Results 9,001-9,020 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Television Services: Television Services (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Digital television is available in Ireland across a number of platforms. Both cable-MMDS operators and satellite operators provide subscription digital television services to an estimated 42% of Irish television households. It is estimated that 27% of households receive analogue cable-MMDS services and 31% of households avail of analogue terrestrial services as their sole means of receiving...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I am strongly committed to increasing the market penetration of renewable energy and the measures announced in budget 2006 are designed to complement and build on initiatives already in place in the renewable electricity, transport and heat sectors. The multi-annual financial package includes a five-year biofuels excise relief package worth €205 million and funding for renewable energy...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Question Nos. 170 and 187 together. Security of supply in 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. 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 — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Question Nos. 172, 207 and 641 together. I intend to publish an energy policy consultation paper in the first half of 2006 which will set out medium and long-term perspectives for national energy policy and which will take account of the considerable and complex challenges for Irish energy policy going forward. Following on the informal EU Heads of State meeting last autumn...

Written Answers — Consultancy Report: Consultancy Report (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The external advisers appointed to assist in the preparation of a detailed implementation plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent entity have submitted their final report to my Department. That report is being examined at present and will be submitted to me shortly.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in the matter raised by the Deputy. Local loop unbundling is regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, under the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the transposed EU regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services. I refer the Deputy to ComReg's website at www.comreg.ie.

Written Answers — Metropolitan Area Networks: Metropolitan Area Networks (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The metropolitan area networks, MANs, consist of fibre optic cables in ducts and sub-ducts extending outwards in rings from co-location centres where the telecommunications operators locate their equipment to deliver high-speed broadband services over the networks to their customers. In accordance with a framework agreement between my Department and the supplier of the fibre optic cable, the...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. The responsibility for the awarding of Government contracts, including those that involve electronic fund transfers, rests with the Department awarding the contract. Furthermore, under procurement legislation, contracts must be awarded following a transparent public procurement process. It is an operational matter for the board and management of An Post as...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The issue of extending RTE television services to Britain is being actively considered in the context of the development of the heads of the Broadcasting Bill.

Written Answers — Energy Supply: Energy Supply (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: According to figures supplied by the energy policy statistical support unit, EPSSU, of Sustainable Energy Ireland, Ireland's total primary energy requirement for 2004 was 15,341 kilotonnes of oil equivalent, ktoe. Some 13,801 ktoe — 89% — of this was imported. Overall energy policy stresses the importance of security of supply and diversity of fuel sources which are key energy policy...

Written Answers — Corrib Gas Pipeline: Corrib Gas Pipeline (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: Recent events in the European gas market demonstrate the importance of having indigenous gas in the context of security of supply. As regulator for the Corrib gas field I have ensured through the consent processes, approval of production profiles and a field management plan whereby the recoverable reserves of gas will be maximised. The sale of produced gas is ultimately a matter for the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Infrastructure: Telecommunications Infrastructure (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The telecommunications sectors in both jurisdictions are fully liberalised but regulated, by ComReg in the Republic and by Ofcom in Northern Ireland. While private sector broadband infrastructure is currently more extensive in Northern Ireland and the percentage of broadband subscribers is higher, the gap continues to narrow. My Department and Northern Ireland's Department of Enterprise,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I have no function in this matter. Premium rate services are commercial products in a commercial market. Responsibility for the regulation of the content and promotion of premium rate telecommunications services is a matter for Regtel, the independent regulator of these services. Regtel does not report to me as Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: EirGrid has been established as the transmission system operator, TSO, for the electricity network under part 11 of SI 445 of 2000, pursuant to the second EU internal market directive on electricity which requires the vertical unbundling of utilities. The timeframe for completion of the separation of EirGrid is predicated on having in place: the asset agreement; TSO licence; and transfer...

Written Answers — Dispute Resolution: Dispute Resolution (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: A report on developments in my Department on its main strategic targets will be included in its annual report for 2005 which will be published shortly. The Department's goals, objectives, strategies and performance indicators for 2006 are set out in its statement of strategy 2005-07. I will arrange to have copies of both these documents furnished to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Consultancy Report: Consultancy Report (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I recently received and I am currently considering theDeloitte & Touche report on the electricity sector in the context of the energy policy consultation paper which is being drawn up by my Department. I intend to publish the report in that context at the appropriate time.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The Government decision to transfer the maritime transport and maritime safety functions in their totality to the Department of Transport makes sound strategic and operational sense. These respective functions comprise interlinked policy areas and services which sit more appropriately within the overall transport framework. The assimilation of these functions into the broader transport policy...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: The development of renewable energy technologies is a key Government priority and a range of initiatives are being taken to encourage and incentivise the development of renewable energy. The new renewable energy feed in tariff, REFIT, programme, which I intend to launch shortly, will assist developers to construct new renewable energy powered electricity generating plants. The programme,...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Rights: Broadcasting Rights (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of Wednesday, 16 November 2005. The issue of extending RTE television services to Britain is being actively considered in the context of the development of the heads of the Broadcasting Bill.

Written Answers — Post Codes: Post Codes (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Dempsey: I established a working group comprising people with experience of the postal sector, together with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the lead Department for the Irish spatial data infrastructure initiative, to examine the issue of the introduction of a postcode system in Ireland. This group produced its report last year. Following from the recommendations...