Results 29,621-29,640 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: We will deal with that in the debate next week on the Supplementary Estimate.

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I was in the process of answering.

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: It is coming from the multi-annual programme in the telecommunications area, particularly from the MANs and other development. The funds were not fixed on any year, which allows us flexibility in terms of payment. That allowed us to transfer funds.

Fuel Prices. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated. There is free entry into the market. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is the independent body statutorily responsible for overseeing and regulating Ireland's electricity and gas sectors. The CER has no role in regard to the oil industry. The Competition Authority is a statutory independent body with a...

Fuel Prices. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: If there is evidence, even a suspicion, that a cartel is operating, the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, a statutory body established last May to defend consumer rights, can investigate and bring to book anybody in the industry who is engaging in cartel practices. In Dublin, where property prices are high, the availability and expense of sites are issues. However, it...

Fuel Prices. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I understand from people in the sector that the margins in the fuel delivery business are incredibly tight, probably because it is an open and competitive market. The Deputy sees a suspicion of price fixing where prices move up and down in tandem. Perhaps she is right, and her deep suspicions or widespread concerns are based on fact. Alternatively, however, perhaps the fluctuations in the...

Fuel Prices. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: If evidence is presented to show regional or other competition issues which must be addressed and investigated I will happily pursue them. To answer Deputy Coveney, the difference between the mobile phone market and the petrol station market is that one is regulated and has a licensing system and the other is a free and open market which one can enter and exit easily. Deputy Coveney's point...

Fuel Prices. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: If a station is cheaper and the sign outside the door states clearly the rate per litre, one is free to purchase the petrol. It is slightly different with mobile phone operators, who could improve transparency on real prices because one is contractually obliged to use the phone unless one changes operator. It is different from stopping one's car and choosing one petrol station over another.

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 11, 47 and 66 together. The Corrib gas project is an infrastructural development of major national importance. The developers of the field have completed the majority of the sub-sea construction work to prepare the Corrib field for production of gas. Construction work has begun on the terminal. Last month, consultants engaged by the developers of the...

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The November deadline relates to the EPA which was due to make a presentation on the final clearance it must give on the terminal building. This decision was deferred until November when the EPA will deal with a variety of environmental licensing issues with regard to the terminal building. Later this year the developer will announce its preferred pipeline route option.

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, this year. This is subject to its work programme and technical issues which may arise. The timeline is not ours and the initiative is with the development company rather than the Department or any other body. A complicated evaluation process will follow this, including public consultation involving An Bord Pleanála under the new Planning and Development (Critical Infrastructure) Act,...

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The timeframe will begin when a preferred route option is proposed and the process will continue into next year. It will not be a short timeframe. It will take several months rather than weeks as it must engage An Bord Pleanála as well as the Department. The timeframe is difficult to quantify in advance and the Planning and Development (Critical Infrastructure) Bill means we are in new...

Corrib Gas Pipeline. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Bord Gais made clear that its involvement does not extend beyond the internal gas transmission pipeline. It constructed the pipeline connection to the terminal building but is not engaged in the offshore pipeline section.

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The energy White Paper was published on 12 March 2007. It sets out a comprehensive range of policy actions designed to deliver on our strategic goals for security of supply, sustainability and competitiveness over the period to 2020. There is no doubt that we need to make fundamental changes to the way we provide and use energy. Ireland's sustainable energy future depends on it. The...

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy Coveney and I were opposition colleagues at a time when the borrowing limit was increased for the ESB from, if I recall correctly, €2 billion to €6 billion.

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Looking at the recent annual accounts it is interesting to note that the borrowing level has not increased to anywhere near what was anticipated. It is probably closer to what it was at the time when emergency legislation had to be drafted. I am less concerned about the balance sheet, the borrowing aspect of the ESB, than I would be if it had been closer to the levels we provided for in...

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Sorry, perhaps I can finish.

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Perhaps I can finish briefly.

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: We have the obvious target of 15% in electricity generation by 2010. At present we are close to 10%. With targets we have to be careful not to set limits to our ambitions. I would like to go way beyond some of the targets already set. I have no objection if that can be done on an annual basis or otherwise.

Energy Resources. (11 Oct 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Yes. Those targets that have been set are the floor.