Written Answers Nos. 1-16
11. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a new fund to support and develop public service broadcasting on independent commercial radio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53327/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I have told this House on a number of occasions, I fully recognise the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. As I noted when I addressed the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) Annual Conference earlier this year, “Local radio gives a voice and enhances social dialogue for people of all ages ... it provides a forum for local communities; it enhances a local community; it gives confidence to people and indeed is an expression of the community in which the station is broadcast”.
However, it should be borne in mind that these stations were founded as commercial operations, with the profit motive as their primary objective.
Station owners sought and accepted licences on clear terms; terms which included a limited amount of ‘public service’ type content. Moreover, in many cases, their success in the licence application process was assisted by the voluntary commitments they gave in regard to the provision of public service type content, over and above that required by the relevant legislation. The licences were accepted in the knowledge that public funding was not available for small broadcasters. The fact that some of these stations are now undergoing an understandable degree of financial stress does not mean that the State should immediately step in and provide funding – they are and remain commercial enterprises.
Moreover, it should also be noted that their very popularity in the communities they serve is, in many cases, as a distinct result of the local news content and current affairs type programming that they provide and which, in turn, gives them a strong advertising presence and thus earning potential.
Also, I would like to clarify for the Deputy that, even if I were minded to provide public monies to private investors as the Deputy seems to be suggesting EU State Aid rules very definitely apply in this case.
It is categorically not possible for the State to simply decide to fund a set of incumbent licence holders during a licence period. Such a move, quite apart from the reaction of the European authorities, would expose the State to the risk of prosecution from other operators who may have considered applying for a licence were the revenue stream available.
Overall, I can see no reason to consider dispersing licence fee revenue to private broadcasters.
12. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the Government's passing of the Aarhus Convention what if any public onsultation processes is he going to put in place around the applications for granting exploration licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53322/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the Government's passing of the Aarhus Convention what if any public onsultation processes is he going to put in place around the applications for granting exploration licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53320/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra43. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the Government's passing of the Aarhus convention what if any public onsultation processes is he going to put in place around the applications for granting exploration licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53324/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 21 and 43 together.
The Aarhus Convention, which is implemented through the Public Participation Directive, obliges the State to adopt all measures necessary to ensure that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location are made subject to an assessment with regard to their effects and that such assessment be subject to public participation in the decision-making. This has already been the practice in Ireland in the case of exploration for oil and gas.
Prior to the launch of a Licensing Round for the award of exploration licensing options in Ireland, a Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA is undertaken. An SEA, which includes both public consultation and consultation with prescribed bodies, is the process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of Plans and Programmes and prior to their final adoption. The objectives of the SEA process are to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to promote sustainable development by contributing to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of specified Plans and Programmes.
In the event that a project progresses to production, an application for approval of a Plan of Development pursuant to a Petroleum Lease would be subject to a full Environmental Impact Assessment or EIA. The EIA Directive ensures that the environmental implications of projects are taken into account in the permitting process, before the final decisions are made and it involves the public in the decision–making process making it more transparent. The specific requirements of the Directive entail consideration of the potential impacts of the project on population, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, including the architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the inter-relationship between the above factors.
Under the Directive it should be noted that it is not possible to permit a project unless it can be determined following assessment that it would not have an unacceptable environmental or social impact.
14. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the disposal of State assets under the aegis of his Department; the timeframe for their disposal and the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53270/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business and some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity as part of the State Assets disposal programme.
The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the electricity and gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic infrastructure, critical for the delivery of secure, sustainable and competitive energy supplies.
ESB will remain a vertically integrated utility, positioned more competitively in the all island energy market and in due course in the integrated European Market. The sale of Bord Gáis Energy will support this dynamic, successful company and its employees to continue to invest and grow while enhancing competition in the energy market for the benefit of the economy and consumers.
Significant progress has been made in implementing the asset disposal programme, in line with our commitments under the EU/ECB/IMF Funding Programme.
Tender processes for the appointment of advisors to oversee the sale of Bord Gáis Energy are significantly advanced. NewERA is the agency with responsibility for oversight of the sale transaction on behalf of the Government. My Department is also progressing priority actions to address necessary legislative, regulatory and financial issues with a view to commencing the disposal process in 2013.
15. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his Department has had any discussions with a company (details supplied) regarding land purchases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53330/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm for the Deputy that neither I nor my Department has had any discussions with Tamboran Resources regarding land purchases.
