Results 7,941-7,960 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Public Service Obligation: Public Service Obligation (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Public Obligation Service (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the support mechanism for peat generation and the development of renewable electricity. The PSO also supports the output of two gas fuelled power plants built in 2005 to secure much needed generation capacity at the time. The levy is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur...

Written Answers — Radio Broadcasting: Radio Broadcasting (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of ComReg under the Communications Regulations Act 2002. In accordance with this function and with its obligations under EU law, ComReg designs and manages the spectrum assignment process bearing in mind its objectives of ensuring the effective and efficient use of radio frequencies, promoting the harmonisation of use of...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. The national targets for penetration of renewable energy in the electricity, heat and transport sector by 2020 are 40% renewable electricity, 12% renewable heat and 10% renewable energy in transport. These targets are commensurate with the overall mandatory target set for Ireland under Renewable Energy Directive of 16% penetration of...

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The planning, development and routing of transmission line infrastructure is a matter for EirGrid, which is the State owned body responsible for the electricity transmission system. I have no statutory function regarding the planning and construction of energy networks. The Government fully endorses the strategic national importance of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department, in consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland, is in the course of reviewing the existing provisions of the Fisheries Acts dating back to 1959 with a view to producing one consolidated and modernised piece of legislation for the inland fisheries sector. The structure of the existing licensing regime, including the provision of nominees on licences, is one of the aspects being...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless, mobile, cable, fibre and satellite. Details of broadband services...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The allocation of funds and resources towards the Community Employment Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation and not one in which I have any function. The Warmer Homes Scheme, now an integral element of the Better Energy programme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme provides energy efficiency...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The recently-launched Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) is specifically aimed at making a basic broadband service available to the small number of premises in rural Ireland that for a number of mainly technical reasons are unable to avail of a service from a commercial operator. The EU Commission approved this State intervention on the basis that the premises in question had to be located in a...

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: This is unbelievable.

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: If you did not stop John Gormley, it might have been enacted by now.

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: If he did not do it in 14 years-----

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: A local authority cannot run for the presidency.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: A Digital Switchover Steering Group (DSG) has been established to plan, coordinate and deliver switchover from analogue terrestrial TV to digital TV in Ireland by the end of 2012. The Group is chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and comprises members from DCENR, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), RTÉ, RTÉNL, TV3, TG4 and ComReg. The first...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In relation to the broadcasting network, section 130(1)(b)(i)(II) of the Act provides that RTÉ shall provide a digital TV network by 31 December 2011 capable of providing coverage to the same extent as its existing analogue TV network. While I have no function in...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's national digital switchover strategy provides for the closure of the RTÉNL analogue TV network at the end of 2012 and, through the resulting 'digital dividend', paves the way for the delivery of new jobs, new mobile and broadband services and new national economic growth. I am keenly aware of the challenges this initiative brings, in particular for Irish households which are...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has not licensed hydraulic fracturing/drilling in the Roscommon and Leitrim areas. Earlier this year, following an open competition, my Department awarded onshore Licensing Options to Tamboran Resources Ltd over parts of Cavan, Leitrim and Sligo and to the Lough Allen Natural Gas Company Ltd over parts of Cavan, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo. The...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The development by Mayo County Council of a renewable energy strategy is a positive initiative. The development by all local authorities of renewable energy strategies is to be encouraged. My Department together with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and other relevant stakeholders are working to develop a methodology and template for local authority renewable energy...

Written Answers — Natural Resources Data: Natural Resources Data (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: All wind farms developed in Ireland are required to comply with all relevant planning and environmental legislation and to obtain all necessary licences and authorisations prior to full commercial operation. The issues raised by the Deputy relate to the commercial mandate and day to day operational functions of Bord Na Móna and ESB and is not a matter in which I have a function. I have...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: There is extensive North/South cooperation on a range of issues in the sectoral areas of Energy, Communications and Broadcasting, which are under the aegis of my Department. Staff discharge this work in addition to other functions in the relevant areas. The Coordination Unit in my Department also has a role in relation to overall coordination on North/South elements. Finally, the...

Order of Business (23 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Doherty will be in Aughnacloy by then.