Results 17,641-17,660 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is correct that the numbers are only a small reflection of the problems that exist. However, the numbers do help to give some indicative sense of where the problem is, and in this instance the volume of complaints about problems with Eir's fixed line service was multiples of the next nearest company, Vodafone, which was, in turn, a multiple of the next nearest company. It also...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this issue, which was also raised by the Ceann Comhairle on Question Time in the House two weeks ago. The electricity and gas retail markets in Ireland operate within the European Union regulatory regime wherein electricity and gas markets are commercial, liberalised and competitive. Responsibility for the regulation of those electricity and gas markets is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 35 together. In the four years since the Private Members motion referred to was debated a lot of work has been done to ensure An Post and the post office network remain viable. An Post put in place a Strategic Plan, covering the period 2017 – 2021, in response to the structural challenges faced by the postal sector. In order to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Policy (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The ‘N-1’ infrastructure standard is set out in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 on measures to safeguard security of gas supply, which replaced Regulation (EU) 994/2010. Ireland will continue to meet the infrastructure standard on a regional basis with the UK until the end of this year. From 1 January 2021, following the end of the transition period, Ireland will not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Data (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for EirGrid, the transmission system operator. Nevertheless I am advised that EirGrid prepare an annual report outlining the levels of dispatch-down of renewable energy on the island of Ireland. The latest such report can be found here: . This report contains information on historic dispatch down quantities dating back to 2011. As...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan, published in June 2019, sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). These actions, which are further underpinned by the Programme for Government, include developing the electric vehicle charging network necessary to support the growth of EVs and to ensure the supply of infrastructure stays sufficiently...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Procurement legislation allows contracting authorities to take social considerations, including environmental requirements, into account at the relevant stages of a procurement process where they are linked to the subject matter of the contract and respect the basic principles of equal treatment, transparency, proportionality and mutual recognition. Social considerations are included in all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The locations referred to in the Question are located in the BLUE area on the NBP High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at . BLUE areas are not included in the State intervention area covered by the National Broadband Plan as commercial operators are already providing high speed broadband or have indicated future plans to do so. My Department defines high...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As set out in the Programme for Government, ensuring access to high-quality connectivity for people across Ireland is essential to the development of all parts of our country, socially and economically. A key principle of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is to support and stimulate commercial investment in telecommunications infrastructure. Since the publication of the NBP strategy in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the Council. Applications...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Continued operation of the public transport sector is important, and it has been designated among the essential services that have carried on during the Covid crisis. I would like to thank both public and commercial operators and their staff for their continued dedication to providing this vital service in such challenging times. The Government's "Living with Covid" Plan sets out...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines.The Department seeks to use the OGP Frameworks for procurements in excess of €25,000 and these Frameworks include provisions concerning environmental, social and labour law. Public procurements by the state bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (25 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together. I can confirm that a submission has been made on behalf of some staff of the Irish Aviation Authority in accordance with Section 41 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993, which provides that a dispute on superannuation benefit may be submitted to the Minister for Transport. I am not able to comment on the details of that submission...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Browne is absolutely right that the current arrangements are not satisfactory. The timetables, journey times, lack of frequency, poor quality of the line and the fact that the carriages are left in Colbert Station in Limerick for the rest of the day are not satisfactory. Everyone recognises that. Deputy Browne is absolutely right that the services are very...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I thank both Deputies for raising this Topical Issue matter and I welcome the chance to discuss the future of the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line. This Government is committed to investment in the public transport network, to increase the size of the rail fleet in order to address the capacity constraints and to expand services in many parts of the country. Initiatives such as the Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Climate Action Plan, published in June 2019, sets out a range of actions to support the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). These actions, which are further underpinned by the Programme for Government, include developing the electric vehicle charging network necessary to support the growth of EVs and to ensure the supply of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: North-South Interconnector (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 192 to 194, inclusive, together. The North-South Interconnector is critical to improving the efficient operation of the all-island single electricity market and increasing security of electricity supply in Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will also help Ireland to move towards 70% renewable electricity, a commitment made in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 178, inclusive,196, 200, 202 and 203 together. In the four years since the Private Members motion referred to was debated a lot of work has been done to ensure An Post and the post office network remain viable.  An Post put in place a Strategic Plan, covering the period 2017 – 2021, in response to the structural challenges...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Infrastructure (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 190 together. The Programme for Government sets out that, as Ireland moves towards carbon neutrality, it does not make sense to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals that import fracked gas. The Programme for Government is clear that the Government does not support the importation of fracked gas and commits to developing a policy statement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Eamon Ryan: In general, competitive tendering is used by my Department unless exceptional circumstances exist which justifies the use of an alternative approach and Department of Finance Circular 40/02 on Public Procurement provides for instances where competitive tendering may not be appropriate, feasible or cost-effective.Non-compliant contracts of €25,000 or more are disclosed by my...