Results 9,401-9,420 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department places great emphasis on safeguarding the confidentiality of all personal data held on staff's personnel files. To that end, systems are in place to ensure that all such data is kept secure and is only accessible to a limited number of authorised staff within the Department. There are only three circumstances in which personnel files of staff in my Department may be copied or...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The accompanying table shows the position regarding five members of staff in my Department who have been granted leave of absence for a period in excess of two months for educational purposes. The granting of special leave or career breaks for educational purposes is not conditional on attaining any particular level of academic achievement or on completion of the course in question. A further...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Approval was granted by my Department to 66 staff applications for a refund of course fees in respect of night or evening courses undertaken in the last academic year. Of the 66 approvals granted, fees were not paid in respect of two of those applications. An amount of €169,318 was paid out in respect of the remaining 64 staff members who completed courses in 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The proportion of the training budget spent on refund of fees in respect of courses completed in 2005 was 8.5%. This percentage can vary from year to year depending on the number of applications received and approved. Details of the courses funded by my Department in the last three years are contained in the following table. Course Course Level ACCA Accounting and Finance BA ...

Written Answers — : (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is compiling the data sought by the Deputy and I shall forward them to him as soon as possible.

Written Answers — : (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has purchased 77 personal digital assistants over the last four years, at a total cost of €10,105. The most expensive single unit was purchased for €756 in 2002, when units were considerably more expensive than today. The personal digital assistants are issued to individual officers based on a business case endorsed by their superior and accepted by the service delivery...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: At the request of my Department, two members of staff have been assessed by the Civil Service occupational health department which recommended that, for medical reasons, the individuals should be exempt from certain limited duties pertaining to their posts. In one case alternative duties have been assigned while arrangements were put in place to accommodate the special needs of the other...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The company referred to by the Deputy has not been employed to provide direct consultancy services to my Department in the period. My Department subscribes annually to the service provided by the company in terms of analysis and research information on ICT strategic business and technology trends and best practice. In addition to these research data targeted to suit my Department's specific...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The company referred to by the Deputy was paid €26,886 in March 2000 in respect of its undertaking the 1998-99 audit of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund for my Department. The company was selected for this work following normal Government tendering procedures and approval by the Government contracts committee and I am satisfied that value for money was obtained in this case.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Government recently decided to establish an interdepartmental committee to look at the health effects of electromagnetic fields. The committee will provide advice to Government on the appropriate action to be taken on foot of the recommendations contained in the report, Non-ionising Radiation from Mobile Phone Handsets and Masts, published in June 2005 by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 to 100, inclusive, together. The Deputy will no doubt be aware that on 25 August last I appointed Advantica consultants to conduct the safety review, which will critically examine all relevant documentation relating to the design, construction and operation of the onshore upstream section of the Corrib gas pipeline and associated facilities. It will also...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Whether the Deputy means oil production facilities, of which Ireland has none, or storage facilities, the safety aspects of which are governed by planning laws and the requirements of the Health and Safety Authority, I have no function in this matter.

Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy did not ask a question.

Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: It is not in order.

Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy should sit down when the Tánaiste is answering.

Order of Business. (13 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: There are more storms in the Labour Party at the moment.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 94, 95, 124, 149, 167, 242, 246, 249, 250, 258 and 261 together. The provision of telecommunications, 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. In March 2004, my predecessor, the Minister,...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: My core policy objectives for the development of the broadcasting sector are detailed in my Department's statement of strategy 2003-05. These objectives are: to create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters and RTE; to secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting; and to seek to...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 98, 107, 115, 129, 144, 155, 161, 168, 234 to 238, inclusive, 241, 243 and 267 together. I have no function in the regulating of pricing for phone services, mobile phone termination costs, cost effectiveness and efficiency of mobile telephone services, market share, quality of service or competition in the mobile market. The regulation of...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As clearly set out in the programme for Government, this Government and the board of An Post are committed to the objective of securing a viable and sustainable nationwide post office network. Notwithstanding the commercial remit of An Post, there is clear Government recognition of the social benefits of maintaining the nationwide post office network. Accordingly, An Post development...