Results 29,441-29,460 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Cross-Border Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: My Department and I tried to facilitate the question. Unfortunately, the wording of the question as resubmitted was not eligible to be taken.

Cross-Border Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I did everything to facilitate the Deputy, but the question was due to be answered by a colleague.

Cross-Border Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I would happily accept a reworded question.

Cross-Border Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I must explain. While Deputy McManus's comments are true, my office pointed out that the question could not be taken because it referred to certain Ministries.

Cross-Border Projects. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I accepted the office's explanation and asked it to maintain the agreement to set this question as a priority question.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Under the second phase of the metropolitan area networks programme, 92 towns were targeted for investment in high-speed open access fibre optic networks. To date, MANs are either completed or under construction in 63 towns and a further 29 networks are in the detailed design phase. In conjunction with other next generation networks, MANs will play a key role in the delivery of high-speed...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I do not have the exact figure. It refers to an historical estimate. As I do not want to guess, I will revert to the Deputy with the figure.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The figure was an initial estimate and the final cost will depend on a number of factors. The second phase of MANs contains different elements, such as a proposal for wireless MANs and fixed line MANs. The former needs clearance from the European Commission before it can be approved and go out to tender. One cannot know the exact costs. The fundamental question relates to whether the €10...

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, I expect Deputy Coveney to believe that. While I cannot pre-empt the 2008 budget, we will see on 5 December whether there is funding for the national broadband scheme, and if there is, my proposal is watertight and accurate. What would Deputy Coveney have done differently? Would he not have reallocated budget to fund the greener homes schemes in the sensible, orderly manner I did?

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I used proper management procedures to spend the budget according to a multi-annual framework in the areas where it is needed in a particular year, and I would not have done otherwise. The budget was available because it was not going to be spent. Would Deputy Coveney not have done the same?

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy.

Telecommunications Services. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that one area is as important as the other, but where one has an unspent allocation in one area because of the timing of a particular project, and a demand in another area, it makes sense to do what I did. I would love to know what Deputy Coveney or anybody else would have done differently.

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is committed to ensuring that electricity supply consistently meets the needs of Irish consumers and business. My Department liaises closely with the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which has key functions in security of electricity supply, and with EirGrid as the independent transmission system operator. Reporting to the CER, EirGrid has responsibility for managing...

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I agree that supply security is a crucial consideration in our energy policy and relates to the plant we have and the fuel mix we use in future. We must be careful not to generate an over-reliance on gas or any other fuel supply in our mix. The Deputy is correct that there are difficulties around the reliability of older plants such as the three to which he referred. The problem is related...

Electricity Generation. (15 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The EirGrid report, which is the proper, professional forecasting method, suggests we should have proper supply. However it is tight and requires all of us to be careful in our use of energy, particularly during peak times, to ensure supply meets demand.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (14 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: My Department recently received an application from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for employment details of this person in relation to their employment with the former Department of Posts and Telegraphs. My Department will assist in the provision of this information as soon as possible. My Department is not aware of any court hearing or decision in relation to this matter....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (14 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including next generation broadband is a matter for the private sector operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). My Department is currently drafting a policy paper on Next Generation Networks (NGNs). The paper will consider the extent and impact of Government investment in broadband...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (13 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: To date, funding of €57m has been allocated specifically for the Greener Homes Scheme which provides grants for householders for the purpose of installing renewable heating technologies such as wood biomass boilers and stoves, solar panels and heat pumps.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the recent increase in the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy. NORA is a statutory agency under the aegis of my Department and has responsibility for ensuring that Ireland meets its EU and International obligations to maintain reserves of national strategic oil stocks. The NORA levy is imposed on the consumption of oil products and is used to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Nov 2007)

Eamon Ryan: 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 by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg are responsible for the compiling of statistics on broadband uptake. I understand that these statistics are collected on a national basis only....