Results 8,121-8,140 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (21 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I fully support the commitment in relation to gender balance in the composition of State Board appointments. I wish to inform the Deputy, that following the Government Decision regarding new procedures for Appointments to State Boards, I have publically sought Expressions of Interest for appointments for vacancies which arise in bodies under the aegis of my Department in 2011. Under the new...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (21 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to An Post's post office network, including the retention of mail sorting services at individual post offices, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory role.

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

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that 2 bodies have been established under the remit of my Department since its formation in June 2007. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland was established under the Broadcasting Act 2009 and replaced both the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. The new inland fisheries authority, Inland Fisheries Ireland, was established...

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

Pat Rabbitte: As my Department was established in its present form in 2007, the identification of records prior to January 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. In the time available, it has not been possible to prepare a complete schedule of the...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (21 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to inform the Deputy that the payment of fees to the Chairpersons and Directors of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Minister of Finance, which provides for a number of levels of payment depending on matters such as the complexity, scale and extent of the functions of individual bodies. The maximum rate of Board Fee...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Acting Chairman for his welcome to the Seanad. I find myself in a slightly unusual position in that I am bringing back to this House a Bill initiated by the previous Government in the last Seanad. I am, therefore, conscious that this is the first time many Senators will have seen or had an opportunity to consider the Bill. Before addressing the amendments I brought forward in...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Are we discussing amendments Nos. 1 and 6?

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Bill requires that access to a universal service provider's network should be agreed in the first instance on a commercial basis. I do not believe that legislation that restricts any legitimate commercial activity would best serve the needs of postal users, the economy or An Post. Therefore, especially in the context of the contracting market size and the need for flexibility in meeting...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I regret that at this late stage it is not possible for me to accept the amendment. I explained why I considered that any restriction on the commercial role of An Post is undesirable. Listening to some of the contributions - I identify with many of the sentiments - it is clear that speakers do not accept that what I am doing is transposing an EU directive. There are central matters in...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: It is untrue that there was a derogation in the Netherlands. This canard was flown in the Dáil and I double checked the matter; it is not the case. On the matter of postal codes, we will come to that at the appropriate stage. I will deal with the comments of Senators White and Ó Clochartaigh as well.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: We are retaining the universal service obligation. That is at the heart of the Bill. Every piece of post will be delivered to every house in Ireland five days a week. That is the commitment. A further commitment is that An Post will not be privatised. It is not this Bill that poses any threat to the future of An Post - it is the prevailing economic conditions and, more pertinently, the...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I got a good belt of it from Deputy Ó Cuív in the other House as well. As long as Fianna Fáil remains opposed to privatisation, I cannot see what the threat to An Post will be. It appears that both sides of the House are ad idem on this matter.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Senator is right to say An Post has played an important social role in Irish life. I accept and acknowledge that the role of the postman, in particular, is much valued in rural Ireland. Some of the decisions I have taken in amending the Bill are designed to protect that role as best I can. An Post is a commercial State company. I had hoped Senator Quinn might be present as he was...

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Not resurrecting. Supporting.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As Senator Cullinane's grandfather lived to 99 years of age, we know he comes from a healthy gene pool. One could not know what changes will have been made by the time he reaches 99 years old. I would not rule out Fianna Fáil entirely, given the family's longevity.

Seanad: Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages (Resumed) (26 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Senator was laying it on with the trowel when he referred to three-teacher schools in rural Ireland closing. I do not know too many three-teacher schools that are closing. Indeed, the demographics are healthy, in that the numbers are going the other way. I should also take this opportunity to inform Senator Ó Clochartaigh that I will determine whether I can publish the Cahill report...

Offshore Exploration (14 Sep 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2011 Atlantic margin licensing round was formally launched in October 2010 and the closing date for applications was the end of May this year. The 2011 licensing round was different from previous licensing rounds in that the authorisations on offer are for two-year licensing options and not for the traditional 15 or 16 year frontier exploration licences. Fifteen applications were...

Offshore Exploration (14 Sep 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As I told the Oireachtas committee concerned last evening, I am more than willing to engage with it for as long as is necessary to review this issue but I am not prepared to delay the current licensing round that has its origins in the changes made in the Finance Act 2008 which Deputy Ó Cuív had the opportunity, when in Cabinet, to approve. I do not wish to delay that as it would introduce...

Offshore Exploration (14 Sep 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I did not make any comment good, bad or indifferent approving or disapproving of the Finance Act 2008. Deputy Ó Cuív was bruiting this about throughout the summer and it is about time he produced some quote from me to that effect.

Offshore Exploration (14 Sep 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I did not do it. That is the first point.