Results 9,501-9,520 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's energy policy priorities are framed in the context of the European Union. Policy is based on pursuing the objective of a sustainable, competitive and secure supply of energy. Natural gas is the predominant fuel for power generation in Ireland accounting for over 60 per cent of electricity generation. Overall, it continues to be an important fuel for power generation, and remains...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS) including the MAN in Waterford City are managed, maintained and operated by the Managed Service Entity (e|net) on behalf of the State under a Concession Agreement. While there are no specific plans to extend existing MANS, including the MAN in Waterford City, the Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key...

Energy Regulation (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this issue. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is a statutorily independent body established under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and has responsibility for overseeing the regulation of Ireland's electricity and gas sectors. The regulator promotes competition in the electricity and natural gas markets so that customers can ultimately...

Energy Regulation (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin that this is a distressing case. We were fortunate to have had a milder winter than was the experience in the previous two years. However, the fact of the matter remains that gas prices globally have been on a constantly upward trend. The weakening euro also makes it more expensive because of imports. The weakening euro is probably helpful for many of our...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes solar grant for domestic water heating amounts to €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. There are currently no plans to introduce grants...

Written Answers — Mayo Earthquake: Mayo Earthquake (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland is situated on a tectonically benign part of the world, unlike for example Japan, California, New Zealand or parts of the Mediterranean and is therefore not at risk from high magnitude earthquakes. The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that occurred 60 km off the north Mayo coast at 08:58 local time on 6th June was located on a geological fault system that drops the Slyne-Rockall basins down...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government appointed Mr. Finbarr O'Malley and Mr. Simon Nugent as my Special Advisers with effect from 28 March 2011 and 11 April 2011 respectively. My Department requested sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to appoint my Special Advisers at salary rates commensurate with their previous remuneration. Sanction was granted to appoint Mr. O'Malley at a salary rate...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband services, is, in the first instance, a matter for competing service providers using one of the available technology platforms i.e. DSL, fixed or mobile wireless, cable or satellite and operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market which is regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 406 and 407 together. I received a copy of the Grant Thornton report when I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) recently. I welcome the IPU's ambition to identify opportunities for more business to be delivered through the Post Office network. An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Seismic surveys are a normal part of petroleum exploration activities and are subject to approval from my Department. Applications to conduct seismic surveys must include a risk assessment of the proposed activity in relation to the sensitivities of marine mammals in the area and outline specific impact mitigation and monitoring practices that will be applied. On 20 April 2012, my Department...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As my Department is primarily engaged in policy and regulatory functions, the breakdown of staff numbers is as follows: Administrative 24%; Management 75.25% and Elected Representatives 0.75%. The breakdown in terms of salaries for each of these categories is: €2 million paid to Administrative staff (12.5% of salaries expenditure); €13.8 million to Management staff (86.9%) and; €0.1...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Get Willie to hold your jacket.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a Second Stage speech.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy has done a fair bit of it herself.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have no function in relation to Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 68 of 2003 which was brought into force by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Regulation 6 of that SI provides for consultation with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Section 15 of the Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by independent expert consultants engaged by my Department to monitor compliance with the conditions of the Corrib consents under the Gas and Petroleum Acts, that pipelines are normally designed taking account of the largest loads they are likely to experience during their life including, transport, loading, installation and operation. Operational loads include those due to the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (13 Jun 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. That said, I have made enquiries and can now provide the following information. SAORSAT has been developed by RTÉ to cater for persons who cannot access SAORVIEW. As a result, Irish free-to-air...

Written Answers — National Gas Grid: National Gas Grid (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 123 raised by him on 24 May 2012. The House will also be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions that the decision on the regulatory treatment of the gas interconnectors is statutorily a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in the matter. Most recently, the CER decision has been delayed...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I received a copy of the Grant Thornton report when I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) recently. I welcome the IPU's ambition to identify opportunities for more business to be delivered through the Post Office network. An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the Company the need to further exploit its unique position in...

Written Answers — Public Service Remuneration: Public Service Remuneration (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that no bonuses have been paid in respect of 2011 to CEOs in semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in semi-State companies are brought to the attention of the relevant State companies. The payment of performance bonuses to senior management below the level of Chief...