Results 8,521-8,540 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The low income housing / energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing such measures. 'Better Energy: Warmer Homes' delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that the number of commercial semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department is seven, as follows: An Post Bord Gáis Éireann Bord na Móna EirGrid Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Raidió Teilifís Éireann Teilifís na Gaeilge

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy may be aware, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the British and Irish Governments on 1 February 2010. The Memorandum deals with broadcast services and related radio spectrum issues in the context of the provision of digital terrestrial services on the island of Ireland and provides for cooperation between the authorities in both jurisdictions on this issue. One...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (or LNG) projects, including specific projects like the Shannon LNG project. I understand that Shannon LNG – a wholly owned...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department ensures that all public procurement procedures as outlined by the Department of Finance are adhered to during the procurement process. As part of these processes every effort is being undertaken to ensure value for money and achieve cost reductions. Notably, my Department earlier this year, as part of the Croke Park Agreement, has implemented an agreement with the Department of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Firstly, I should clarify that Enniskeane, County Cork is not covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Outside of the NBS Area, "3" the NBS service provider, operates as a private telecommunications service provider and I have no role in resolving customer dissatisfaction with the service provided. Where broadband subscribers have complaints or issues relating to the quality and/or...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The potential of the Irish offshore as a petroleum producing region is largely unproven and this is likely to remain the case unless there is a relatively significant increase in the level of exploration activity, in particular exploration drilling. Over the past decade on average only two exploration wells have been drilled per year. The principal aim of the recently completed 2011 Atlantic...

Written Answers — Onshore Exploration: Onshore Exploration (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 73 to 75, inclusive, together. I indicated recently that I had requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is currently funding preliminary background research in the form of a study being...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am glad to have the opportunity to introduce this short Bill to the Seanad. While it is short, it is nonetheless important in the interests of ensuring the cost of regulation to industry is kept to a minimum. The Bill proposes to allow the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, to apply to the National Treasury Management Agency, NTMA, for a loan to meet its start-up costs in connection...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Senators for their contributions. As Senator Daly noted, this is not a controversial Bill although it owes its origins to the Corrib controversy. My ministerial predecessors, Noel Dempsey and Eamon Ryan, were concerned about the issues that arose regarding safety and the framework that was put in place as a result is in keeping with best international practice. Irrespective of the...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Other than that there is a lot of gas in it, I do not think it has anything to do with it.

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Senator had alleged yesterday that the Minister for Justice and Equality had counselled or threatened the Bar Council not to come out against either of the referendums. When he was apologising this morning, he ascribed the allegation to me by suggesting I had intervened by warning the Bar Council that it would be punished in the context of the proposed legal services legislation if it...

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not want to drag it out. I just want to say-----

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I accept the ruling of the Leas-Chathaoirleach. I thought it was particularly ungraceful to apologise to the Minister for Justice and Equality and then go on to implicate me in something in which I had no involvement - good, bad or indifferent. It was an abuse of the privilege of the House and I regret that it happened.

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I reassure the Senator that the measure being introduced in the Bill will have no implications for the Shannon LNG project. As it is an upstream development, it will not be encompassed by this legislation. I accept, however, that there is concern in County Kerry about the project. I share that concern and the Government is determined to provide whatever assistance it can.

Seanad: Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Senator is right. There is much concern in both Houses of the Oireachtas about the issue of hydraulic fracturing. This concern is shared in some parts of the country more than others. I would like to clarify that no process of fracking or hydraulic fracturing is under way. Licences were awarded last February to permit some surveying work and desktop studying of the possibilities to be...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Article 7 of the EIA directive (85/337/EEC) provides for a trans-boundary consultation regime where a project in one Member State is likely to have significant effect on the environment in another Member State. The directive also requires Member States to agree on a reasonable time frame for the duration of the consultation period. I can inform the Deputy that details of the Petroleum...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The payroll function for my Department is carried out by the Department of Finance under a shared service agreement. Accordingly, there are no costs to my Department that relate to the issuing of hard copy payslips.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the day to day running of the payroll function in the State agencies under my aegis is a matter for each individual agency and you should contact them directly with regard to the information sought.