Results 10,401-10,420 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Gas Tariffs: Gas Tariffs (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I do not have a function with regard to the pricing of gas. The Commission for Energy Regulation was given the statutory responsibility for regulating BGE's tariffs to its franchise customers under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have asked the Commission for Energy Regulation to communicate directly with the Deputy on the information sought.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Department received five bids from three bidders. These were Axia Broadband Services Ireland Limited which is jointly owned by IAWS Society and Axia Net Media Corporation and which input one base bid and two variant bids, Data Electronics Group Limited and e-Net. Information on the MSE procurement process, including the evaluation criteria, are posted on the website of the Department and...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Authority to implement pension increases was delegated to An Post by this Department on 26 May 1989. Traditionally, An Post has granted increases to serving staff in line with national pay agreements. Increases to pensioners have subsequently been applied in line with increases granted to serving staff. I am also informed that the terms and conditions, including those regarding the matter of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Under my Department's regional broadband programme, a 23 km metropolitan area network will be constructed in Sligo town, in association with Sligo County Council. A number of tenders for the construction phase of the project have been received by the council, and are being assessed. An announcement of the successful contractor is expected shortly. The civil engineering contract is expected to...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342 and 346 together. The 1999 Green Paper on sustainable energy established a target to add 500 MW of new renewable energy-based electricity generating plant to the electricity network by 2005. It was envisaged this would be achieved by awarding support contracts under the AER V and VI rounds of the alternative energy requirement, AER, support programme....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In May 2002, my Department established Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, to promote and assist environmentally and economically sustainable production, supply and use of energy, in support of Government policy, across all sectors of the economy. Its remit relates mainly to improving energy efficiency, advancing the development and competitive deployment of renewable sources of energy and...

Written Answers — Marine Accidents: Marine Accidents (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The incident to which the Deputy refers occurred on Tuesday, 5 October, approximately 100 miles north-northwest off Arranmore Island, County Donegal. A Canadian submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, was en route from Faslane, Scotland, to Canada when fire broke out on board. Three crew members suffered smoke inhalation. The fire also caused loss of engine power. No other vessel was involved in the...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The fishing vessel referred to by the Deputy is not entered on the Irish Fishing Boat Register and is not part of the Irish fishing fleet. Accordingly, the State has no role in the activity of this vessel.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: There is increasing scientific evidence presented at national and international levels of a serious and sustained decline in eel populations, not just in Ireland, but throughout Europe and that the European eel stock is outside safe biological limits. As a result, the consensus among European fishery scientists researching eel populations is that there is an urgent need to increase the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Significant progress has been made on a number of aspects of the marina project at Rosses Point. On foot of a recent meeting of officials from my Department and Sligo County Council, progress has been made regarding the underwriting of the project, the maximisation of the tourism value of the project, the satisfactory addressing of safety concerns and agreement on the valuation of the...

Written Answers — Harbour Authorities: Harbour Authorities (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Sligo Harbour Commissioners have sought clarification from my Department regarding the applicability of section 157 of the Harbours Act 1946 to a property transaction proposed by the commissioners. The advice of the Chief State Solicitor's Office was sought on the commissioners' request. The Chief State Solicitor's Office referred the matter to the Attorney General's Office for consideration....

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: An environmental impact statement in respect of this project was published by Enterprise Energy Ireland in connection with its applications for the necessary consents for the proposed development. The environmental impact statement, together with submissions received from the public during the public consultation period and the applicant's responses thereto, was considered by the marine...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of a telephone connection in this case is a matter for Eircom as the designated universal service provider operating in a fully liberalised market. Eircom is subject to regulation under the EU electronic communications regulatory framework, by ComReg as the independent statutory authority with responsibility for the regulation of electronic communications services. I have no...

Written Answers — Harbour Authorities: Harbour Authorities (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: New security requirements, which take the form of the international ship and port facility code to enhance maritime security worldwide on ships and at ship-port interface areas entered into force on 1 July 2004. To standardise arrangements across the European Union, the requirements were codified into EU Regulation 725/2004. The code outlines mandatory security requirements for governments,...

Written Answers — Fishing Fleet Modernisation: Fishing Fleet Modernisation (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The EU common Fisheries policy review, which was adopted by the Fisheries Council in the form of a framework regulation in December 2002, sets out new provisions in respect of State financial aid towards vessels which fish on a commercial basis. These rules apply to all fishing vessels engaged in commercial fishing, including small vessels under 20 feet. The rules provide that a member state...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband, is a matter for the fully liberalised private sector, regulated by ComReg. The provision of ISDN services is an operational matter for Eircom. My Department's website http://www.broadband.gov.ie lists a number of service providers offering satellite-based broadband in Enniskerry, County Wicklow, together with contact numbers...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The offshore wind energy category of AER VI was subject to State aids clearance by the European Commission. It was not possible to make a formal offer to the successful applicants until the Commission formally notified its decision. My Department recently received the necessary clearance to proceed. The associated power purchase agreement will be concluded between ESB customer service and the...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2003 the function of sea-fishing boat licensing was transferred from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the licensing authority for sea-fishing boats which operates on an independent basis subject to criteria set out in section 3 of that Act. All applications for sea-fishing boat licences are now considered by the licensing...

Written Answers — Broadband Programme: Broadband Programme (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Under my Department's regional broadband programme, 19 metropolitan area fibre networks, MANs, have been built in association with the local authorities, and a further seven are under construction. The MANs are 90% funded using ERDF funding under the NDP 2000-2006, with the remaining 10% funding coming from the local authorities. The construction phase of each network in the regional...

Written Answers — Retail Prices: Retail Prices (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The information sought by the Deputy, broken down by sector, is set out below and relates to the period since the formation of the Government in June 2002. I have not listed any service provided by my Department where the cost of the service has remained unchanged since then. Communications: I have no responsibility for the level of retail prices in the communications and postal sectors. This...