Results 7,981-8,000 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (28 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Renewables Directive obliges Ireland to develop and implement a programme capable of increasing the amount of electricity from renewable energy sources to 13.2% of total consumption by 2010. The target of 13.2% approximates to 1450 megawatts (MW) of installed generating capacity to be operational to the electricity network by 2010. Currently there are over 860MW of renewable capacity...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (28 Sep 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 in broadband infrastructure at the level necessary to keep...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A number of innovative new sustainable energy programmes have already been launched as part of a €65 million initiative announced in the context of Budget 2006. The programme is being rolled out over a five year period and provides funding for the domestic, commercial, services and industrial sectors as follows: The €27 million "Greener Homes" domestic renewable heat grants programme is...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I chair the Ministerial Bio-energy Task Force on Bio-energy which was established and had its first meeting in July. Its members include the Tánaiste, and the Ministers for Finance, Agriculture and Food, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Transport and Enterprise Trade and Employment. The Taoiseach's office is also represented. The primary objective of the Task Force is to draw...

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 839 and 857 together. In general the protection of water quality in coastal bays is the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Minister for Transport also has responsibilities relating to the prevention of pollution from shipping. The Department has responsibility for the implementation of the EU Shellfish...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 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). 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 broadband, so...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 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. The Government is addressing the infrastructure deficit in the regions by building high-speed, open-access Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs)...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (27 Sep 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. It is now estimated that over 85% of the population currently has access to broadband services. A lack of investment by the...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Roscommon for the years 1999 to September 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 0 0 1 0 2 1 3 1 POs...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Westmeath for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 1 1 3 0 3 1 1 1...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Leitrim for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted (Co. Leitrim) 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 0 3 2 1...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Longford for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 POs...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Galway for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 3 0 1 3 4 2 0 0 POs...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The closure of individual post offices is a matter for the board and management of the company. According to An Post the following is the information requested in respect of post office closures and conversions in County Mayo for the years 1999 to September, 2006: Post Offices closed/converted 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) POs Closed 0 1 3 1 6 2 3 0 POs...

Written Answers — Energy Regulation: Energy Regulation (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Responsibility for the regulation of gas tariffs lies with the Energy Regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER's legal remit regarding tariffs is set out in Section 23 (2) (b) (vii) of the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act, 2002. As the CER is legally independent in the performance of its functions, I have no function in the setting of gas tariffs. I am, however, advised...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: One of the key objectives of the grant scheme is to stimulate the market for domestic renewable technologies and to encourage people to purchase and install renewable technologies, who might not otherwise have done so, because of associated capital costs. The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any grants scheme, there has to be some reference date and start point and in the case of the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Petroleum resources within the national jurisdiction belong to the State. Exploration for and extraction of these resources are regulated under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, and the Licensing Terms for Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Development 1992. There are two mechanisms for issuing exploration licences. The first applies to frontier areas which are...

Written Answers — Communications Masts: Communications Masts (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues relating to non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony. The Department's involvement in matters concerning the health effects of non-ionising radiation (transmissions), which includes radio frequency emissions from mobile phone base stations is guided by advice from national and international health authorities...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for the management of the radio spectrum in Ireland and as such, is required to investigate any interference with services, particularly where critical safety issues are concerned. Spectrum management is designed to ensure that all licensed services can operate without interference. The law in relation...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The €27m Greener Homes Scheme provides grant aid for renewable heat technologies including wood biomass, solar panels and heat pumps. A further wood biomass programme, valued at €22 million, has been launched for the commercial heating sector. The development of support strategies for oil seed as a renewable energy source have focussed to date on renewable transport fuels. The biofuels...