Results 16,601-16,620 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Decentralisation Programme. (5 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: So is Deputy Kenny.

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Dáil Éireann made five amendments to the Bill as passed by the Seanad on 6 April 2004, which I commend to this House. Amendment No. 1 to section 3, puts beyond doubt the needed extra-territorial scope of the section as required by the 1988 convention and protocol. Doubts were raised by reference to the definitions of "ship" and "fixed platform" in section 1, as passed by Seanad Éireann....

Seanad: Maritime Security Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senators for facilitating the passing of this legislation. It was important to have done so in the last days of the Oireachtas session.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (17 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The harbour at Ballycotton is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development is a matter for the local authority in the first instance. In 2001 the council submitted a report prepared by consulting engineers on the estimated cost of the Ballycotton Harbour development plan. The proposed development is estimated to cost a total of €6 million. This...

Written Answers — Port Safety: Port Safety (17 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: It is my considered opinion that the introduction of a unified pilotage authority in the Waterford estuary is the best solution to the recurring difficulties relating to the pilotage services provided in the pilotage districts of the Port of Waterford Company and New Ross Port Company. This solution was recommended in the 1997 report of the review group on pilotage in the Waterford estuary....

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In March 2002, Mayo County Council in association with Westport Town Council and Westport Harbour Commissioners submitted an application for funding under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan, for the proposed marina, 46 berths. However, as the applicants had not obtained the necessary statutory permissions, that is, planning permission and foreshore lease, as...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Following the granting of two aquaculture licences for the bottom cultivation of mussels in Lough Swilly, local oyster fishermen claimed that parts of the licensed areas overlapped with wild oyster beds in the lough. In light of these complaints, the aquaculture initiative was asked to carry out a survey of the lough. This examined the location and size of the oyster beds and sought to...

Written Answers — Lighthouse Service: Lighthouse Service (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Commissioners of Irish Lights, CIL, provide a service of lighthouses throughout the whole island of Ireland. CIL have vested in them under section 634 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 the responsibility of superintendence and management of all lighthouses and other aids to navigation in respect of the State and the adjacent seas and island. The UK Merchant Shipping Act 1995, section...

Written Answers — Departmental Audits: Departmental Audits (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: A list of internal audit reports completed since January 2001 follows. Sixty-two reports have been completed in this period. All internal audit reports are made available to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is the constitutional officer of the Oireachtas for audit issues as per Article 33.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. 2001 1. Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I do not have responsibility for the forestry function which was transferred to my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Food on 1 January 2004.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I do not have responsibility for the forestry function which was transferred to my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and Food on 1 January 2004.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The tagging system to which the Deputy refers is operated under the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations which, inter alia, limit the total allowable commercial catch, TAC, of salmon each year for all fishery districts throughout the country. The allocation of the fishing quotas within each district, and the distribution of the tags to the commercial fishermen, are matters for...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (1 Jun 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. The price of oil is set by the international oil market, with supply into that market being influenced by OPEC policies. The current high price reflects a complex interaction of unanticipated strong demand, tight capacities, geopolitical uncertainties and the influence of speculators on the markets. There is however no disruption to oil...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: My Department's regional broadband programme includes plans to roll out broadband to more than 90 towns with a population of 1,500 and over between now and 2006. Kenmare is one of the towns listed for inclusion.

Written Answers — Feasibility Studies: Feasibility Studies (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In March 2002, an application was submitted under the marine tourism grant scheme of the national development plan for funding towards a feasibility study for a marina at Schull, County Cork. However, the grant scheme was suspended in December 2002 due to lack of funding and each of the applicants were so notified. No funding was available to the grant scheme in 2003 or in 2004. In light of...

Written Answers — Geological Surveys: Geological Surveys (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the company undertook a drilling based geological survey on the lands to the south of the existing dolomite mine at Maddoxtown, Ballyreddin, Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, in 1996. The lands were acquired some years earlier. Arising from this work the company identified a potential resource area which was the subject of further limited drilling and geophysical studies. As...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy will be aware that in April 2004 I announced the go ahead for the construction of a metropolitan area network in the six north eastern towns. This project is now at the planning stage. The MANs will be built in Dundalk, Drogheda, Kingscourt, Carrickmacross, Monaghan and Cavan. Construction of the Drogheda and Dundalk MANs will commence later this year. I recently announced the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: As I previously outlined to the House, the overriding objective of the Government is to preserve the salmon resource in its own right and for the coastal and rural communities that it helps to support. The economic goals for a sustainable commercial salmon fishery based on quality and value rather than volume and the development of salmon angling as an important tourism product are both fully...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The most recent approved target for renewable energy technologies, under the alternative energy requirement programme, was to support the construction of 500 MW of new electricity generating capacity. Subsequently I announced a proposal to award contracts to support the construction of an additional 218 MW. However, I cannot allocate any of this additional capacity formally until EU...

Written Answers — Land Ownership: Land Ownership (25 May 2004)

Dermot Ahern: My Department would not know who is the owner of the particular stretch of land as described by the Deputy. Record of title to the property in question would be a matter for the Land Registry.