Transport: Creative ports policy required
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012The future of state-owned ports is under consideration but they are unlikely to stay in their current formation. eolas reports. The future structure and ownership of Ireland’s 10 state-owned ports is yet to be decided. However, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has indicated that the department is currently considering the recommendations in the McCarthy report into state assets, as well as responses to the department’s ports policy review. The 10 state-owned ports are: Bantry Bay, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Dún Laoghaire, Galway, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford and Wicklow. Rosslare...[full story]
Transport: NGVA’s Manuel Lage on natural gas vehicles
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012General Manager of the Natural and bio Gas Vehicles Association (NGVA) Europe, Manuel Lage, talks to Stephen Dineen about the roll-out of natural gas vehicles (NGVs). In his spare time he is an historian of the car industry, and for Manuel Lage a new chapter in global transport is being written. Natural gas is becoming a mainstream alternative transport fuel. There are 1.4 million NGVs in Europe and over 13 million worldwide. In 2010 there was 6 per cent growth and the 2050 Eurogas Roadmap predicts NGVs will represent 9 per cent of the passenger car market and 33 per cent of freight...[full story]
Water: The future of Ireland’s water
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Water provision is undergoing radical reform in order to conserve it, improve its quality and cut delivery costs. eolas reports. “Our current model of water provision, where unlimited quantities of an expensive product are provided at no charge, is simply not sustainable,” the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government’s consultation document states. A six-week consultation on the creation of new state-owned water company Irish Water, and the implementation of water meters to charge for water use, ends on 24 February. Irish Water is to take over the water investment...[full story]
Water: Arthur Cox on Ireland’s water services
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Introduction Water investment is an imperative for the Irish Government from both an environmental and a financial perspective, not least to enable us to meet one of the conditions of the programme with the EU/IMF. The way water infrastructure is delivered, maintained, managed and paid for is about to undergo seismic change in Ireland. Creative and credible solutions to promote water infrastructure delivery and find the money to deliver it, are crucial. The combination of the EU/IMF requirement to look at this sector and the difficulty in securing debt funding means it...[full story]
Water: The cost of water
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Meadhbh Monahan examines the Government’s plans for water charging. “90 per cent of all houses will be metered by 2014 before the meter is switched on,” Environment Minister Phil Hogan has said. A public consultation on the proposed approach to water charges and water metering ends on 24 February. Under the terms of the EU-IMF memorandum of understanding, the State has committed to introducing water charges. The Programme for Government provides for the introduction of a fair funding model to deliver clean and reliable water. The Government says it will install water meters...[full story]
Water: Kelda Water Services
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Kelda Water Services (KWS) is a leading water and waste water contract operator, delivering large scale and long term solutions in Ireland and across the UK. KWS’s success comes from being part of Kelda Group – owner of Yorkshire Water, one of the UK’s leading water and waste water companies and Loop, an award winning billing and customer contact centre. Kelda Group has for many years set the industry benchmark in: Innovation and technology Operational efficiency Asset and capital programme management Customer service excellence KWS has in excess of 200 staff delivering...[full story]
Water: Water scarcity
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Shortages of water are expected to pose problems at home and abroad. Stephen Dineen reports. Policy-makers are aware that Ireland is expected to grow in population and economy, and that the climate will change. Climate change’s effect on Ireland’s water supply has been documented in state reports and discussion documents in recent years. A 2009 EPA report on climate change impacts for Ireland predicted drier summers, which will make resources more vulnerable in the east and south-east of the country especially. There will be domestic water shortages and reduced supply to industry...[full story]
Water: Philip Lee
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Correct water pricing policies and appropriate metering are essential in order to ensure high quality water supplies, writes Philip Lee. The immediate future promises to be challenging for the Irish water sector. The PwC Phase 1 report on Irish Water is unequivocally in favour of creating a new entity to own and manage the supply and treatment of water and waste water in Ireland. The Department of the Environment has reserved its position pending the outcome of a further consultation process and the publication of the Phase 2 PwC report. Add to this the Government’s proposal to...[full story]
Water: Bord na Móna’s bid to deliver water services in Ireland
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012In a follow-up to a recent cover feature, eolas looks at the progress of Bord na Móna’s bid to deliver water services in Ireland. In the November 2011 issue of eolas, Gabriel D’Arcy made a strident case for his company to take on the delivery of water services. Bord Na Móna is well placed to take on the mantle of the new Irish Water company. The semi-state company is in good shape financially with a cash balance of €200 million at the end of its last financial year (March 2011). Its debt levels are well below of other semi-states which gives it flexibility on its balance...[full story]
Innovation: Consistent and continuous–the Finnish example
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Finland has developed a model for innovation with lessons for other small economies. Petri Lehto, Head of Innovation at Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy, talks to Owen McQuade about the success of Finnish innovation policy. Innovation fits with the Finnish character according to Petri Lehto, Head of Innovation at Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy: “Expect the worst and solve the problems.” The Finns regard themselves as problem-solvers, which Lehto believes comes from their geographical location in the north, where survival in the cold has...[full story]
