Results 7,121-7,140 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: On 7 June 2006 I launched the Bioheat Programme which is a grant aid scheme for commercial renewable heat technologies. The scheme allows companies and small businesses to obtain grants for the installation of wood chip and wood pellet boilers in large buildings and commercial premises. Grant aid of up to 30% of overall costs is being made available depending on the overall size of the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no statutory function in relation to this matter. In the first instance it is an operational issue for the service provider concerned. Responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication service providers rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 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). My priority remains that there will be broadband coverage across the entire country. I am aware, despite Government and private investment...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: We are all largely ad idem on this issue. In regard to maximising the reach of RTE television, it would be good if there were co-operation in both directions, east-west and North-South, in terms of common channels and so on. This Bill facilitates such developments by providing a framework under which they are attainable not merely for two thirds of the Republic or one third of the North but...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I acknowledge what Senator O'Toole said in this regard. It is certainly a novel idea blanking out some of the programmes as one transmits freely across Europe. It is encrypted on satellite because if it was in the clear, there would be the major copyright issues I mentioned earlier. I will raise the Senator's point about whether home produced news and current affairs programmes could be...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I apologise to Senator Quinn but I must leave the House for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The Minister of State, Deputy Browne, will take over.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank Senators for the contribution they made in terms of bringing these amendments. I am aware from the debate on Second Stage that we are all in agreement on the principle of what we are trying to achieve and acknowledge that the amendments were proposed in a good faith attempt to reach as many of the Irish abroad as possible. We decided to be explicit in including radio services in the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I am not sure what the timeline will be. However, the obligation will arise from the enactment of the Bill. I have already spoken to Cathal Goan in RTE. The station envisages some difficulties and has raised a number of points. It is enthusiastic about trying to achieve this outreach quickly. Having a specific legislative base in this regard is important for it. I would not be unfair in...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have quite a few relatives in the UK, all of whom managed to get Tara when it was on the go. They all still manage to get RTE radio broadcasts. My aunt in Leamington Spa rang me just before Christmas to thank me for the Bill, about which she had just heard. They are not having too much difficulty at the moment. The Bill will give it a legislative basis and ensure money can be legally...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thought the Senator was going to say hundreds of years' experience.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The point is well made and RTE should bear it in mind not only because it is going to broadcast specifically to Irish or other communities abroad. While criticism is good, and it is important in a democracy that journalists are vigilant, to constantly harp on the negative conveys an unbalanced view of Ireland today. I take the point that RTE should be conscious of the image it conveys. It...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: RTE has increasingly taken on that national responsibility in regard to internal issues, not necessarily political ones. It is increasingly assuming responsibility in certain areas and there are times when it could play a leadership role on particular issues. There is no need for it to be party political, Government-oriented, etc., in this regard. As an example, I wish to cite some of the...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I agree this is an extremely important matter. That is why it is being dealt with in the Bill and in amendment No. 36. I am sure RTE, as a public service, will show a clip on this evening's "Oireachtas Report" of somebody saying that Channel 6 can be found on channel 223 of the electronic programming guide. I was not aware of that. I sought out Channel 6 but I became fed up trawling...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I thank the Senator.

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Amendment No. 27 to section 4 and amendments Nos. 33 to 35, inclusive, to section 8 should be considered together. The aim of the amendments is to emphasise the importance of the BCI moving quickly to contract with applicants for national television multiplexes. The BCI will be obliged to consider DTT as a priority. A key issue is ensuring a degree of coherence in timing around the RTE...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Whether the establishment of the national multiplexes will happen simultaneously or sequentially, is a matter for the BCI. My preferred option is for the BCI to run the competition for all three national multiplexes simultaneously, as it would bring coherence to the process. Hopefully, there will be more than three consortia competing in the process. However, I believe that even before...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Amendments Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, to section 2 are technical amendments that will ensure clarity as to what material can be carried on multiplexes. These amendments will ensure that some radio services will be carried on television multiplexes, although television multiplexes will be primarily for television. Similarly, some television or audio-visual services can be carried on radio...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: To answer Senator Henry's query on the danger of overload, such matters will be controlled by the BCI. Obviously there are limits to the amount of spectrum that can be used. The technology allows four channels but it could be eight or 12 in the future, depending on developments in digitisation. We operate on the basis of four channels at the moment to ensure there is not the overspill...

Seanad: Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee Stage (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The amendments relate to a mixture of radio and television. The Bill is technical, but we should not be too afraid of technology. It is not the case that there is a great deal of physical hardware, which we imagine when we discuss muxes. A multiplex is part of a spectrum, which is available to everyone. It is not physical. Often, people who listen to us get the impression that they would...

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Who measured that?