is proposed to publish the consequent Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and one of the principal means of doing so is to improve the energy efficiency of homes belonging to those on lower incomes. My Department provides funding to Sustainable Energy Ireland for its Warmer Homes Scheme, which provides insulation and other energy efficiency improvements at little or no cost to low income homes across Ireland. My...

Written Answers — Regional Fisheries Boards: Regional Fisheries Boards (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Elections to the Regional Fisheries Boards are scheduled to be held in December 2007 following an extension agreed by the Oireachtas in 2006. The Deputy will be aware that the Government has decided that a fundamental restructuring of the inland fisheries sector is required. However, in light of the recent appointment by Government of an interdepartmental group who are charged with...

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

Eamon Ryan: The Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission advised that stocks of salmon in the River Shannon are below conservation limits. For this reason, no killing of wild salmon or sea trout, over 40 cm, by any method in the River Shannon or other rivers in the catchment, with the exception of the Feale and the Mulkear, was permitted during the 2007 season. The Feale and...

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

Eamon Ryan: I am advised that in order to obtain payment from the Salmon Hardship Scheme, eligible applicants are required to provide an undertaking that they will not apply for a commercial salmon fishing licence in the future. Persons who do not receive compensation are not precluded from applying for a licence in the future.

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

Eamon Ryan: The Independent Group, set up to examine the implications for the commercial sector of aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with scientific advice for 2007 and beyond, recommended that hardship payments should be based on the average verifiable (tag return) catch for each licence holder and on the average net income per salmon in the commercial fishery for the years (2001-2005)...

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

Eamon Ryan: Participation in the Salmon Hardship Scheme is voluntary. The scheme was established by the Government to address the likely hardship that would arise because of the necessary cessation of interceptory mixed stock fishing for wild salmon. The opportunities to fish for salmon, however, will be more limited in the future than in the past largely because of the unacceptability of the mixed...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I have travelled on two flights during the month of July costing €4,567.45 and one train journey costing approximately (allowing for exchange rates) €64. I have undertaken no other travel by bus, train or flight in my official capacity. The Minister of State (Mr. T. Killeen) took one flight in October 2007, which cost €81.54.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I can advise the Deputy that there are at present two Directives with my Department that have had reasoned opinions issued by the EU Commission. Both reasoned opinions have been responded to and the deliberations of the Commission are awaited. The table shows details of the two cases. Directive Number Directive Title Infringement Number Stage of Infringement Date Infringement Received...

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

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). There are a number of platforms for delivery of broadband, and service providers are now offering...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 was enacted in May 2007 and puts in place a flexible framework for the licensing of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) into the future. The Act provides for the use of multiplexes by both public service and commercial broadcasters and for the transmission of both digital television services and...

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

Eamon Ryan: An Post has a statutory obligation to provide a universal postal service, including the provision of a delivery to the home or premises of every natural or legal person not less than five days per week. This is set out in the European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations 2002 (Statutory Instrument 616 of 2002). The draft third postal directive proposes to maintain the universal service...

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

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 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 and...

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 the Commission for Communications Regulation ComReg. Additionally, there were 45,000 mobile broadband subscribers in Ireland at the end of June 2007 giving a total of 698,000 subscribers. The 698,000 figure represents a penetration rate of 15.4 subscribers...

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

Eamon Ryan: The contribution by renewable energy resources to electricity consumed in 2006 was 8.6%, up from almost 7% in 2005. The Government's targets are to increase this contribution further to a minimum of 15% by 2010 and at least 33% by 2020.

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

Eamon Ryan: There are approximately 110 renewable energy projects connected to the electricity network based on criteria applied and data published by EirGrid on its website www.eirgrid.com. I have no statutory function in relation to the award of connection offers by ESB or EirGrid.

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I understand from the developers, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, that they expect that first gas will be available in 2009. I would add, however, that completion of the development works by the developers is clearly the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas.

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

Eamon Ryan: In the context of the development of broadcasting policy my officials and I have cause, on a regular basis, to meet with the various interests that comprise the broadcasting sector including but not limited to commercial broadcasters, public service broadcasters and independent producers.

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

Eamon Ryan: The principal piece of legislation governing the postal service in Ireland is the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983. There are also two European Directives which have been transposed into Irish law. New legislation will be required to transpose the draft third postal directive once ratified.

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

Eamon Ryan: The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill, submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in September 2006 for the purposes of public consultation under the eConsultation initiative, is intended to ensure the establishment of the appropriate regulatory and organisational structures for the growth and development of public service,...