Results 8,841-8,860 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is right in the sense that any of these private sector companies have a duty to their shareholders - there is no doubt about that. However, they also have a vested interest in serving the largest segment of market they can get in this marketplace and, in the process, encouraging a competitive dynamic that does exist, in all fairness, despite the small marketplace. I do not see...

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: -----it would be stupid to say that and to proceed on that basis. We will avail of all the technologies that are there to make sure we roll out high-speed broadband to the optimum number of homes in Ireland.

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 13 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, administers the Better Energy programme on behalf of my Department. The SEAI was initially allocated €65 million for the programme in 2011. On taking office and in the context of the jobs initiative, I announced an increase of €30 million in funding for the programme, which brought the...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree that what the Deputy mentioned in regard to ring-fencing the carbon tax appears logical. The legal advice, however, is that we cannot have hypothecated taxes in the way we do business in this jurisdiction. I remember raising the same point in terms of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and the drugs barons, to the effect that where moneys are recouped from drug barons by the CAB they...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is a sensible suggestion. I would be glad to do that. I do not have the document with me but we have published the affordable energy strategy. If the Deputy has had the opportunity to read even the executive summary, in that we set out that kind of reorientation of policy in this area. It is not my business to speculate about the future of fuel allowance or how it may proceed. I will...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: What has that to do with the issue?

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Either I am a bit dim-witted or we are at cross purposes. I am not sure I understand what the Deputy means in respect of the pension levy. What does that have to do with retrofit? My predecessor provided for €65 million in the budget of 2011. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, acceded to my request that an additional €30 million be made available, bringing the...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 15 together. The current television licence system is such that, except for certain classes of social welfare recipients, if one owns a television set one is liable to pay a television licence. An Post is responsible for the collection of television licence fees and for identifying those persons who have unlicensed televisions sets. The programme for...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is correct the status quo is probably not feasible for two reasons, first, the phenomenon of technological convergence and, second, the extent of evasion. Notwithstanding the best efforts of An Post - I have not been given any credible argument as to why some other agency would do better than An Post - there is still a 15% evasion rate which costs RTE about €25 million a year.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, there is the exception of the statutory provision for TG4 and the fund. Up to €25 million in evasion is a significant factor. While Deputy Ó Cuív claimed 99.9% of the population would not watch television on platforms other than the conventional television set, I believe there is a digital divide in that younger viewers access television content on other platforms. The Ceann...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No, I think Deputy Ó Cuív has upscaled.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The household charge envisaged in this question, a broadcasting charge, is not an additional charge. Such a charge would replace a television charge. I have no hesitation in co-operating with Deputy Ó Cuív and the Opposition in presenting before an Oireachtas committee on this matter.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is possible.

Written Answers — Gas Exploration: Gas Exploration (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Officials of my Department have had contacts with their counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to the onshore exploration authorisations that are in place in the two jurisdictions. The primary purpose of these contacts has been to facilitate an exchange of information in relation to the nature of the activities that have been licensed and their associated timelines. There has also...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. As set out in ComReg documents 11/60 and 11/75 and associated documents, ComReg is proposing to hold a multi-band award of spectrum rights of use in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. These documents also detail...

Written Answers — Energy Market Regulation: Energy Market Regulation (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's priority energy policy objectives are to ensure secure, sustainable and competitive energy supply for the economy and for consumers. The energy regulatory framework for energy markets must also reflect and address evolving energy policy challenges and deliver compliance with the requirements of both EU and national energy legislation. The regulation of the electricity and...

Written Answers — Gas Exploration: Gas Exploration (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have not to date received any applications for an exploration licence that would involve hydraulic fracturing. In February of last year, my Department granted onshore Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the Lough Allen and Clare Basin respectively. The Licensing Options are preliminary authorisations and are different to exploration licences. The Options are for a two year...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Directive 2009/28/EC imposes a legally binding target on Ireland for a 16% share of renewable energy in all energy consumed by 2020. Ireland has set targets of 40% electricity, 12% heating and 10% transport fuel to be from renewables by 2020. The combined effect of these sectoral targets is commensurate with the achievement of the overall 16% target. In 2011 around 15% of Ireland's...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of telecommunications services, including international electronic communication connectivity, is primarily a matter for the private sector, regulated where appropriate by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The island of Ireland has many international telecommunications cables, providing international connectivity to the country. There are transatlantic...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: REFIT 2 is designed to support a range of technologies including onshore wind, landfill gas and small hydro technologies. I can inform the Deputy that last week my Department received State Aid clearance from DG Competition for Ireland's REFIT 2 application. I am advising the Government accordingly of my intention to open the scheme and with the Government's agreement, the scheme will be...