Results 6,641-6,660 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. Matters relating to post office closures are for the board and management of An Post. I have received data from An Post showing the breakdown of Post Office closures from 1997 to date, by location and by county. This information is as follows: Munster Cork (50) Clare (8) Kerry (8) Limerick (21) Tipperary (29) Waterford (5) Ballinascarthy Caher Ballyhar...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Question Nos. 157 and 364 together. I recently published the National Bioenergy Action Plan which is an important milestone in the Government's ambitious and comprehensive energy policy. The Plan sets out a cohesive strategy for the development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources, in the electricity, heating and transport sectors. The Plan will be underpinned by...

Written Answers — Post Codes: Post Codes (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 168 together. The National Postcode Project Board has now presented to me for my consideration, its recommendation as to the most appropriate postcode system for Ireland, the costs and benefits arising from its introduction along with a detailed implementation plan. As part of its analysis, the board's advisors, recruited by ComReg, carried out an...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 377 together. In so far as my Department is concerned all necessary consents and approvals have been given for the development of the Corrib Gas Field. With these in place it is now up to the developer to proceed with the development of the field. Certain development works have commenced and are ongoing. On foot of the recommendation of the Corrib...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. Premium Rate Services are commercial products in a commercial market. Responsibility for the regulation of the content and promotion of Premium Rate Telecommunications Services including subscription based services is a matter for Regtel, an independent self-regulatory body established in 1995 to regulate these services. Regtel does not report to me as...

Written Answers — : (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The draft general scheme of the Broadcasting Bill proposes the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to regulate the three principal categories of broadcaster — public service broadcasters, commercial broadcasters and community broadcasters. Head 2 of the draft general scheme proposes the following legal definition of a community broadcaster: "a broadcaster providing a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. The provision of telecommunications services 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. Any proposal by Eircom to separate its retail and wholesale arms would primarily be a matter for the company...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As reflected in the White Paper on Energy Policy, the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007-2016 sets the overall policy framework for tackling poverty and social inclusion up to 2016 and includes measures targeted at fuel poverty. The White Paper sets out a range of actions under the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion to systematically tackle fuel poverty through existing...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As set out clearly in the Programme for Government, this Government and the Board of An Post continue to be committed to the objective of ensuring a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network into the future. In the face of growing competition, I believe that there will continue to be a key national role for An Post in the delivery of mails and parcels. Full market opening in the...

Written Answers — Electricity Interconnector: Electricity Interconnector (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. The Government is committed to deliver enhanced interconnection on the island of Ireland as well as with Britain as a priority. The Government's Energy Policy White Paper, "Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland", underlines this commitment. This is also the way forward envisaged at European level. On foot of a Government...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Matters relating to quality and levels of postal service are a matter in the first instance for the management and board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. An Post operates within a regulatory framework as enshrined in EU and Irish law and therefore the universal service obligation is a statutory requirement for An Post, as the designated universal service provider....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's White Paper on Energy Policy has set a target for Ireland of 33% of gross electricity consumption from renewable energy sources by 2020. That is the real target and that is the challenge to be met. In 2005 the contribution by renewable energy sources to gross electricity consumption was nearly 7%. For 2006 it is estimated to have reached over 8% and will increase further in...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) on a number of occasions as have some of my Cabinet colleagues in recent times. I also addressed the IPU Annual Conference in 2005 and 2006. While the Government continues to be committed to the objective of securing and maintaining the largest economically sustainable post office network possible, the development and continued viability of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband and telephone is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated, where appropriate, by the independent Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The role of Government is to implement regulatory and infrastructure policies to facilitate the provision...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland" establishes ambitious targets for renewable energy in each of the three energy sectors — electricity, heat and transport. The targets are as follows: Renewable energy sources will provide 33% of our electricity used by 2020; Biofuels will provide at least 10% of transport energy use by 2020; Further actions in the...

Written Answers — Electricity Grid: Electricity Grid (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The grid connection application and delivery process is a matter for the appropriate network generator under the supervision of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I have no statutory function in the matter. However, I am advised that applications for connection to the national grid from conventional fossil fuel or renewable generators are received on a continuous basis by EirGrid,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable heat technologies. The Greener Homes Scheme is designed to support and stimulate the use of renewable energy sources in the domestic heat sector. The Scheme provides support to homeowners to invest in a range of renewable energy heating technologies including solar technology, wood biomass boilers and stoves, and heat pumps....

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: In order to examine the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland, I established a Working Group comprised of people with experience of the postal sector, together with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Following from the recommendations of the Working Group report, I asked ComReg to appoint project managers to support the postcode project by providing...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The National Bioenergy Action Plan sets out a series of cross-Governmental and inter-agency actions to support the development and deployment of bioenergy resources in Ireland. It is the case that the production of energy crops in Ireland is relatively underdeveloped. The policy objective is to develop an indigenous biofuel industry sourced, where feasible, from indigenous raw materials....

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (27 Mar 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's policy with regard to the future of the postal service, as set out in my Department's statement of strategy, has three principal aims: to ensure Irish industry and domestic customers enjoy competitively priced, high-quality postal services; to maintain a nationwide postal service and viable network, with uniform tariffs applying throughout the State; and to develop the postal...