Results 40,081-40,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Decentralisation Programme. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: I would have thought it would have taken two seconds to give the answer to that question.
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 81: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the International Advisory Forum on next generation networks has reported; if so, if he will publish the findings; if he will publish a detailed timetable of the action he proposes to take on promotion of the roll-out of high speed infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10901/08]
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: We are back to the issue of broadband again. Why did the Minister believe it was appropriate to appoint an independent advisory forum to advise him on his own policy paper when we could have debated it here in the House? The Opposition tabled a motion on broadband for that very purpose. The Minister said at the time that he supported a serious non-party political debate on the issue. That...
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: What about Ireland?
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister has put his finger on the problem. This is a fast-changing market but the Government is not providing leadership. That is the issue. There are decisions the Minister could take, on which he does not need to engage in consultation. For example, to establish what is available he could conduct an audit of telecommunications infrastructure, something we have been demanding for...
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: I asked about the forum. Who on the forum represents business?
- Telecommunications Services. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Is John McElligott happy with the Government's response?
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria for prioritising successful applications in view of the large number of wind energy projects hoping to get connection to the grid under the gate 3 connection process; if he will confirm the combined amount of megawatts that will be granted connection under this process; and if he will make a...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his reply, but it is a different answer to the one I expected. The Commission for Energy Regulation informed the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources that, under gate 3 in the next two months, new connections to the national grid will be made for wind energy projects. My understanding is that 8,258 MW of wind application proposals are...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: As time is tight, could I ask the Minister to answer the specific question I asked?
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Unfortunately, that is not what the CER is saying, and it will be making the decision. It is saying that acceptance will be based on the time the application was made.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister is saying something entirely different.
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister correctly said that it is the plan of the Government to obtain approximately 4,000 MW from onshore wind farms. We currently have the capacity for more than 1,000 MW on the grid, but there are more than 8,000 MW worth of applications. We need to be honest with people and tell them that at least half of the consortia that plan to produce power from wind will not actually get a...
- Alternative Energy Projects. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: It is no consolation for those people that they might get a connection after 2020.
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 269: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is possible to extend the timeframe under which a consultant appointed by his Department will undertake a study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project, in the context of the fact that a number of companies...
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 270: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of companies that have tendered for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; when a decision will be made on selecting a successful applicant; and the names of companies that have tendered....
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 271: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the tender has been advertised on a Europe-wide basis for the study on the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan 400 kV project; and if there has been interest from companies outside Ireland. [10738/08]
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 272: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that there will be no conflict of interest between the selected successful tender and the past relationship with EirGrid which may compromise the credibility of the study of the comparative merits of overhead electricity transmission lines and underground cables for the Meath-Cavan-Monaghan...
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: How much time do we have for questions? Do we get extra time?
- Electricity Transmission. (12 Mar 2008)
Simon Coveney: I will follow up on one or two of the Minister's answers. The representative group, which consists mostly of the North East Pylon Pressure group, submitted a 300 page document by the deadline. Will the Minister ensure that the consultancy firm meets this pressure group in the same way that, I assume, it will meet EirGrid? If the consultancy firm is from outside Ireland it will need an...