Results 301-320 of 3,665 for speaker:Seán Power

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: It can. The regulator has shown, in the way it has dealt with recent requests for price increases and with the reduction of world prices for gas and oil, that it is very flexible in its approach. We have seen a number of price reductions over recent months.

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: There are a number of factors ——

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I hope the regulator will be more helpful than I have obviously been.

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Big businesses enter into negotiations with the ESB or other independent suppliers with a view to making their own price arrangements.

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: It applies to everybody. The price reduction as announced by the regulator or Minister last week——

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The recently announced price reductions will apply across the board.

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The Deputy referred to the cost of energy in Ireland by comparison with Manchester or many other countries. We are very conscious of the competitiveness difficulties and the action required to deal with these. As an island nation importing over 90% of our energy, we are obviously in a very vulnerable position. This is why our energy policy indicates we must place great emphasis on...

Energy Costs. (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: It was the wish of all Members that competition be introduced to the market. To achieve this, it was necessary to make some changes with regard to the ESB, which had a monopoly for longer than people would have desired. To make the market attractive to new entrants, it was essential to provide certain guarantees for them such that it would be viable for them to enter the market. It was...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation requires the Irish...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Consultants Posford Haskoning, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and Andrew Johnston were engaged in 2002 to inform decisions on the consents relating to the Corrib Gas Field granted to construct a gas pipeline pursuant to Section 40 of the Gas Act 1976 as amended, on 15 April 2002, consent to the Plan of Development under Section 13 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource, including the issue of fishing licences is the responsibility of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. I have no function in the matter. I have been advised, however, by the Northern Regional Fisheries Board that the applicant identified by the...

Written Answers — Fishing Licenses: Fishing Licenses (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Salmon fishing licences are public licences issued on foot of applications received annually. The Control of Fishing for Salmon Order establishes the priority to be afforded by regional fisheries boards to applications for commercial licences. The current provisions of the Order were fully endorsed by the National Fisheries Management Executive and the National Salmon Commission following...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no, nor have there ever been, any plans to remove the weir at Fermoy. It is proposed to alter the weir to facilitate the installation of a rock ramp fish pass, which will ensure the free passage of migratory fish species as required under the Fisheries Acts and the EU Habitats Directive. These works will not affect the amenity value of the weir....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the publication of the Geothermal Resource Map of Ireland by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) in July 2004 highlighted the potential of deep geothermal energy. The potential for a good geothermal energy resource in the South Dublin region was also identified in the study. The report recommended that support...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The operator of the two onshore licences (ON1/05 & ON2/05) covering the Lough Allen Basin, has undertaken technical studies in conjunction with contractors to define the prospectivity of the area with a view to advancing to a drilling programme. While the Department has received copies of these studies, under the licensing terms governing these licences, the studies are confidential and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. I have been advised by the Central Fisheries Board that the report "Quantification of the freshwater salmon habitat asset in Ireland" published by the Central Fisheries Board in 2003, identified the River Boyne catchment as the fifth largest salmon system in Ireland on the basis of its total wetted area of 6,695,412 sq. m. I understand...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 374 and 375 together. The target of European Council Regulation No. 1100/2007, establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, is commonly misquoted whereby it is claimed that the Regulation only required a reduction of just 40% in the catching of eels. The EU target is clearly defined in the Regulation where it states that "the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Currently, the only commercial field off the west coast is the Corrib gas field, in the Slyne Basin offshore County Mayo, which is estimated to contain approximately one trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. With regard to the Atlantic Margin as a whole, technical studies based on geological and geophysical data, which were sponsored by the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I understand that it is very difficult to accurately measure mortality rates in glass eels. Mortality rates of between 50% to 84% for glass eels in estuaries have been reported in a study conducted by Vollestad and Jonsson, which was quoted in the Erne Eel Enhancement Programme report referenced by the Deputy. It should be noted that the level of mortality may be both time and site...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The draft Eel Management Plan for the transboundary North Western International River Basin District, submitted by both the Irish and UK authorities for evaluation by the EU Commission, provides for the cessation of the commercial fishery in that River Basin District (which covers the whole Erne catchment both North and South). I understand that the draft eel management plan for Lough Neagh,...