Results 7,381-7,400 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Environmental Policy: Environmental Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has lead responsibility for Government policy on climate change, including the Review of the National Climate Change Strategy. The Review, entitled "Ireland's Pathway to Kyoto Compliance" was published for consultation earlier this year and is currently being considered by the Minister. My Department participates...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Details of the 90 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) to be constructed during 2006 and 2007 and contracted costs for the 26 MANs currently under construction are as follows. Metropolitan Area Networks County Total Contracted Price €m Bantry Cork n/a Blarney Cork n/a Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy, Passage West Cork n/a Charleville Cork n/a Cobh Cork n/a Dunmanway Cork n/a Fermoy Cork...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I meet with industry and interested parties on a regular basis in pursuit of my objective to facilitate the widespread availability of competitively priced broadband in Ireland. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter in the first instance for private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent Commission for...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The report to which the Deputy refers made a number of worrying points in relation to the consequences of the loss of biodiversity, the effects of overfishing, loss of species, and their effects on the ability of the oceans to heal themselves. However, the report's main author goes on to say "I am confident we will not go there because we will do something about it". Here in Ireland, we are...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I can advise the Deputy that one of the strategic objectives set down in the All-island energy development framework for natural gas is a common approach on natural gas storage and Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). With this in mind, the issue of a strategic gas reserve is one of the issues to be addressed by means of an all-island study to be commissioned jointly by my Department and the Department...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Energy Policy Green Paper: Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland sets out the Government's commitment to realise the potential of small-scale renewable sources. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is undertaking comprehensive analysis in relation to metering and reward systems that adequately and equitably treat both generators and system operators. There is no doubt that we can...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156, 159, 175 and 366 to 368, inclusive, together. In view of the strategic importance of the Corrib Gas project, I have, over the past eighteen months, been proactively engaged in efforts to create the conditions that would allow the difficulties associated with the project to be resolved. My statutory responsibilities in this matter relate to the regulatory...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (21 Nov 2006)

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. The Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, in accordance with the provisions of S.I. 616 of 2002 European Communities (Postal Services) Regulations, is responsible for the monitoring, measurement and regulation of the postal sector including measuring...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Postal (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill that was published in 2001 provided for the issue, sale and disposal of shares in An Post in the context of an Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) and possible strategic alliance. The Bill also contained ancillary provisions arising out of a possible change of ownership. The financial and industrial relations environment in An Post has changed...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware I appointed the Independent Group to examine the implications of alignment with the scientific advice for the commercial salmon fishing sector in 2007 and beyond. As part of their remit the group made recommendations to address any financial hardship that may be experienced by the sector. The approach they adopted to determining the hardship payments is robust and...

Written Answers — Communications Infrastructure: Communications Infrastructure (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The limits for non-ionising radiation are global limits established internationally by the International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). There is currently no scientific or medical evidence that emissions below the level of internationally recognised guidelines from mobile telephony are injurious to health. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg),...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of a report "An Economic Analysis of Petroleum Exploitation Terms in Ireland, the U.K., Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands" that was published by Price Waterhouse in 1988. One of the authors of that report is leading the team that has been engaged by my Department to assist with the review of the licensing terms for petroleum exploration and production. The work already...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I intend to publish the Deloitte and Touche report, on the preparation of an implementation plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent statutory body, in whole or in part, in due course. However, the report will first need to be considered by the Project Management Group set up to oversee the establishment of TG4 as an independent body. The report contains some commercially...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has formal contacts with the Oil and Gas Ministries of a number of other north-western European countries through annual meetings. The other countries involved include Norway, Denmark, the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands. These contacts between senior officials are aimed at sharing information on the effectiveness of promotional strategies, licensing terms and the...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy may already be aware, RTÉ's statutory mandate, as defined in Section 28(1) of the Broadcasting Act, 2001, provides that RTÉ's radio and television services shall be made available, in so far as is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the Island of Ireland. As such RTÉ's statutory mandate does not extend to the provision of radio or television services to Irish...

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I welcome the timely publication of the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook 2006 which maps a new global energy future contrasting existing directions with how to change course. The outlook responds to the request from G8 leaders and others to advise on alternative energy scenarios and strategies aimed at a clean clever and competitive energy future. The Alternative Policy...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am unclear as to what claims made by offshore exploration companies the Deputy is referring to. My Department, however, presented a paper at its conference in Dublin earlier this month on "Exploring Atlantic Ireland" which referred to the fact that the Irish offshore is under-explored although an assessment of resource potential would indicate that this could be in the region of 10 billion...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The functions under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926-1988 for the investigation of interference were transferred from the Minister to the Communications Regulator (now ComReg) on its establishment in 1997. Accordingly, I have no function regarding this matter.

Written Answers — Communications Infrastructure: Communications Infrastructure (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: In April 2005 a team of advisors was engaged to examine the potential for enhancing and augmenting existing state owned infrastructure. This team submitted a Feasibility Report in December 2005. The report found that, while technically feasible, there would be considerable financial, legal, regulatory, operational and organisational challenges in harnessing and enhancing the existing state...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (21 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It is the Government's strongly held view that our wild salmon stock is a national asset, which must be conserved and protected, as well as being exploited as a resource by us all on a sustainable basis. In future the wild salmon fishery will be managed on the basis of individual river stocks. Harvesting of salmon will be restricted to those rivers that have been identified as meeting their...