Written Answers Nos. 116-125
116. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if eel fishing licences will be issued following the review of the eel fishing ban which was completed earlier this year; if not, whether compensation will be awarded to those who had eel fishing licences in the past; the EU directive regarding eel fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43835/12]
View answerI would draw the Deputy’s attention to the question I answered in this House last week, 2 October. The International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice is that the eel stock continued to decline in the period 2009 to 2011 and urgent action is needed. In 2011 ICES reiterated its previous advice that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pollution) affecting production and escapement of eels should be reduced to as close to zero as possible until there is clear evidence that both recruitment and the adult stock are increasing. In 2011, glass eel recruitment has fallen to 5% of their 1960-1979 level in the Atlantic region and less than 1% in the North Sea area, and showed no sign of recovery. In Ireland, recruitment has been declining at many monitoring sites since the mid-1980s, for example in the 2000-2011 period, the glass eel catch in the Shannon was at 2% of the pre-1980 numbers. In summary, recruitment of glass eels and elvers remained low during the 2009 to 2011 period both in Ireland and across Europe.
In Ireland it is anticipated that there will be a considerable decline in silver eel production, as indicated by recruitment history, yellow eel stock indicators and modelled projections for index stocks. As part of Ireland’s eel management regime, every three years, a review of the status of eel stocks is conducted, this coupled with input from stakeholders, supports the decision making process on the future of the commercial and recreational eel fishery. Inland Fisheries Ireland has just completed a full public consultation on the future of the commercial and recreation eel fishery; the recommendations from this review are being finalised. In that regards the issuing of licences to fish for eel is not possible at this time.
Inland Fisheries Ireland has made a number of reports on eel stocks available on its website including The National Eel Stock Recovery Plan, The Status of Eel Stocks in Ireland and The Implementation of the Eel Management Plan for Ireland. The review of eel stocks in Europe is a shared concern involving many countries on a pan European basis and it is likely that a summary of all European reviews will not be available for some time.
In 2009 the then Central and Regional Fisheries Boards (now Inland Fisheries Ireland – IFI) engaged with the eel fishermen representatives to investigate possible diversification schemes. I understand that a number of former eel fishermen were contracted by the ESB to undertake Trap and Transport operations to mitigate the impact of hydropower schemes as part of the eel management plan. There is no property right attaching to public eel licences and consequently the issue of compensation does not arise, given that the closure of the fishery was applied for conservation reasons under the Fisheries Acts. Given that context and having regard to national economic circumstances, no provision has been made for compensation payments.
117. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding Dalkey Prospect oil rig and the concerns of citizens from County Wicklow on this issue, the position in relation to the Green Party's call on him to hold a public inquiry into plans for the seismic survey and drilling; the position in relation to the Oireachtas committee report calling for the terms for Ireland's shares of revenue from our oil and gas to be radically overhauled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43878/12]
View answerStandard Exploration Licence was granted last year over an area of approximately 380 square kilometres in the Kish Bank Basin off the Dublin/Wicklow coast. The licence is held by a consortium comprising Providence Resources Plc and PSE Seven Heads Limited. The award of this exploration licence confers on the holder the exclusive right to search for petroleum in the licensed area, but does not confer a right to produce/extract petroleum. The licence was granted for a six-year period and includes an obligation to drill an exploration well by August 2014. While my Department has not as yet received a detailed application from Providence Resources for approval to drill on the licence, I am aware that environmental and safety concerns have been raised about the proximity of the proposed well to the coast.
I can assure the Deputy that drilling operators are required to comply with best international practice when carrying out drilling operations offshore Ireland and that my Department will only give an approval to drill once it is satisfied that drilling operations can be carried out in a safe manner and without negative social or environmental impact. In this regard, Licence holders are required to engage a competent Independent Well Examiner to verify the safety of all drilling rigs, drilling equipment, pressure containment systems and drilling processes in advance of and during drilling operations. The well examiner has a role for as long as drilling operations continue and is required to verify any changes to drilling plans. Ongoing monitoring by the Independent Well Examiner, my Department’s Advisers and my Department’s technical specialists continues throughout the drilling of a well. In the event that the exploration activity under this licence resulted in a commercial discovery and a petroleum production project, the licensees would require a number of statutory approvals which would include a full public consultation phase.
