Results 141-160 of 2,339 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Seán Power

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The Corrib gas field is the only oil or gas field offshore Ireland that has been declared as commercially viable but has yet to reach production stage. The developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completion of the development...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation requires the Irish...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Consultants Posford Haskoning, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and Andrew Johnston were engaged in 2002 to inform decisions on the consents relating to the Corrib Gas Field granted to construct a gas pipeline pursuant to Section 40 of the Gas Act 1976 as amended, on 15 April 2002, consent to the Plan of Development under Section 13 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource, including the issue of fishing licences is the responsibility of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. I have no function in the matter. I have been advised, however, by the Northern Regional Fisheries Board that the applicant identified by the...

Written Answers — Fishing Licenses: Fishing Licenses (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Salmon fishing licences are public licences issued on foot of applications received annually. The Control of Fishing for Salmon Order establishes the priority to be afforded by regional fisheries boards to applications for commercial licences. The current provisions of the Order were fully endorsed by the National Fisheries Management Executive and the National Salmon Commission following...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no, nor have there ever been, any plans to remove the weir at Fermoy. It is proposed to alter the weir to facilitate the installation of a rock ramp fish pass, which will ensure the free passage of migratory fish species as required under the Fisheries Acts and the EU Habitats Directive. These works will not affect the amenity value of the weir....

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the publication of the Geothermal Resource Map of Ireland by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) in July 2004 highlighted the potential of deep geothermal energy. The potential for a good geothermal energy resource in the South Dublin region was also identified in the study. The report recommended that support...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The operator of the two onshore licences (ON1/05 & ON2/05) covering the Lough Allen Basin, has undertaken technical studies in conjunction with contractors to define the prospectivity of the area with a view to advancing to a drilling programme. While the Department has received copies of these studies, under the licensing terms governing these licences, the studies are confidential and...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. I have been advised by the Central Fisheries Board that the report "Quantification of the freshwater salmon habitat asset in Ireland" published by the Central Fisheries Board in 2003, identified the River Boyne catchment as the fifth largest salmon system in Ireland on the basis of its total wetted area of 6,695,412 sq. m. I understand...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 374 and 375 together. The target of European Council Regulation No. 1100/2007, establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, is commonly misquoted whereby it is claimed that the Regulation only required a reduction of just 40% in the catching of eels. The EU target is clearly defined in the Regulation where it states that "the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: Currently, the only commercial field off the west coast is the Corrib gas field, in the Slyne Basin offshore County Mayo, which is estimated to contain approximately one trillion cubic feet of gas reserves. With regard to the Atlantic Margin as a whole, technical studies based on geological and geophysical data, which were sponsored by the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I understand that it is very difficult to accurately measure mortality rates in glass eels. Mortality rates of between 50% to 84% for glass eels in estuaries have been reported in a study conducted by Vollestad and Jonsson, which was quoted in the Erne Eel Enhancement Programme report referenced by the Deputy. It should be noted that the level of mortality may be both time and site...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: The draft Eel Management Plan for the transboundary North Western International River Basin District, submitted by both the Irish and UK authorities for evaluation by the EU Commission, provides for the cessation of the commercial fishery in that River Basin District (which covers the whole Erne catchment both North and South). I understand that the draft eel management plan for Lough Neagh,...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together. I am satisfied that the ESB endeavours to comply with its statutory obligations for the conservation and management of the fish stocks on the fisheries owned by the Board. In the performance of its remit the ESB has complied, where possible, with scientific advice and participated in appropriate research on inland fisheries species,...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: I am advised by the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB) that the issue referred to by the Deputy relates to long line eel licences the number of which is capped at 18 in the Galway District of the Western Fisheries Region. The public licences are issued annually on a first come first served basis. Given the critical status of the eel stock, as demonstrated in the assessment contained in...

Written Answers — Fisheries Conservation: Fisheries Conservation (3 Mar 2009)

Seán Power: A person who sells eels domestically, including at retail outlets, or exports them for sale requires an eel dealer's licence. I am advised that 9 applications for eel dealers' licences were received to date in 2009, in response to which licences were issued by the relevant Regional Fisheries Board, in accordance with Part X of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, as amended.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I have been informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, who administered the Salmon Hardship Scheme on behalf of the Department, that an application was received from the person referred to by the Deputy. The application was approved and payment was made in November 2007.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together. Licence duties for commercial salmon fishing are set by the Minister, on foot of an Order, the most recent being the Fisheries (Commercial Fishing Licences) (Alteration of Duties and Fees) Order 2007 (SI. No. 812 of 2007), approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. These fees are uniform across all fisheries regions and are currently...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: A Geothermal Working Group was established in 2008 to set out the options for the development of a proportionate and realistic regulatory regime for geothermal energy utilisation in Ireland. As part of this process, a public consultation was held between June and August 2008. Over 30 submissions were received, mainly from people and organisations closely associated with geothermal...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (17 Feb 2009)

Seán Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 415 together. In compliance with European Council Regulation No.1100/2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, a draft Eel Management Plan was submitted to the EU Commission for approval. Given the critical status of the eel stock, as demonstrated in the assessment contained in the draft Eel Management Plan, a number of...