Results 8,881-8,900 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 147 together. EirGrid's latest data, which is available on their website, shows that at the end of 2011, there is 1900MW of renewable generation on the national grid. This includes 1630MW of connected wind, 234MW of hydro and 46MW of additional other renewable generation. Ireland's achievement in terms of the level of wind integrated on to a small...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid's data, available on their website www.eirgrid.com , indicates that at the end of 2011, there were 1630MW of wind generation connected to the grid, making up the bulk of our total of 1900MW of renewable generation connected. The latest modelling undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), ('Energy Forecasts for Ireland to 2020 [2011]), indicates that capacity of...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: According to the most recent Biofuels Obligation Scheme Annual Report, there were four entities producing biofuels participating in the Biofuel Obligation Scheme. Two of these companies were based in County Wexford, one was in County Kerry and one was in Galway.
- Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The provision of alarm or alert systems is a matter for the private marketplace. Neither my Department nor the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has any role in setting the standards for what alarm systems are used or in the monitoring of their performance.
- Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), who administer the Better Energy programme on my behalf, are currently in the process of contract renewal with the network of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) with a view to concluding contract renewals at the earliest possible opportunity. In addition, an Invitation to Tender will shortly be published by the SEAI to establish a new...
- Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (18 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: In line with the Government's Affordable Energy Strategy, more focussed eligibility criteria be implemented in 2012 in order to ensure that those most at risk of extreme fuel poverty are prioritised. Work will get underway shortly with the community-based organisations and other relevant parties to finalise new eligibility criteria which will ensure that Exchequer resources are directed...
- Gas Explosion (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the important topic of gas safety. I entirely agree with the Deputy that safety must be of paramount concern. BGE is the owner of the national gas transmission and distribution systems and is mandated with the development and maintenance of the natural gas network under the Gas Act 1976. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is the...
- Gas Explosion (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I agree entirely with the Deputy that, happily, such incidents are rare but that does not mean this was not a most unfortunate incident. I extend my sympathy to the people injured in these circumstances. I am not sure it would be helpful for me to offer opinions. The preliminary accident report is filed already and that, in turn, triggers the next step, which is an international...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Act, 2010, which amended the Communications Regulation Act 2002, permits the National Roads Authority (NRA) to make its road ducts on national roads available to facilitate the roll-out of backhaul fibre networks by the industry. The legislation allows the NRA to make a charging scheme for...
- Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland on behalf of my Department, provides energy efficiency upgrades in privately owned homes. The Warmer Homes Scheme specifically fully funds energy efficiency upgrades in vulnerable private owned houses. Since 2004, retrofitting measures in local authority housing are undertaken as part of the...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband services, is in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market. Decisions relating to the provision of broadband services are commercial matters for the commercial service providers. Neither I nor ComReg, the telecommunications...
- Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (19 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by ESB that the charge points being installed by the company are compatible with the latest standards for electric vehicles which are being supported by the major motor manufacturers. ESB also advises that some earlier models of electric vehicles, such as legacy quadricylces, may not be able to use the charge points. I have no plans at present to introduce legislation in...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: Deputy McGrath is spreading his wings. I did not take him for an Ahmadinejad man.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I knew there had to be a local angle.
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I can advise the Deputy that based on assessments the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) on the Bandon River is 933 for the 2012 season more than twice the TAC for 2011. The TAC is apportioned between the recreational and commercial sectors by the District Director of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) following consultation with, and advice from, the Fisheries District Committees. It is fair to say...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 412 to 415, inclusive, together. The 2012 Exchequer allocation for the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is â¬100.336 million, which includes a carryover provision of â¬15 million and represents a reduction of â¬29.283 million on SEAI's 2011 allocation. The administrative allocation for the SEAI in 2012 is â¬8.265 million, which represents a...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The terms and conditions of employment and retirement of eircom employees, including pension arrangements, are a matter for the board and management of eircom. While I have no function in this matter, I understand that the superannuation scheme provides for dispute resolution including a mechanism for final appeal to the Minster for Public Expenditure and Reform for eircom employees who...
- Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The distribution of television licence fee receipts is governed by the provisions of Section 123 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended by Part 4 of the Communications Regulations Act 2011. In effect, the majority of licence fee revenue is paid to RTÃ, TG4 and an amount equal to 7% of net licence fee receipts is available to all broadcasters to apply for through the Broadcasting Funding...
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I have requested the bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy in so far as the information sought in Parliamentary Question No. 335 of 25 October 2011 is concerned.
- Telecommunications Services (25 Jan 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to place on the record of the House some remarks in respect of this matter. I am also glad to take the opportunity to outline some of the initiatives undertaken to improve the quality of telecommunications infrastructure in regional and rural areas. As Deputy McHugh will be aware, the electronic communications market in this country is fully...