Results 9,381-9,400 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

State Contracts (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have raised with Bord Gáis more than once the matters raised by the Deputy in the House. This has caused the company to communicate directly with him. On the wider issue he raises, the fact remains that we are a member of the European Union. To do what he asks would run contrary to the law. Therefore, we cannot do what he suggests in terms of procurement. Even if any of the companies...

State Contracts (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is in possession of as much information as I am. This is a giant international company the services of which were procured in the normal way by Bord Gáis Éireann. Bord Gáis Éireann has gone to considerable difficulty to persuade Deputy Ferris and myself that it did everything above board, which is not to say some of the matters Deputy Ferris brought to my attention are, and...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am very aware that many families are experiencing financial hardship including the cost of heating their homes, due to the current economic difficulties. I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation,...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary focus of the strategy is to improve thermal efficiency in homes that are at risk. It is not focused on bringing down the price of gas or oil. Gas and oil are imported into the country. We are price takers and there is very little we can do about that. We can, however, reduce our consumption and address the inefficient circumstances in which many people live. The Deputy is...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, administers the workplaces efficiency fund as part of the better energy programme. The better energy programme is in line with the key criteria governing the Government's investment priorities and is consistent with the programme for Government objectives. It is also consistent with the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which includes...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with the Deputy that the supplier companies have shown an understanding of current circumstances and, in the case of some small and medium enterprises, SMEs, energy costs are particularly onerous in terms of their running costs. In addition, I was happy to put in place the protocol for domestic users where there was an undertaking that there would not be disconnections during the...

Broadcasting Legislation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of premium rate telephone numbers and their advertising, including those referred to in the Deputy's question, is a matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, and the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The BAI and ComReg are independent statutory bodies and as such, I have no direct role in the matter. The enactment of the...

Broadcasting Legislation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It has not yet been established that the BAI code is ineffective. The issue raised by the Deputy concerns whether so-called chat lines are, in fact, as he put it, a cover for prostitution. I find it difficult to think of anything positive that one could say about the advertisements in question. They are demeaning of women and, unfortunately, as the Deputy said, there is an issue affecting...

Sale of State Assets (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 10 and 12 together. The Government has decided that Bord Gáis Éireann's energy business will be part of the assets disposal programme. The Government has reiterated its commitment to retaining the gas networks and interconnectors in State ownership as strategic infrastructure which is fundamental to Ireland's security of energy supply and the economy. BGE is...

Sale of State Assets (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, wearing his hat in the other Department, is more competent in this area than I am. The fact remains that, as Deputy Niall Collins stated, this is no more than rumour and speculation. The Government has made no decision other than that there will be no privatisation of water, there will be a State water company whose name is not yet decided, and Bord...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 30 together. The programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the television licence fee in light of the existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the television licence into a household-based public broadcasting charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: We have enough problems.

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadcasting charge will be a replacement for the television licence fee, not a new charge. When the Deputy says it will amount to a new charge for some people, that is true in so far as it refers to those who are cheating. The extent of evasion is currently of the order of €25 million. On the question of whether I hope to raise more revenue under the new system, that depends on what...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Anybody already paying the television licence fee has nothing to fear. If we do manage to bring in additional revenue, we might even be able to decrease the charge. I am sure that would be applauded by Members on the benches opposite. I understand some 7.5% of licence fee revenue goes to the Sound and Vision fund and some €10 million to TG4. I acknowledge that some of the independent...

Energy Costs (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control on petroleum products. It has been the policy objective of successive Governments to promote price competition and consumer choice. Previous surveys have shown that prices charged by Irish retailers for oil products correlate with the refinery price rather...

Electricity Transmission Network (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no role in the planning and construction of the transmission network. These are operational matters for EirGrid, which is the independent statutory State body responsible for the development and maintenance of the national electricity transmission system. EirGrid is fully committed to public consultation with local communities and all stakeholders on its transmission network...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The SAORSAT satellite service has been developed by RTÉ on its own initiative and is not a requirement under the Broadcasting Act 2009. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. As the Deputy may be aware the SAORSAT service has been developed by RTÉ to cater for persons who cannot access the new DTT transmission system. As a result, Irish free-to-air channels will be...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department's expenditure from its consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews budget was €1.364m in 2011, and expenditure of €208k has been incurred to date in 2012. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary. In this regard, the Deputy might note that...

Written Answers — Semi-State Companies: Semi-State Companies (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 23 together. Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) appoints contractors in compliance with the appropriate competitive processes under EU and national rules as set out in the Department of Finance Guidelines on Public Procurement. The appointment of contractors is a matter for the Board and management of Bord Gáis and I have no function in the matter. My...

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Supervision of the grid connection process is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Gate process was put in place by the CER following public consultation. It is a group processing approach towards the processing and issuance of grid connection offers to renewable generators. The CER issued its Gate 3 Direction to the system operators on 16/12/08...