Transcript Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources

Presentation to Oireachtas Joint
Committee on Communications,
Marine & Natural Resources
Brendan Tuohy
Secretary General
10 February 2004
Mission Statement
• To promote the sustainable development,
management and regulation of the
communications, energy, marine and natural
resources sectors in support of national
economic and social policy objectives
Roles of Department
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Sectoral policy role
Regulatory policy role
Shareholder role
Stewardship of public resources
Market liberalisation
Accountability
Strategic Context
• EU Presidency - EU enlargement, Lisbon
Agenda – competitiveness, world’s leading
knowledge economy by 2010
• Economic backdrop – slower growth –
competitiveness
• North/South & East/West
Communications
Core Policy Goal
Contribute to sustained macro-economic growth and competitiveness;
ensure Ireland is best placed to avail of emerging opportunities provided
by the information and knowledge society; promoting investment in
infrastructures, providing supportive legislative and regulatory
environment, and developing research and development reputation
Key Issues
• Telecoms infrastructure programme
• Broadband Action Plan, December 2003
• Pro-competitive regime for telecoms
Broadcasting
Core Policy Goal
Create an environment that encourages the maintenance of high quality
Irish radio and television services by both independent broadcasters
and RTÉ
Secure a viable future for high quality public service broadcasting in the
Irish market
Seek to retain access to a range of quality programming in analogue and
digital form, on a universal and free-to-air basis
Key Issues
• Reform of broadcasting sector
• Broadcasting Bill being drafted
• Corporate governance of RTE
Postal
Core Policy Goal
Ensure Irish industry and domestic customers enjoy competitively priced,
high-quality postal services on a par with the highest quality standards in
key comparator economies elsewhere in the EU; to maintain the nationwide postal services and network, with uniform tariffs applying
throughout the State, where required by regulation, and to develop the
Irish postal sector in such a way that it will underpin the key economic
objective of Ireland becoming a knowledge economy
Key Issues
• Liberalisation of postal sector
• Corporate governance of An Post
• Oversee the An Post recovery strategy to enable
the company to return to profitability and deliver
quality services
Energy
Core Policy Goals
Development of competitive, efficient and properly regulated energy
markets, which provide customers with a choice of energy services and
support sustainable economic growth;
Protection of security of energy supply;
Environmentally sustainable energy supply and use.
Key Issues
• full liberalisation of electricity and gas markets by 2005.
• reassessment of security of supply mechanisms in face of
an increasing amount of EU energy needs being sourced
from geopolitically risky markets .
• help Ireland meet its Kyoto targets in a least-cost manner,
thereby minimising loss of economic competitiveness.
Maritime Safety
Core Policy Goal
Establish, promote and enforce safety and security standards, and by
doing so, prevent, as far as possible, the loss of life at sea and on inland
waters and other areas, and to provide effective emergency response
services
Key Issues
• Safety agency being established
• New safety regulations introduced in 2003 for
passenger boats
• New passenger vessel enforcement regime
introduced in 2003
• New life jacket rules in place
Marine Enviornment
Core Policy Goal
To safeguard the quality of the marine environment
Key Issues
• Early phasing out of single hull oil tankers
in EU waters agreed by Ministers
• Draft directive on sanctions for vessel
owners who pollute EU waters being
brokered by Irish Presidency
• Carrying of certain heavy oils banned from
EU waters
Maritime Transport (Access) Ports
Core Policy Goal
To provide a framework for the provision by port companies operating
within the national transport chain of port services which are efficient,
effective and adequate for the needs of our trading economy
Key Issues
• The Minister will publish (in 2004) a
comprehensive statement for ports that will
set out the future policy framework
Maritime Transport (Access)
Harbour Authorities
Core Policy Goal
As provided for in the Harbours Act 1996, to oversee the transfer to
alternative uses under local control, of those remaining regional ports
and harbours which do not form part of the national maritime transport
system for trade and travel while maintaining, in transition, an appropriate
corporate governance regime
Key Issues
• The Department is working with the
Department of Environment, Heritage and
Local Government with a view to developing
a framework to facilitate the transfer of
harbour authorities to local control
Maritime Transport (Shipping Sector)
Core Policy Goal
To expand Irish based ship ownership and ship management and to
increase Irish seafarer employment
Key Issues
• The Department is working closely with the
IMDO with a view to promoting the Irish
shipping industry. In this regard, a range of
fiscal reliefs, such as tonnage tax, seafarer
income tax allowance and a PRSI seafarer
refund scheme have been introduced
Marine Tourism & Leisure
Core Policy Goal
To help secure the sustainable development of the marine tourism and
leisure sector in the context of overall tourism development
Key Issues
• The Minister will develop, in consultation
with the Marine Institute, a new strategy to
facilitate and promote marine leisure
participation in Ireland
Marine Research
Core Policy Goal
