Results 7,901-7,920 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 1: In page 3, line 9, before "AND" to insert the following: ", TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUE OF CAPITAL STOCK IN BORD GÁIS ÉIREANN,". Amendment No. 97 amends the Gas Act 1976 by inserting a new section which confers on Bord Gáis Éireann the power to create capital stock in amounts equal to the net assets of the board. The provision is required to facilitate the...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Although the process of drafting legislation to make BGE a plc was in place, the Government decided not to go ahead with it. Two years ago, the BGE trade unions asked me to consider their proposal for an ESOP. I informed them the only basis on which I could agree to such a proposal was if there was meaningful and valued transformation in the company. To some people's surprise, the unions...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: With other legislation covering the single electricity market and other energy issues, the Department had to abandon the Bill for transforming BGE into a plc. For that reason, I decided to include it in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. That is why it is not contained in separate legislation. Regarding how close the ESOP will be to the full value of €38,000, it will depend on...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Once people are given shares, one cannot tell them what they can do with them. The Deputy referred to Eircom where the ESOP has made a substantial amount of money. Despite what I hear at various times about workers' interests during takeovers, when the workers had the shares, they did not seem to mind how they were bought and sold, or to whom they were sold, as long as they made a profit.

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My understanding is that the ESOP applies to full-time employees. Deputy Broughan covered the point I wished to make in regard to ESOPs in general and I will not labour it. Shares are bought and sold in the internal market within the ESOP. In regard to Deputy Durkan's concerns, there is no danger of the company taking its eye off the ball in terms of being more concerned about trading in...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Report Stage (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 9, before "AND" to insert the following: ", TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE TURF DEVELOPMENT ACT 1998,". The substantive amendment, No. 101, is to raise Bord na Móna's borrowing limit to €400 million. The upper limit of €100 million has remained unchanged since the passing of the Turf Development Act 1998. The core business of Bord na Móna...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Instruction to Committee (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, it be an instruction to the committee to which the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, that it has power to make provision in the Bill to: (a) provide for the conferring on Bord Gáis Éireann the power to create capital stock in amounts that are equal to the net assets of...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006: Instruction to Committee (18 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: This amendment must be made in time for commencement of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act. I understand from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that the strategic infrastructure provisions of the Act are to be commenced later this autumn. Given that the infrastructure effected comprises, in the main, energy infrastructure I agreed that...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 384 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 Regulatory Framework...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 provides that a person shall not construct or reconstruct a generating station unless an authorisation has been granted by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The conditions under which the CER may grant or refuse to grant a licence to generate electricity are set out in Section 14 (1) of the Act, as amended by Sections 32 and 16 of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The transfer in question took place with effect from 26 June 2006 as part of the normal process of change in the Department.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The principle mechanism for extracting State revenue from off-shore production under the current exploration terms is via a special rate of Corporation Profits Tax at 25%. My Department claims no particular expertise in taxation matters, which is the preserve of the Revenue Commissioners. However, taking current estimates of the recoverable reserves, applying the recent market price for gas...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of post office closures and conversions is, in the first instance, an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function. I would refer the Deputy to the following appendix which outlines the information requested on the number and locations of post offices converted or closed in County Offaly in each of the years 1999 to 2005 and to date...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The matter of post office closures and conversions is, in the first instance, an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no function. I would refer the Deputy to the following appendix which outlines the information requested on the number and locations of post offices converted or closed in County Laois in each of the years 1999 to 2005 and to date...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: No such instances have arisen in my Department since its formation in June 2002. As it has not been possible to establish the position for the period prior to June 2002 in the time available, I will revert to the Deputy in relation to this period as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 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. Issues relating to the delivery of broadband services, including connection speeds, are an operational matter for service providers.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: There are a vast number of recent and continually developing technologies available for communication systems. These include, among others: wireless, fixed line, satellite and mobile technologies. In general, the benefit of such technology developments over previous systems is enhanced performance at reduced cost.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 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 — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the transmission of offensive material or images over mobile phones and the Internet. I have no function in this matter.

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (17 Oct 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am not sure what specific information the Deputy is seeking.