Results 9,281-9,300 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte
- Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Statutory Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 to underpin delivery of the mandatory EU target of 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. The obligation currently requires that the amount of biofuel brought to the market is not less than 4.166% of the relevant disposal of petroleum road transport fuels. In 2011, the total amount of petroleum motor fuel placed on the...
- Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: Section 23 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 1960, as amended, provides a power for the compulsory acquisition of land and ancillary rights by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Specifically, Section 23 provides that whenever the Minister is of the opinion that it is necessary for the efficient or convenient exploitation of petroleum (which...
- Written Answers — An Post Remuneration: An Post Remuneration (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The setting of annual and multi-annual objectives applicable to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is an operational matter for the Board of An Post and not one in which I have a function. I am informed by An Post that the CEO has waived his right to 25% of his performance related pay since 2008. A further 10% relating to multi annual objectives has not been paid since the date of the CEO's...
- Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I do not intend to initiate a public inquiry into licences awarded for offshore oil and gas exploration by the former Minister mentioned. For the information of the House, none of the petroleum exploration authorisations awarded during the period in question led to a discovery of oil or gas and all of these exploration authorisations have long since expired.
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: A study was carried out in 2009 on behalf of my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in Northern Ireland to consider a possible cross border telecoms link in the Cavan/Monaghan/Fermanagh area under the North-South Interreg IVA cooperation programme. The study identified that further connectivity between Monaghan, Cavan and Enniskillen would be suitable for...
- Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to the post office network, including the granting of a franchise to a retail outlet for the operation of a post office, are an operational matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function.
- Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Better Energy Programme. The Warmer Homes scheme is delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. The SEAI advises that 762 homes in County Kerry were supported in 2010 and 587 in 2011. The waiting list comprises 10,729 homes...
- Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: This is not a matter in which I have a function. Matters relating to privacy and data protection are appropriate to the Minister for Justice and Equality.
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff scheme known as REFIT offers minimum guaranteed prices for up to 15 years to generators accepted under the terms and conditions into the REFIT schemes that enter a Power Purchase Agreement with licensed suppliers. Below are a list of the current REFIT categories and rates along with the 2012 REFIT reference prices per MWh. The categories for REFIT 3...
- Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: My Department has answered 327 Written Parliamentary Questions from 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2012. Details of all Parliamentary Questions are available on the website of the Houses of the Oireachtas, and they are therefore already a matter of public record. It is not possible to provide the detailed information requested in the timeframe allowed but my Department will provide it directly...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 745 and 746 together. The information requested by the Deputy is outlined as follows: Name Post Date of Appointment Salary on appointment Increase Finbarr O'Malley Special Adviser to Minister 28 March 2011 â¬83,337 (2nd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) â¬86,604 (3rd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) Simon Nugent Special Adviser to Minister...
- Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 747 and 748 together. There were no eel dealer licences issued in 2010 and 2011. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that a small number of kilogrammes were purchased from the Lough Neagh Fishery in Northern Ireland in 2011 and imported into the State for processing. Since the commercial eel fishery was closed in 2009 no other imports have occurred.
- Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 749 to 757, inclusive, together. The 2007 EU Eel Regulation (1100/2007), EC Regulation (Council Regulation 1100/2007) was drafted in response to the endangered status of the European Eel, required European states including Ireland to develop Eel Management Plans for implementation in 2009. The objective of each Eel Management Plan is to reduce anthropogenic...
- Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 758 to 760, inclusive, together. There are no talks underway or plans to privatise the River Shannon Fishery. There is a ban on commercial fishing for eels from inland waters in the State including the River Shannon Estuary. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that there is no evidence of the illegal removal of large quantities of glass eels from...
- Written Answers — Better Energy Homes Scheme: Better Energy Homes Scheme (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 761 and 762 together. The 2012 allocation is â¬76.146 million for the overall Better Energy Programme, including Better Energy: Homes. The programme continues to underpin significant economic activity, supporting at least 4,500 jobs and realising significant energy savings for households. To date the scheme has paid over â¬130m in grants for over 300,000...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I have detailed the total of payments made by my Department to mobile telephone companies over the last five years in the following table: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Vodafone â¬112,981.78 â¬43,855.62 â¬62,674.74 â¬66,218.08 â¬50,527.38 O2 â¬38,489.95 â¬36,475.12 - - â¬387.55 TOTAL â¬151,471.73 â¬80,330.74 â¬62,674.74 â¬66,218.08 â¬50,914.93 Both Vodafone and O2 have been used...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's fiscal terms are tax based and do not include royalty payments. In 1987, Ireland followed the lead of other countries such as the UK and Norway in moving away from a royalty based payments system to a tax based system. Under a tax based system the return to the State is linked directly to the profitability of the individual oil or gas field, as compared to a royalty based system...
- Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes solar grant amounts to â¬800 for every eligible home where the installation meets the performance requirements set out in the Better Energy Homes Code of Practice and the homeowner's Solar Buyers Guide. The specification requires that the solar water heating installation must...
- Written Answers — National Broadband Scheme: National Broadband Scheme (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on the Commission for Communications Regulation's (ComReg) website at...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Apr 2012)
Pat Rabbitte: I am aware that Ireland's first commercial wind farm has been operating at Bellacorick, County Mayo since 1992. Information on the Bellacorick wind farm is available on the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) website and it indicates that the project was grant-aided by the EU Valoren programme, which assisted the development of indigenous energy potential in less development...