Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,304 for speaker:John Browne
- Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (14 Nov 2006)
John Browne: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the regional fisheries boards, in this case the Western Regional Fisheries Board. Funding is allocated directly to each fisheries board from the vote of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. It is a matter for the...
- Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (14 Nov 2006)
John Browne: This case is currently being examined by the Office of the Ombudsman and has been the subject of communication between the Department and that Office. Until the Ombudsman's examination has been brought to finality it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the case.
- Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (9 Nov 2006)
John Browne: Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it be a local authority or a private individual. In 2005 Kerry County Council submitted a proposal to the Department for coast protection works at Inch with an estimated cost of â¬2.5 million. There was no funding available under the Coast Protection Programme for this project in 2005 or 2006. The funding available...
- Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Nov 2006)
John Browne: Scraggane Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with the local authority in the first instance. The Department in association with Kerry County Council have prepared a report on a proposed development at Scraggane Pier. Local fishermen and other pier users were consulted on an ongoing basis and expressed satisfaction with the...
- Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (9 Nov 2006)
John Browne: I am in the process of compiling a list of all grant recipients, their locations, the grant amounts, species, production capacity and licence duration for each recipient. I will forward this directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Transport 21: Statements (Resumed) (9 Nov 2006)
John Browne: He mentioned Tallaght 25 times.
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The Deputy is aware that the Government adopted the key recommendations of the report by the Independent Group established to examine the implications of fully aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice in 2007 and beyond. The central recommendation of this report is the creation of a hardship fund for those affected by the compulsory cessation of...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 222, inclusive, together. Under the Fisheries Acts primary responsibility for the allocation of salmon fishing licences is an operational matter for the relevant Regional Fisheries Boards. In 2002 a total of 883 drift-net licences were issued. In each of the years 2003 to 2005 (the latest year for which figures are available), 877, 848 and 877 licences...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: In the past 15 years the overall marine survival of wild salmon has declined. I am advised that survival of salmon at sea is influenced by many factors including changes in the marine environment itself, predation by marine mammals, seabirds and fish, parasites and diseases, competition for food, by-catch in non-directed other fisheries. It is not possible to completely disaggregate the...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The Deputy is aware that the Government adopted the key recommendations of the report by the Independent Group established to examine the implications of fully aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice in 2007 and beyond. The central recommendation of this report is the creation of a hardship fund for those affected by the compulsory cessation of...
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this strategically important issue. Energy underlines all areas of economic activity and is vital for the well-being of our people. The Government, unlike the Opposition, has responsibilities. Its task is to ensure that energy is affordable, consistently available and secure in supply. The Opposition has no policies on this issue. It is...
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The Opposition does not want an independent regulator for energy. It wants the Oireachtas to have the power to intervene to reduce gas and electricity tariffs. Its energy policy, which was published last April, calls for the appointment of a transport regulator without any restrictions.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The Opposition, which is living in cloud-cuckoo land, wants to intervene in the market, to generate instability and uncertainty and to drive away new entrants.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: That would diminish competition, which the Opposition says it wants to champion. Investors will give a wide berth to any market that has such regulatory uncertainty.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: It is as if volatility in energy prices is occurring on the island of Ireland and nowhere else in Europe. We should examine the facts. Gas is an internationally traded commodity. Ireland is essentially a price taker. Bord Gáis Ãireann imports over 86% of the gas used in this country, the cost of which has increased by approximately 50% in the last year. International fuel prices are...
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: Household electricity bills in Ireland are just over 1% higher than those in Britain, on average.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The six largest electricity suppliers in the UK have increased prices throughout 2006 by between 13.1% and 39.6%.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The equivalent figure for the ESB was 4.11% in 2006. The UK has an abundance of generating plants, nuclear power plants, significant interconnection facilities and a large open and contestable market with privatised energy utilitiesââ
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: ââbut it continues to experience very high prices.
- Energy Resources: Motion (Resumed) (8 Nov 2006)
John Browne: The Commission for Energy Regulation has made every effort to ensure that electricity price increases have been kept as low as possible. It reduced the revenue sought by the ESB by â¬80 million, or 3.5%. It has considered the possible fuel cost variation mechanisms in tariffs.