Results 29,601-29,620 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 190 together. The Programme for Government commits to a range of measures included in the White Paper on Energy, which provides a comprehensive roadmap for the development of the energy sector. Alternative energy development is critical to addressing the key challenges of climate change, competitiveness and security of energy supply. The White Paper...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I am confident we can meet the Renewable and Climate Change targets in the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government. The targets should not be seen as a limit on our ambitions but rather a baseline from which further progress can be achieved. The Government has also set a national target of a 20% reduction in energy demand across the economy by 2020,...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Oireachtas has decided, through various broadcasting legislation that broadcasters cannot accept advertisements which are directed towards any religious or political end or has any relation to any industrial dispute. Section 9 of the General Advertising Code prepared by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland under section 19(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001 and published in April 2007...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

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 — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill, which proposes the establishment of a single broadcasting content regulator to be known as the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, 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...

Written Answers — Electricity Network: Electricity Network (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The development of the second electricity interconnector with Northern Ireland is being undertaken jointly by the independent system operator, EirGrid, and its northern counterpart SONI. The most recent progress report provided by EirGrid to my Department indicates that considerable preparatory work is now underway. Issues currently being progressed include the examination of tower types,...

Written Answers — Coastal Erosion: Coastal Erosion (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The area at Achill Sound, Westport, Co. Mayo is owned by Mayo County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development is a matter for the Local Authority in the first instance. The Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Programme has already been announced for 2007. Under the terms of the Programme, all Coastal Local Authorities are invited to submit funding priorities for each...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, the independent regulator. I have no function in the matter of the enabling of exchanges owned by private companies. As a private company, Eircom is not...

Written Answers — Electricity Network: Electricity Network (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is giving high priority to the development of the East West electricity interconnector between Ireland and Britain. The Energy Policy White Paper and the Programme for Government underline this commitment, which will contribute to security of supply and competitiveness. Greater interconnection between Member States is also a key priority for the European Union to ensure the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 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 — Postal Services: Postal Services (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The universal service obligation, enshrined in European and Irish law, provides that each Member State is obliged to provide a postal service whereby the minimum level of service that must be provided is a clearance and delivery every working day to the home or premises of every person. Under Irish regulations, An Post is designated as the Universal Service provider. There are no plans to...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The number of post office closures and the retention of the maximum number of post offices and sub-post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of An Post and ones in which I have no statutory function. As set out in Section 12(3) of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983 "the company shall have power to do anything which appears to it to be requisite,...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: In regard to the retention of post offices in the future, this is a matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As is set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to ensuring that Irish customers continue to enjoy high quality postal services. The current regulatory framework, which is enshrined in EU and Irish law,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The intention of Greener Homes scheme is to stimulate consumer investment in renewable heating solutions and to develop the market for renewable technologies and fuels, thereby reducing CO2 emissions in the domestic sector. Over 16,000 grants were approved under Phase I which ran from April 2006 to August 2007. Since the scheme was launched there has been a dramatic increase in renewable...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The task of providing a competitive, secure, and sustainable energy future for Ireland poses considerable challenges for Ireland's electricity industry. It also presents exciting opportunities for the sector. Both EirGrid and ESB have critical roles to play. The ESB Group will remain a strong, commercially viable and integrated entity with a leading role to play in supporting the...

Written Answers — Electricity Supply: Electricity Supply (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I understand that the Deputy is referring to a connection for a new site or facility to the ESB Distribution Network. ESB connections are a day-to-day operational matter for the ESB and not one in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Mineral Exploration: Mineral Exploration (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Last week I announced a new Licensing Round opening acreage in the Porcupine Basin to the west of Ireland for exploration for oil and gas. The area covers unlicensed blocks in an area of approximately 63,500 square kilometres. The Porcupine Licensing Round is part of an ongoing strategy of offering regular opportunities for licensing in the basins of the Atlantic Margin. Ireland's oil and...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (11 Oct 2007)

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 quality...

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The figures are OECD figures, which are used most commonly, although many people would criticise them as not providing an accurate picture. However, there are various distortions with whatever statistics one uses. In general, we must aim to be at the top of the international league, regardless of the measures, and we should not concentrate only on narrow percentages. We should aim to have...

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy Coveney is incorrect. The Government is following through on financing the group broadband scheme. All grant applications are set out——