Results 7,721-7,740 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2006)

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. However, it has been clear for some time that the sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for...

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: In 2005 the "average" dwelling was responsible for emitting approximately 8.7 tonnes of CO2. This represents a reduction in the emissions of energy-related CO2 per dwelling decreased by 19% over the period 1990 to 2005. Sustainable Energy Ireland administers a number of incentive schemes directed at different aspects of the home energy market. Activities and achievements to date are...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: To date, 19 Departmental staff have so far decentralised to Cavan, and 25 staff to Clonakilty. In addition, 15 of my Department's staff have left to join other Departments with a view to decentralising elsewhere under the Decentralisation Programme. Based on current figures, approximately 361 of my Department's Dublin based staff have indicated that they do not wish to relocate to Cavan or...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 61 together. 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...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The EU regulatory framework for both energy and telecoms is in place for the benefit of consumers and the economy. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for the regulation of the telecoms industry in accordance with the EU regulatory framework transposed in 2003 and the Communications Regulation Act of 2002. One of ComReg's key objectives is to promote the...

Written Answers — Postal Codes: Postal Codes (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 76 together. Ireland is one of the few developed countries that does not have a postcode. As regards An Post's current coding system, it has characteristics that impact upon its suitability for use as a public postcode system and it is not consistent with the generally accepted definition of a postcode as a "unique, universal identifier that...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Field: Corrib Gas Field (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Notwithstanding the fact that my function in relation to the Corrib Gas Field is a regulatory one, I have been endeavouring to create the conditions that would allow the difficulties associated with this project to be resolved. Arising from local concerns about safety, I had a comprehensive safety review of the onshore upstream gas pipeline carried out by Advantica consultants last year. The...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: While there has been a general intention to prepare legislation to modernise the statutory basis for the operations of the Geological Survey of Ireland and a considerable amount of preparatory work has been done, a Bill has not yet been drafted, much less introduced. My Department is, separately, considering whether there is a case for converting the GSI from a division of the Department into...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 104 together. The review is being conducted in two stages. The first is an analysis by my Department as follows: An evaluation of the current fiscal framework as an efficient means of increasing long term investment and revenue generation in the petroleum sector for the benefit of both the Irish State and investment from oil companies; A review of the...

Written Answers — Electricity Sector: Electricity Sector (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 42, 68 and 110 together. It has always been my view that the Deloitte report would stand as an important contribution to the wider debate on future energy policy directions. I decided therefore to publish the report in the context of the Green Paper when finalised and which was published on 1 October 2006. One of the main messages coming out of the...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Sector: Broadcasting Sector (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My core policy objectives for the development of the broadcasting sector are detailed in my Department's Statement of Strategy, 2005– 2007. These objectives are: To create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTÉ. To secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting. To...

Written Answers — Electricity Sector: Electricity Sector (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and its Northern counterpart, NIAER, had set 1 July 2007 as the go-live date for the Single Electricity Market (SEM). However following extensive consultation with the transmission system operators and the industry, the regulators advised that the go-live date should be extended by four months to 1 November 2007. In August 2006, I accepted that...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive requires that member states submit their first Energy Efficient Action Plan (EEAP) by 30 June 2007. In formulating this plan, the necessary linkages will be established in order to ensure joined-up-government on the relevant issues.

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 74 together. 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...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation, and relevant national players keep a close watch on developments, and potential developments, in international energy markets that may impact on the Irish market. This includes developments in the British wholesale gas market. Responsibility for monitoring the security of Ireland's natural gas supply lies with the Commission for Energy...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no plans for the regulation of the content of mobile phone products and services. The Office of the Regulator of Premium Rate Telecoms Services, RegTel, already authorises and supervises the content and promotion of premium rate telecommunications services within the Irish market and is independent. RegTel does not report to me as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 57, 72, 94, 107 and 116 together. The telecoms market in Ireland is fully liberalised and open. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of electronic communication sector rests with the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), under the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations transposing the EU...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Security of supply in relation to electricity is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation in accordance with the provisions of Article 28 of the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2005 (S.I. No. 60 of 2005). Specifically, Article 28 provides that it shall be the duty of the Commission to monitor the security of supply of electricity and that the...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department, in consultation with the Department of Education and Science is currently considering the European Commission Report on the Use of Computers and the Internet in Schools. The development of ICT provision for primary and post-primary schools is, in the first instance a matter for the Department of Education and Science. My Department works closely with the Department of Education...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency Plan: Energy Efficiency Plan (19 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Power of One campaign, which I launched on September 26th 2006, is a multi-annual, national awareness campaign focusing on energy efficiency and the benefits to consumers, the economy and the environment. Energy efficiency is a major priority of Irish and EU policy and The Power of One campaign has been created in the context of one single overriding objective — to achieve real and...