With regards to the Joint Committee’s report on offshore oil and gas exploration, I am sure the report will make a valuable contribution to the debate on how we should manage our indigenous oil and gas resources for the benefit of the people of Ireland. In relation to taxation, the report recognises there is a balance to be struck between maximising revenue to the State and incentivising companies to invest in exploration in the Irish offshore. The report goes on to recommend that the rate of tax applying to petroleum production in Ireland should be increased to between 40% and 80%, depending on the profitability of the field. It seems that factors such as high oil prices and advances in exploration technology were key considerations influencing this recommendation. However, high oil prices will not make Ireland any more or less attractive as a location for investment, compared to other countries with oil and gas potential.
Ireland’s petroleum potential is largely unproven and this is likely to remain the case until there is a significant increase in the level of exploration activity from the current low level of exploration drilling. At this point, I remain to be convinced how doubling the maximum tax rate would help attract much needed exploration investment to Ireland but I have committed to engaging with the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications on the Report prepared by the committee.
118. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will outline in tabular form, the amount of money allocated by his Department and agencies within his Department to Ballina, Castlebar and Westport Town Council between 1997 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43943/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that since the establishment of my Department in June 2007, it has not allocated any money to Ballina, Castlebar or Westport Town Council. In relation to payments made by the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, this is an operational matter for the individual agency in the first instance and I have no function in this regard. I am asking the Agencies concerned to respond directly to the Deputy.
119. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the progress made in ensuring that the mobile phone industry supplies chargers common to all mobile phone devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43998/12]
View answerThe provision of telecommunications services, including the provision of users’ equipment, is a matter in the first instance for services providers operating in a liberalised market regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I am advised that following a request from the EU Commission and in close co-operation with the Commission services, major producers of mobile phones agreed in June 2009 in a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to harmonise chargers for data-enabled mobile phones sold in the EU. The signatories of the MOU included Apple, Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LGE, Motorola Mobility, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research In Motion (RIM), Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL mobile phones), Texas Instruments and Atmel who represent more than 90% of the mobile phones sold in Europe.
The MoU specifies that "all new mobile phone models and new chargers models on the market produced by the signatories shall offer this common charging capability one year after the related standards have become available". The MoU also permits compliance to be achieved by making a suitable adaptor available to customers. The related European Standard was agreed at end 2010 and the provision became applicable from end 2011. The standard is therefore only applicable to new models placed on the market during 2012. I am advised that a recent EU Commission update on the MoU reports that 90% of new models placed on the market offer the common charging capability and that the Commission is continuing to pursue manufacturers to achieve full compliance.
120. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his policy in respect of hydraulic fracturing; if he will provide an update on any recent decisions in respect of licensing and policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44012/12]
View answerThere is potential for Ireland to enjoy both economic and energy security benefits from its indigenous oil and gas resources. These benefits will only be realised through effective exploration. Ireland has a policy of actively encouraging investment by relevant companies in exploration for oil and gas, both offshore and onshore. Where exploration or production takes place, it is subject to a robust regulatory framework, with a clear objective of ensuring that all exploration and production activities are carried out in a safe manner and without significant environmental or social impact.
I am very conscious that some concerns have been strongly expressed that use of the technology known as hydraulic fracturing in exploration and production activities, could have a negative impact on the environment. The principal concerns that have been expressed relate to the production phase of a project and environmental considerations arising from the large number of production wells that may be hydraulically fractured. In February of last year, my Department granted onshore Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the Lough Allen and Clare Basin respectively. The Licensing Options are preliminary authorisations and are different to exploration licences. The Options are for a two year period from 1 March 2011. During this period, the companies will evaluate the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on studies of existing data. Exploration drilling is not permitted under these authorisations.
It is too early to say if any of the existing onshore licensing options will even progress to the exploration phase, let alone to a production phase, however, the statutory framework that would apply to such an application is the framework that is already in use in the case of a range of major strategic infrastructure projects. Under that framework a developer would require consents from An Bord Pleanála, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Commission for Energy Regulation and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This would result in a consideration of the potential environmental impact of any proposed petroleum production project, subject to EU environmental Directives, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, which requires full public consultation.
