Results 7,621-7,640 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We are desperately trying to encourage foreign and native exploration companies to determine whether we have the reserves to which the Deputy referred.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I hope the reserves exist and, if so, we will be in a totally different position from the one we are in at present. Deputy Durkan should note it makes no sense to add a provision to this Bill so one can exempt another. The purpose of the Bill is to address the question of oil and petroleum stocks, set up the company to manage them on an ongoing basis and ensure we have the petroleum reserves...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of at least 50, if not 100, applications for biofuel refineries and for excise relief. These are being examined by experts and I will receive advice on them. I will not comment on any individual application as it would not be right.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I do not propose to accept any of these amendments. As Deputy Broughan stated, I can understand the spirit in which the amendments were tabled. If, as he also pointed out, we were to accept any or all of these amendments, Dáil Éireann's time would be spent trying to make commercial decisions for NORA. I do not know why we would single out NORA as the only agency where this should occur...

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Order for Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The amendment is not accepted. It proposes the deletion of the word "as" from line 4 of page 6. "Agency" means the body corporate formed and registered under the Companies Act and continued in existence under section 7 of the National Oil Reserves Agency Bill. I do not propose to accept the amendment.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It is not necessary.

National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006: Report Stage (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not accepting this amendment. I accept the motivation in putting it down but it would have the opposite effect to the effect the Deputy wants. My understanding of the intent of the Deputy is that he wants biofuels mentioned in this section because of the increased importance of biofuels, renewable energy sources and so on in the future. I do not disagree with his view that they will...

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Structural reform is necessary in the interests of the market, the consumer and the ESB. Enhanced competition in generation will act as a catalyst for improvements in operation and maintenance costs, productivity, availability, flexibility and innovation. The ESB's dominance in mid-merit price-setting generation increases the potential for abuse of market power and thereby does little to...

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: That party has suddenly discovered the new policy imperatives on regulation.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Was it aware of the world of regulation that existed?

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The sole mention of regulation is its wish to have a public transport regulator.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: On the one hand it wants to introduce more regulators and regulation and, on the other, suggests in the House tonight that we should sack the regulator we have. Turning to the two calls Fine Gael made on me, the Green Paper already provides for a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework after the single electricity market North and South is operational in 2007.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: For the Deputy's information, he has only been in place for four years. The timing of the review is critical and it would be premature to carry it out before the arrival of the single electricity market and full identification of energy policy challenges and measures.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government remains committed fully to such a root and branch review of the energy regulatory framework. As regards the call for legislative measures, the Fine Gael party has to decide whether the regulator is to remain independent in the discharge of its functions without interference from the Oireachtas in terms of pricing decisions or timing issues on pricing reviews.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Introducing such uncertainly in the market would be counter-productive. What Fine Gael is proposing would be counter-productive. It would defer investment and undermine progress to a single all-island electricity market——

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——and it would be very bad for consumers. For all these reasons I reject these calls which are not thought out fully.

Energy Resources: Motion. (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: They are simply a knee-jerk reaction to the real issue of proper, effective, necessary, proportional, transparent, accountable and consistent regulation of the electricity and gas sectors in the interests of the economy, consumers and security of supply.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 337 together. The Warmer Homes Scheme, which is part of Sustainable Energy Ireland's Low Income Housing Programme, aims to improve the energy efficiency and comfort conditions of homes occupied by low-income households. The scheme provides funding to community-based organisations for the installation of energy efficiency measures including attic...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Nov 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government is committed to developing domestic scale renewable electricity and heat technologies. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has undertaken work on Metering Options for Small Scale Renewable and CHP Electricity Generation. The study identified a number of areas which require further analysis including the ability of such processes to secure adequate payment for their exports, a...