Results 8,081-8,100 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 17: In page 21, line 27, to delete "approved" and substitute "published". This amendment arises from amendments made on Committee Stage to the provisions relating to the terms and conditions of the universal postal service provider. It clarifies that a universal postal service provider must comply with its terms and conditions, which have been "published" rather than...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 18: In page 21, line 38, after "service" to insert "provision". This is another drafting amendment which seeks to correct the omission of the word "provision", which in this context and in the interests of continuity should have been linked to the term "the universal postal service".

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 19: In page 25, to delete lines 36 and 37 and substitute the following: "(c) subject to any decision made by the Commission under paragraph (b) of subsection (2), prices shall comply with the uniform tariff referred to in that subsection;". Following our discussion on Committee Stage, I undertook to look again at uniform tariffs. As I mentioned in that debate, the...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: There is absolutely no inconsistency between emphasising the statutorily based independence of the regulator and making express provision for the consent of the Minister to be required in certain circumstances or providing for the capacity of the Minister to issue policy directives. Deputy Ó Cuív used a good example earlier when he spoke about the banking regulator. He was quite right to...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 20: In page 25, to delete lines 44 to 47 and substitute the following: "(2) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (d), a uniform tariff shall apply throughout the State to any postal service provided at single piece tariff. (b) The Commission may, having regard to the reasonable needs of users, with the prior consent of the Minister, decide that a uniform tariff referred to...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 22: In page 25, lines 48 and 49, to delete "a decision under".

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 24: In page 26, to delete lines 7 and 8. There was an interesting debate at Committee Stage on An Post handling of international mail and the levels of remuneration it receives for this mail. I undertook at Committee Stage to have a look at the issue again. To remind Deputies, terminal dues is the mechanism used by national postal operators to settle with each other for...

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 28: In page 32, to delete line 4 and substitute the following: "(f) the feasibility of granting the access sought, (g) the capital investment in the postal network made by the universal postal service provider concerned, and".

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 30: In page 36, line 17, to delete "a decision under".

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (Resumed) (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The amendment submitted by the Deputy would require the Minister to have regard to the position of the Irish language as the national language in the operation of any national postcode system. While I am sympathetic to the aims of the proposal I do not propose to accept it on a number of grounds. The first is that a procurement process is currently under way for a national postcode system....

Written Answers — Telephone Hacking: Telephone Hacking (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: 1I wish to advise the Deputy that the security arrangements to which he is referring are not the responsibility of my Department and therefore I am unable to provide any information on this matter. With regard to the general question of telephone hacking, it is my view that this is a matter, in the first instance, for An Garda Síochána. I am also aware that the Office of the Data...

Written Answers — Telephone Hacking: Telephone Hacking (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: 2057I am not aware of any current investigations or complaints in relation to the issue referred to by the Deputy. Such investigations would be a matter, in the first instance, for An Garda Síochána and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, which has responsibility for the protection of personal information. I understand that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: 1As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources I have taken responsibility for attendance at Ministerial Council meetings and have attended the Extraordinary EU Energy Council in Brussels on Monday 21 March, Telecoms Council in Brussels on Friday 27 May, the North South Ministerial Council, in Farmleigh House on Friday 10 June, the British Irish Council in London on Monday 20...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: 1I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, together. I announced the launch of Better Energy: the National Upgrade Programme, in early May in the context of the Government's Jobs Initiative. Better Energy Homes replaces the three existing energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes: the Home Energy Savings Scheme (HES), the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and the Greener Homes...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together. Ireland is obliged under the EU Renewable Energy Directive to achieve a binding target of 16% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020, a five fold increase on 2005. As set out in the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP), the bulk of Ireland's target will be met by the electricity sector. 40% of...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Enhancing the energy efficiency of low-income homes through structural improvements remains the most effective means of reducing energy poverty. To date, energy efficiency improvements in over 65,000 homes have been made under the Better Energy: Warmer Homes programme. Better Energy: Warmer Homes provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, energy poverty and is...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (20 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: In accordance with its statutory function under the 2002 and its obligations under EU law, ComReg assigns rights of use for spectrum by way of a licence under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts. Currently, the 900 MHz frequency spectrum is used to provide GSM (2G) voice and text services in Ireland. New technological developments now allow for innovative broadband services to also be provided in...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (20 Jul 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, RTÉ, RTÉNL, TV3, TG4, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and ComReg. The Group...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (21 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 418 together. Capital funding of €60 million was allocated for energy efficiency initiatives in Budget 2011. As part of the Jobs Initiative, a further €30 million has been provided for this year which underpinned the launch of the Better Energy Programme in May. Better Energy replaces three energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes:...

Written Answers — Fuel Poverty: Fuel Poverty (21 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 214 from him of 20 July 2011.