Results 6,881-6,900 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: This provides clarification as to the schedule referred to. Amendment No. 5 is deemed necessary because only part of the European Communities Act may come under the responsibility of a Minister. The other parts may be the responsibility of other statutory bodies. This is a standard provision in legislation. Regarding amendment No. 6, it is the norm to use the expression "amend by...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I understand why some people have a difficulty with this section. It provides an enabling mechanism to allow the Minister to make new regulations to provide for indictable offences for breaches of obligations under this Bill and to give effect to an Act adopted by the European Community relating to the provision of electronic communication services, radio spectrum, the national numbering...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senators for their contributions. I wish to reassure Senator McCarthy that the 2002 Act provides for a 21 day scrutiny for any regulation the Minister introduces. The question and point about democratic accountability is answered by the fact that we are discussing it here and will do so in the other House too. In addition, there is provision for Oireachtas scrutiny and the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: These are all technical amendments, caused by other amendments. The reference in section 46A (1)(b) changes from subsection (5) to subsection (6) as a result of amendment No. 8. Amendment No. 10 changes the paragraph numbering to replace the number of the old subsection (2) with subsection (3) to ensure the numbering remains sequential. Amendment No. 11, as proposed by the Parliamentary...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I do not propose to accept this amendment because the new section 46C is a statutory provision such that in a trial on indictment, a judge may order the provision of certain information to a jury. He or she is not obliged to do so but he may order it done. This is a practical provision to try to facilitate the understanding of complex evidence by a jury because it could be argued that...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2007: Committee Stage (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I accept the amendment. The Senator is correct.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. The Greener Homes Scheme was launched in March 2006 and it 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. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The commercial production of electricity is a fully liberalised sector. I have no statutory authority to insist on any particular ownership arrangement in any independent undertaking proposing to harness wind-power to generate electricity. It is a matter for each landowner to negotiate the terms and condition under which any other party can occupy the land to construct and operate a windfarm.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: 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 independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The facilitation of broadband coverage across the entire country continues to be a key priority. I am aware that, despite Government and...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 386, inclusive, together. 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. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Developing the national energy research capacity has been a key priority of Government. There was a critical shortage of appropriately skilled people to meet our energy research needs. The approach taken was to design and implement a scheme of funding awards for energy research projects and researchers to address this gap. Accordingly the Charles Parsons awards were developed specifically...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The National Bio-Energy Action Plan, overseen by the Ministerial Bio Energy Task Force, is being finalised and will be published shortly. The Plan will set out a cohesive strategy for the development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources, in the electricity, heating and transport sectors. I have already introduced a number of measures to stimulate demand for bio-energy in...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As a member of the International Energy Agency Ireland is required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports of crude oil equivalent in the previous year. The EU imposes a similar requirement based on consumption. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for holding Ireland's strategic oil reserves at a level determined — at least once a...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Security of energy supply is a key imperative for Ireland and the European Union. The relatively small size of the Irish electricity market underlines the need for greater interconnection as a means of enhancing security of supply, promoting competition and integrating the Irish electricity market into the wider European market. The Government is committed to deliver enhanced...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is Government policy to encourage the exploration and production of indigenous energy resources. The main strategies in support of this policy are regular opportunities for exploration licences through licensing rounds and attractive licensing terms. This year the frontier Porcupine Basin is open for licensing. The planned closing date for applications is end-October, with the award of...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to the CER-ESB Asset Strategy which was subject of a Memorandum of Understanding on 29 November 2006 and comprises a package of measures to reduce ESB's share of the power generation market in the Single Energy Market to around 40% by 2010. The Asset Strategy formed the basis for the Commission's authorisation to ESB on 6 February 2007 for the construction of a new power...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: A number of innovative alternative energy programmes are in place as part of the Government's strategy to stimulate renewable energy deployment across the electricity, heat and transport sectors. A series of grant-aid programmes are being rolled-out over a five year period and are providing funding for the domestic, commercial, services and industrial sectors as follows: the €47m 'Greener...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Europe presented by the Commission last October sets out a comprehensive range of proposed policies and measures aimed at realising at least 20% savings in EU energy consumption by 2020. The overall thrust of the Plan was endorsed by EU Energy Ministers in November last. The objective is to deliver for Europe energy efficient infrastructure, buildings,...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Security of supply in relation to electricity in Ireland is the statutory responsibility of the independent Regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The independent Transmission System Operator (TSO), EirGrid, monitors the adequacy of generation capacity over time and reports to the CER accordingly. In line with international norms, the generation system in Ireland is designed,...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (20 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have already increased a 13.2% target addressed to Ireland in an EU Directive to increase the contribution of electricity from renewable energy sources to 15% by 2010. The Government has indicated plans to further increase that target to 33% by 2010. The support programme operated by my Department to complete the increased 2010 target is commonly referred to as REFIT, (Renewable Energy...