As the Deputy may be aware, in May of this year the Environmental Protection Agency published its preliminary research into the environmental aspects of shale gas extraction in the form of a small desk based study, which was carried out by the University of Aberdeen. The study provides an introduction to the environmental aspects of fracking including a review of regulatory approaches used in other countries and areas for further investigation and research such as geological principles of relevance in fracking and shale gas extraction, potential environmental impacts and establishing best environmental practice. While the study is a preliminary study it will inform the development of the terms of reference for a much more detailed research study to be commissioned by the EPA later this year. The terms of reference for this more extensive research are currently being drawn up by a steering group including representatives from the EPA and my Department.
The outcome of the further research to be commissioned by the EPA will assist in a robust scientific based assessment of any future application proposing the use of this technology. I can confirm, however, that until there has been time to consider the second stage of the EPA research, the use of hydraulic fracturing in exploration drilling will not be authorised. My policy approach is therefore one of encouraging investment in exploration, while ensuring all exploration and production activities are carried out in a safe manner and without significant adverse environmental or social impact.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources when he expects the telecommunications sector in this country to achieve comparable status in terms of speed, efficiency and modernisation with the best available throughout Europe or globally; the steps necessary to achieve this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44021/12]
View answerThe provision of electronic communications services is, in the first instance, a matter for competing service providers operating in Ireland’s fully liberalised telecommunications market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The telephony market is served by a variety of commercial fixed line, wireless and mobile providers. The Government has also undertaken a number of initiatives in the provision of broadband to bring service to those parts of the country where operators have not offered services on a commercial basis. In the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), for example, services are available from the NBS service provider, 3, in each of the 1,028 Electoral Divisions (ED) where a lack of broadband access had been identified. Ireland is already ahead of the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
There has also been progress in the commercial telecommunications sector. Competition, technological innovation and consumer pressure has increased the contracted broadband speeds available and has brought down some prices for broadband, voice, data and bundled services. Broadband, for example has entry level packages starting from €10 - €15 per month. Consumers who are looking to get broadband or other telecommunications services or get better value through an alternative provider can find this information through ComReg’s independent price comparison website www.callcosts.ie.
Progress is also being achieved in terms of broadband speeds and in the number of broadband customers. At end June 2012 the proportion of all residential customers contracted at speeds below 2 megabits per second (Mbps) fell to approximately 5% compared to 13% in June 2010 and 48% in June 2008, as the total number of contracted broadband users increased from 1m in June 2008 to 1.5m in June 2010 and 1.65m in June 2012.
The Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible. In addition, ComReg is currently in the process of awarding spectrum rights of use across three critical bands – the 800Mhz, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands – for the period 2013 to 2030. This award process is a vital step in allowing for the next generation of advanced mobile services to be made available for Irish consumers and businesses from next year.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which high speed broadband is available in all regions throughout the country, urban and rural, without exception; when it is anticipated that the highest possible standard of service becomes available in all areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44022/12]
View answer125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the areas or locations throughout the country which have shown the greatest deficiency and lack of availability in respect of high-speed broadband services on an annual basis throughout the country over the past five years; if he will outline the steps required and his intentions to upgrade the standards and quality of the service in all areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44023/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to bring broadband to those parts of the country where operators have not offered services on a commercial basis. In the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), for example, services are available from the NBS service provider, 3, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in each of the 1,028 Electoral Divisions (ED) where a lack of broadband access had been identified. The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS), which was launched last year, is bringing commercial services to areas that were until recently unable to receive a broadband service, due to technical difficulties such as line of sight issues. With the completion of the RBS programme later this year, Ireland will have met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas ahead of the 2013 deadline.
The Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
The Plan commits to high speed broadband availability across the country – specifically:
- 70Mbps – 100Mbps will be available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015;
- At least 40Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% (and potentially as much as 35%) of the population during the lifetime of the Government; and
- A minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country, also during the lifetime of the Government.
During the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. The precise areas to be provided with those services will be determined by the commercial market operators.
One of the first steps in delivering on the 30Mbps and 40Mbps commitments will be the completion of a formal national mapping exercise to determine the exact position in relation to commercial service providers’ existing and planned broadband services throughout the country. Preparatory work has commenced within my Department to expedite this task. The mapping exercise will identify the areas of the country where there is market failure in the provision of high speed broadband services. It will also identify where the market is expected to succeed in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. This process is expected to take several months to complete and until then the precise areas of the country which will require State intervention will not be known. Rollout will be targeted to commence in 2014, when the mapping, State Aids and procurement processes are complete and when the current contract for the National Broadband Scheme expires. I would reiterate that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including rural or remote parts of the country, have access to modern high speed broadband services.
