Results 29,721-29,740 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The commitment in The Programme for Government and the Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020, to the development of alternative energy resources is being underpinned by a range of support programmes and strategies for renewable energy development and deployment. This includes wind, ocean and bioenergy, all of which represent significant opportunities for Ireland to reduce dependence on fossil...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Energy Research and Innovation is a key part of both the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy 2006-2013 and the National Development Plan, reflecting the vital importance of the energy sector and the imperative to deliver sustainable, competitive and secure energy supplies for the economy and society. Our ambitious targets for renewable energy and climate change as reflected in the...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the Programme for Government published in June of this year, I am committed to working with the European Commission and other Member States to progress the scope for a European offshore wind farm grid connection system. Ireland's position on the EU potential will be informed by the all-island grid study, which is due to be completed shortly and by the Grid Development Strategy...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The Programme for Government commits to establishing an Ocean Energy Development Unit. I have asked my Department to engage with the relevant players in this area including third level institutions currently involved in the ocean energy research area, Sustainable Energy Ireland, and the Marine Institute with a view to finalising the scope and locus of the Ocean Energy Development Unit and to...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory independent body, has been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State. Last year, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) directed Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) to...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Primary responsibility for consumer protection falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the National Consumer Agency. A function of the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, is the investigation of complaints from consumers in relation to the supply of, and access to, electronic communications networks, electronic communications...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Responsibility for the regulation of the content and promotion of premium rate telecommunications services, including subscription-based services, is a matter for the Regulator of Premium Rate Telecommunications Services Limited (Regtel), an independent self-regulatory body. Regtel does not report to me as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The area of consumer...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Under the Pilot Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Scheme there were three successful companies awarded excise relief in the biodiesel category. The companies in question were Conoco Phillips who were awarded excise relief on the production of 880,000 litres of biodiesel, Eco Ola who were awarded excise relief on the production of 270,000 litres of biodiesel and Greyhound Recycling and Recovery...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The procurement process for a new National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is under way. The procurement process is being undertaken pursuant to the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities' Contracts) Regulations 2006 using a competitive dialogue procurement process. The NBS will provide broadband services to areas that are currently unserved and will ensure that all reasonable requests for...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Sep 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 — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The draft third postal directive, which is currently being discussed at the European Council and European Parliament, proposes to remove the reserved area and fully open the postal market to competition. This, I anticipate, will deliver benefits to the consumer in the same way that the liberalisation of other sectors such as the telecommunications sector have. The draft directive also...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Sep 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The matter of the electronic upgrading and expansion of post offices is an operational issue for the board and management of An Post. I have no statutory function in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: At the time of the review, the resources of my Department were fully engaged on the preparation of the communications regulation legislation which was a priority for both the Department and the Government. In those circumstances, a formal submission was not made to the Commission's review of the scope of the universal service. The European Commission undertakes a large number of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 297 together. My Department together with SEI is currently finalising a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for public consultation which will set out the actions to deliver on the Government's ambitious target of at least 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020 reflecting the new EU target set in 2006. Under the Programme for Government and...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government commits to developing the undoubted potential for distributed generation, as a long term alternative or supplement to the existing centralised system. My Department is already working with all relevant agencies including Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), ESB Networks and the...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: We have set ambitious targets to increase the contribution of renewable energy by 2020 as set out in the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy and the Programme for Government. The challenges inherent in achieving these targets will require sustained delivery by all concerned. We will be regularly reviewing and reporting on progress in light of technological and other developments and in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Provisional figures supplied by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimate that import dependency during 2006 was 89.7% and that renewable energy resources contributed 3% to total primary energy requirement in 2006. The dominant use of renewable energy technologies was in the electricity market with an estimated contribution of 8.5% in 2006. Allocated within the wider energy market, by...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Provisional figures supplied by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimate the contribution from renewable energy resources, including biomass, hydropower and wind-power, at 8.54% of gross electricity consumption in 2006.

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: Definitive statistics for market penetration of biofuels in 2006 are currently being finalised and it is likely that they will be broadly in line with the figure of 0.13% of the transport fuel market, as reported in Ireland's 2005 report to the Commission under Biofuels Directive 2003/30/EC. The Programme for Government underlines our commitment to the development of an Irish biofuels market...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (5 Jul 2007)

Eamon Ryan: The metropolitan area networks (MANs) constructed under phase I of the MANs Programme are complete and open for business. They have been handed over to the managed services entity, eNet, who manage, market, operate and maintain Phase 1 of the networks on behalf of the State. Phase II of the MANs Programme, which involves the construction of about 90 networks is well advanced. A number of...