Results 8,841-8,860 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I believe I have the floor. Deputy Cowley will not intimidate me like some of his friends intimidated people in Mayo.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy can put the compact disc in his pocket.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Is it a compact disc with a recording of Deputy Cowley welcoming the Corrib gas project with open arms, demanding that processing take place onshore in County Mayo?

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy should represent the entire community and not just a small group of people.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We know for whom Deputy Cowley is working.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: This is the anarchy Deputy Cowley wishes to support. This is typical of the intimidation and anarchy Deputy Cowley wishes to espouse.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: It is a considerable task negotiating with Deputy Cowley, who will not listen to answers.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I will publish an energy policy consultation paper in the coming months that will set out medium and long-term perspectives for national energy policy. The policy proposals will be informed by projections for growth in energy demand and related economic and demographic trends as well as the key imperative to ensure sustainability and security of energy supplies and fuel diversity. The current...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: We have some way to go before we put the interconnector in place. When we do so we will select an interconnector of at least 500 MW and the most modern that can be found. We considered two 500 MW interconnectors but most people are of the view that a single 500 MW interconnector would be sufficient for the moment. I presume the Deputy's comment on players exiting the market refers to a...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have powers to direct the regulator, except in extremely general terms. Under the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which the Deputy will be pleased to hear will be published shortly——

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: ——a provision will be included to enable a Minister in an emergency to direct the commission and individual market players to take appropriate safeguard measures in the area of security of supply. It will also extend the remit of CER in some areas, particularly safety and security of supply. Regarding the point made by the Deputy on the Kyoto Protocol, I was involved in its final...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The communication on biofuels published on 8 February is part of the broader EU biomass action plan published in December 2005 and proposes a range of detailed policy measures to encourage biofuels and remove market barriers. I welcome this initiative by the Commission and my Department is examining the communication in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: When I was in Government with the Labour Party, I did not notice a rush away from the Mercedes.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will be pleased to note when I was in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, I made inquiries about a Toyota Prius hybrid car and was informed that the purchase of the cars for the ministerial fleet was a matter for the Garda Commissioner. I think we might have been restricted to EU cars. The Deputy will be pleased to know I have again requested a hybrid...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The figure for penetration of biofuels by the end of 2005 was approximately 0.06%. This will increase to 0.13% by the end of this year and the initiatives announced in the budget will bring us to our target of 2% by 2008. Few member states, approximately ten, have identified targets of more than 2% for 2005. I am supportive of moving this up but we have to create the infrastructure. That is...

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I was about to say that. I agree with the Deputy that we should have firm targets and meet them. Although our EU targets in this area are not mandatory, the Commission is attempting to pursue us legally on that matter and we will resist that strongly.

Energy Resources. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: While I agree with the Deputy we first need to set up the infrastructure, create the demand, and afterwards explore the route he outlined. When I referred to mandatory targets I meant those that the Commission might set. I think we would follow the route he suggested and I anticipate that this could happen sooner rather than later.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 80 together. As I mentioned earlier, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has lead responsibility for Government policy on meeting Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol. The energy sector will make its contribution to meeting our obligations under Kyoto through participation in the EU emissions trading...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I agree with the Deputy that investment in energy research and development is extremely important. That is why we have focused on this. We are putting in place an energy research council to focus efforts on this and on other areas within the Department. It is extremely important, not just nationally. The EU, in its Seventh Framework Programme, has signalled clearly that it intends to focus on...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions. (21 Feb 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I was not praising us too much in what I said earlier and the situation is not as bad as had been projected. I accept, absolutely, the point the Deputy is making, however. We need to do much better and to examine ways and means to ensure that our emissions are as near to the 13% plus as possible.