Results 9,461-9,480 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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

Noel Dempsey: My core policy objectives for the development of the broadcasting sector are detailed in the statement of strategy, 2003 to 2005 of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These aim 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...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 274 together. Within the electricity market a target is established to increase the amount of electricity consumed from renewable energy sources to 13.2% by 2010 as an alternative to existing fossil and carbon fuel sources. This is regarded as a challenging target to achieve. The new fixed price feed-in tariff support programme, recently announced,...

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

Noel Dempsey: My core policy objectives for the development of the broadcasting sector are detailed in the statement of strategy, 2003 to 2005 of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These include 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...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland is a member of the International Energy Agency, IEA, an OECD body which, inter alia, monitors developments in the international oil market. The IEA keeps the oil market situation under constant review. As a member of the IEA, Ireland is required to maintain emergency oil stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net imports of crude oil equivalent in the previous year. The EU imposes a...

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

Noel Dempsey: Work is continuing on the development of legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill. The priority issues to be addressed by the legislative proposals that will form the basis of a new broadcasting Bill include the establishment of a single content regulator for commercial, community and public service broadcasters; the establishment of RTE as a company under the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The state of industrial relations in ESB is a matter to be dealt with in accordance with the established industrial relations procedures within the company and is not one in which I have a function.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 284 together. My Department administers the alternative energy requirement, AER, competitions, the underlying principle of which is that prospective generators are invited to make a formal application to build, own and operate newly installed renewable energy based electricity generating plant and to supply electricity from these to the ESB under a...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: The EU Commission has commenced a consultation process on its Green Paper, On Energy Efficiency Or Doing More With Less, which was published on 22 June. A broad consultation is taking place across all branches of Government to ensure a joined up and inclusive response to this initiative. There are three main ways to reduce our energy demand: eliminating waste, cutting back on demand, and...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: At present, I have certain limited statutory powers to give directions to the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, and these do not include a power to issue instructions on this matter. They are restricted solely to electricity trading arrangements.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Last April, I announced that I was changing the renewable energy support mechanism from competitive tendering to a fixed feed in tariff mechanism. In September, I announced the support prices for different technology bands including general biomass price support. The new fixed price tariffs are: large wind energy, over 5 MW, 5.7 cent per KW hour; small wind energy, under 5 MW, 5.9 cent per KW...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 256 together. An Post is a commercial State body and the question of pay increases in the company is one in which I have no function. An Post has a remit to be financially viable and, following significant losses which amounted to €43 million in 2003 alone, An Post management invoked the "inability to pay" clause provided for in Sustaining Progress....

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 302 together. As part of the commitments in the programme for Government, I intend to bring forward proposals for a new Minerals Development Bill to consolidate and update legislation enacted between 1940 and 1999 regulating the non-petroleum minerals sector. Work is under way on this in my Department. I also intend bringing forward Bills to update the...

Written Answers — Energy Efficiency: Energy Efficiency (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: Within the electricity market a target is established to increase the amount of electricity consumed from renewable energy sources to 13.2% by 2010. This is regarded as a challenging target to achieve. Currently, we have 675 MW of renewable capacity connected to our system and to reach the 2010 target of 1,450 MW, we will have to more than double the present renewable capacity. Current...

Written Answers — Energy Supply Costs: Energy Supply Costs (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have any function regarding the pricing of gas and electricity. This falls within the statutory remit of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, the independent regulator for electricity and gas. I am advised by the CER that as regards electricity prices, the regulated ESB public electricity supplier, PES, prices will increase by an average of 4.11%...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 263 together. The provision of broadband services is a matter in the first instance for the private sector companies operating in a fully liberalised market regulated by ComReg. It has been clear for some time that the telecommunications sector has failed to invest at the level necessary to keep pace with the demand for broadband, so my Department's...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 239 together. In 2004, the latest year for which figures are available, 5.1% of the gross electricity consumption in Ireland came from renewable energy electricity generating plant. According to official EUROSTAT data, in 2002, the latest year for which it has posted information, the total share of gross electricity consumption from renewables was 2.9%...

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

Noel Dempsey: Further to a competitive, public tender process, E-net was awarded the contract to manage, maintain, market and operate the MANs for a period of 15 years. E-net is an independent company based in Limerick and established solely for this purpose. Tight controls exist within the concession agreement to allow the Department to closely monitor E-net's performance. E-net formally reports to the...

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

Noel Dempsey: A project management group, chaired by my Department and including officials from the Department of Finance and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, along with RTE and TG4 is preparing a plan for the establishment of TG4 as an independent entity. External advisers have been appointed to assist with the preparation of the detailed implementation plan. A draft...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 279 together. Ireland, in line with many of our OECD neighbours, is becoming increasingly reliant on fossil fuel imports. As we are all aware, the cost of these internationally traded commodities, mainly oil and gas, have all increased significantly in recent times. Obviously sustained high fuel costs are not good for any economy and reducing our...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (12 Oct 2005)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the situation that has arisen in relation to industrial relations issues at An Post and in particular to the non-payment of Sustaining Progress increases to the company's pensioners and employees. I point out, however, that I have no function in directing An Post in the matter of operational and commercial issues such as the application of national pay awards. As a commercial...