To ensure that the national research effort achieves the potential of
the marine resource sector
Key Issues
• The Minister will bring proposals to
Government in 2004 on a new Research,
Development and Innovation strategy for
our marine area, currently being developed
by the Marine Institute
Marine Coastal Zone Management
Core Policy Goal
To support and manage the sustainable use and development of
Ireland’s marine territory
Key Issues
• Commitment to effective licensing and regulation of aquaculture, so
that the industry develops in a sustainable manner and in accordance
with high environmental standards. Review of monitoring and
enforcement for marine finfish aquaculture is being finalised
• Review of Foreshore Acts in train. Legislative proposals emerging will,
as necessary, include provisions to facilitate more coordinated
approaches to the management of coastal areas. Coastal stocktaking to
be undertaken, in line with EU Recommendation on Integrated Coastal
Zone Management
• Dumping at Sea (Amendment) Bill will enhance the processes for
regulation of dumping at sea
Seafood
Core Policy Goal
To maximise the long-term contribution of the seafood sector to the
economies of coastal regions
Key Issues
• Negotiation of national priorities within CFP framework, in consultation with
industry
• Resource conservation a key priority – new Biologically Sensitive Area
around Ireland being created and various stock recovery plans agreed/being
discussed
• 5 Fishery Harbour Centres operated by the Department and funding provided
for other key harbours, ensuring continued facilities for fishing sector
• Supporting the sustainable development of aquaculture in coastal regions
• Commitment to develop long-term strategy for the sustainable development
of the fishing industry
• Deployment of inspectorate to ensure adherence to conservation measures
and food safety requirements
• Independent authority governing licensing and registration of sea-fishing
boats established July 2003, ensuring transparent management of fishing fleet
capacity
Engineering
Core Policy Goal
To facilitate and develop harbours and coastal infrastructure, to
support coastal protection works, and the sustainable development of
State foreshore
Key Issues
• Completion of major port development at
Killybegs Fishing Harbour Centre. The project is
on target for completion in May 2004 and is under
budget
• Development of cosatal protection strategy
including appropriate and sustainable responses to
the threat of climate change and sea level rise
• Advance the sustainable and pro-active
management of Ireland’s marine coastal zone
Inland Fisheries
Core Policy Goal
Conserve the inland fisheries resource in its own right and its viability
and economic and social contribution at national and local community
level
Key Issues
• The Minister will work towards the conservation
of our valuable salmon and sea trout stock through
a further step in 2004 towards aligning the Total
allowable Catch for salmonids on objective
scientific advise by 2005
• The Minister will develop a new strategy and
support organisational framework for the Inland
Fisheries sector in 2004
Minerals Exploration & Mining
Core Policy Goal
Stimulate discovery of economic mineral deposits and to maximise the
contribution of the mining sector to the national economy, with due
regard to its environmental and social impact
Key Issues
• Continue promotional measures to maximise the level of
minerals exploration
• Require and facilitate sustainable development in the
minerals sector including mining facilities at Navan (Tara),
Lisheen (Anglo American), Galmoy (Arcon), Gypsum
(Knocknacran, Co.Monaghan )
• Safety & rehabilitation of abandoned mine sites ongoing,
including Silvermines
Petroleum Exploration Development
& Production
Core Policy Goal
Maximise the benefits to the national economy from exploration for, and
production of, indigenous oil and gas resources, while ensuring that
activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the
environment and other land/sea users
Key Issues
• Progress the development of the Corrib Gas
Field since the re-launch of its planning
application
• Discussion / agreement with industry to
identify measures to stimulate exploration
Geological Survey of Ireland
Strategic Goals
Provide Easily Accessible and Accurate Geological Information
Support Sustainable Development, Enviornmental Protection and the
National Development Plan
Map Ireland’s Earth Resources
Promote Public Understanding of the Role of GSI and Geology in Irish
Society
Key Issues
• Nation-wide bedrock map series completed
• National Seabed Survey ongoing in partnership
with Marine Institute
• Digital document management system completed
• Support for groundwater aspects of EU Water
Framework Directive; groundwater protection
schemes in Kildare and Roscommon
Organisational Challenges &
Strategies
Core Policy Goal
Position the Department as a modern, inclusive and results-focussed
organisation, operaring to the highest public service standards
Key Issues
• Change & Modernisation agenda – Sustaining Progress
• Structural changes in relation to Marine Safety Directorate and
Fisheries sector
• Quality Customer Service
• Decentralisation – business continuity
• Knowledge Management
• Robust financial management
• Management Information Framework
• ICT – internal and external customers
• Best practice Internal Audit & Risk Management Strategies
Measuring Performance
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Performance Indicators group established
Key Performance Indicators identified
Integration into business planning
Review of Statement of Strategy Indicators
Publication in Annual Report