Results 7,861-7,880 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The issue of general media ownership policy and media mergers is a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and I have no function in these matters. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is responsible for the regulation of the radio market and the granting of broadcasting licenses in this market. The Authority is an independent statutory body and accordingly I have...

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no function in the matters referred to in the Deputy's question. The Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out my legislative responsibilities in respect of broadcasting in this State. In particular, the issue of general media ownership policy and media mergers does not fall within the remit of my Department. This is a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Written Answers — Media Industry: Media Industry (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The issue of general media ownership policy and media mergers is a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and I have no function in these matters. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is responsible for the regulation of the local radio market and the granting of broadcasting licences in this market. The Authority is an independent statutory body and I have no...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 363 and 364 together. Section 39 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the duties of broadcasters and includes duties in relation to objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs as referred to by the Deputy. In addition, Part 4 of the 2009 Act makes provision for the preparation and implementation of codes of practice in relation to complaints...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides, inter alia, for codes governing the standards and practice of broadcasters, encompassing the issues raised by the Deputy concerning editorial independence within broadcast media. In addition, Part 4 of the 2009 Act makes provision for the preparation and implementation of codes of practice in relation to complaints handling and for a...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulation of the wholesale mobile voice call termination market is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). I am anxious to ensure that mobile termination rates (MTRs) charged by Irish service providers are in line with those charged elsewhere in Europe and that Irish citizens and businesses benefit from the lowest call costs possible. Following regulatory...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: There are twenty-one exploration licences and five licensing options active in the Irish offshore. Exploration activities under these authorisations are ongoing and subject to the performance of agreed work programmes including detailed reporting and the release of exploration data and evaluation reports to my Department. My Department has approved two seismic surveys to date in 2011 and a...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The 1975 terms were introduced at a time of great optimism that Ireland had significant, undiscovered, reserves of oil and gas and would be the next North Sea. The terms reflected this optimism and provided for State participation, royalties, production bonuses and the then prevailing corporation tax rate of 50%. Unfortunately, with only four commercial finds of natural gas in Irish waters...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary role of Bord Gáis Energy and ESB Electric Ireland is in electricity generation and in the supply of energy to end users. ESB and Bord Gáis Éireann also own the electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks. The Energy State Companies do not have nor is it envisaged that they would have any role in the exploration of Ireland's onshore and offshore mineral resources.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: State Aid clearance for the proposed REFIT support scheme for biomass technologies was submitted to DG Competition in the EU Commission in November 2010. This scheme, which is aimed at supporting the use of biomass in electricity generation and heat production, incorporates a proposed range of tariffs for different technologies and requires State Aid clearance before it can open for...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has ambitious plans to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies over the next decade with targets set to achieve 40% of our electricity, 12% of our heating and cooling requirements, and 10% of our transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020. These targets are commensurate with Ireland's binding EU target of 16% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Comptroller and Auditor General fulfils its statutory role in auditing my Department annually. In addition, the Department has an Internal Audit Unit, and an Internal Audit Committee. Their efforts support that of the Comptroller and Auditor General in providing independent assurance that public money is properly managed and spent to good effect and in contributing to improvements in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff scheme known as REFIT was introduced in 2006 for certain categories of renewable energy, including onshore wind. Since then the tariffs have been increasing, where applicable, by the annual consumer price index. REFIT is based around 15 year Power Purchase Agreements between generators and suppliers which provide developers with the necessary certainty...

Written Answers — Onshore Exploration: Onshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Earlier this year, following an open competition, my Department granted onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous Basin and the Clare Basin. The Licensing Options are designed to allow the companies assess the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data from previous petroleum exploration...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Energy security is currently high on the international and EU agenda as the global energy market becomes subject to volatility and high prices as a result of geo-political events and natural disasters. While Ireland is a peripheral energy market, we remained largely insulated from the shocks of the Russia/Ukraine gas crisis of 2009 and have not experienced supply disruption as a result of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not have an office in my constituency. In line with normal practice for Ministers, constituency staff working on constituency matters share office space with other staff in my Department's building on Adelaide Road. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for elements such as telephone, IT services, energy, maintenance, furniture and lease of the building. These costs are invoiced...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: All official travel undertaken by staff in my Department is in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines. This requires staff to use the shortest practicable route and to travel by the cheapest mode of conveyance. Only essential travel is undertaken and public transport is regularly used by staff when travelling. A number of staff in my Department also avail of the Travel Pass Scheme...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Utility Regulator in Belfast. It has been operational since November 2007, when the trading of wholesale electricity in Ireland and Northern Ireland on an All-Island basis commenced, underpinned by parallel legislation in Ireland...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The oversight and operation of the Single Electricity Market is the statutory responsibility of the Single Electricity Market Committee (which comprises the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator as well as an independent Member) and the Single Market Operator EirGrid and SONI. I would refer the Deputy to a selection of data in the public domain in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff scheme known as REFIT was introduced in 2006 for certain categories of renewable energy, including onshore wind. REFIT is based around 15 year Power Purchase Agreements between generators and suppliers which provide developers with the necessary certainty required to finance their projects. The scheme is funded through a Public Service Obligation (PSO)...