Results 9,721-9,740 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 17 to 20, inclusive, together. As the Deputies will appreciate An Post is a Commercial State body with its own Board and Management. Operational matters and the sustainability of the post office network are a matter for the Management and Board of An Post. These are areas in which I have no statutory function. Nonetheless, it is Government policy...

Written Answers — Broadband Services: Broadband Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Statistics on broadband availability in Ireland, in the format requested by the Deputy, are not available. Statutory authority to require statistical information from individual service providers, operating in the fully liberalised telecommunications market, is vested in the independent market regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg, publishes quarterly...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Collective energy bargaining is an innovative practice being looked at by a number of Governments and communities within Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands amongst others. The premise is that the community or group can purchase fuel at a more competitive rate than that available to individuals, thus reducing expenditure on fuel for participants. The concept is particularly...

Written Answers — Single Energy Market: Single Energy Market (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: All island energy cooperation is governed by the joint All-island Energy Market Development Framework, 2004, which recognised that both Governments have a shared interest in more competitive energy markets, reduced energy costs and improved reliability of supply. That framework reinforced the benefits of ensuring that policy developments in both jurisdictions are progressed to mutual...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I and Government colleagues have consistently been supportive of the proposal by Shannon LNG to construct a LNG terminal near Ballylongford, County Kerry. Such a facility, together with the bringing onshore of Corrib Gas would provide important security of gas supply for Ireland in future years. I have met the promoters of the project on a number of occasions and both my Department and the...

Written Answers — Television Reception: Television Reception (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: First of all, I would like to point out that TV viewers who use the analogue TV network will need to make the change to digital in advance of 24 October and not on 24 October. TV viewers who currently use pay TV are unaffected. On 24 October our free to air national analogue TV network which has operated since 1962 will be switched off for good. The replacement digital free to air TV...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 443 together. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I do have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with...

Written Answers — Programme for Government: Programme for Government (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The achievements of my Department under the programme for Government are as set out Annual Report 2012 as published by the Department of the Taoiseach. My priorities for the coming year are to continue to build on these achievements in line with Government commitments including: Delivering Energy Efficiency Strategy, Programmes and Funding Mechanisms for business, public sector and domestic...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, following on from the publication of the BAI Report, and the Horgan report into the circumstances surrounding the broadcast of the Mission to Prey documentary, a series of measures were put in place to address the recommendations of both of these reports. These measures include some major procedural and training developments within the broadcaster, and build on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The following table outlines the details of monies spent directly by my Department on projects in County Meath during the period in question. In relation to details of expenditure by bodies under the aegis of my Department, this is, in the first instance, a matter for the bodies concerned. I will ask that they supply the information to the Deputy. In addition, I should mention that, as...

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table: Name Post Date of Appointment Salary on appointment Increase Finbarr O'Malley Special Adviser to Minister 28 March 2011 €83,337 (2nd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) €86,604 (3rd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) Simon Nugent Special Adviser to Minister 11 April 2011 €97,200 None Mr O'Malley was awarded...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of the total number of board places, the remuneration applicable and the savings which would occur in reducing the amount paid, is set out in tabular form below. The One Person One Salary principle and voluntary waiver option have been brought to the attention of the Boards. The issue of payment of fees and expenses is an operational matter for each agency. Body/ Regulator...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There would be no savings to the Exchequer from such a cap on CEOs of Commercial State Bodies as these salaries are funded from the own resources of the companies in question. In regard to Exchequer funded agencies I will write to the Deputy with the estimated gross savings from the imposition of such a cap.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not employ any agency staff. There are a number of contractors employed in my Department on fixed term contracts related to specific programmes and I will write to the Deputy with the Exchequer cost arising in these instances. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those organisations and my Department does...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is not currently involved in any public private partnerships.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to my Department there are no public service provision responsibilities outsourced to the private sector.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume the Deputy is referring to spending on payroll. No spending delays have occurred in the salaries budget of my Department. The Department will continue to manage staff numbers in line with the Employment Control Framework while filling critical vacancies.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that the number of Commercial State bodies and Non-Commercial State bodies, including Regulators, under the aegis of my Department, is 18. In relation to cost, I assume the Deputy is referring to payments made from my Department Vote to help meet the running costs of Agencies. Details of payments to the Bodies on this basis is set out in tabular form below. Name...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. A Petroleum Exploration Specialist was re-employed in my Department for eight days in April 2012 at a cost of €1,600. Normal abatement rules were applied in this case. Three former public servants have been engaged in specific consultancy with my Department related to specific projects, including periodic work since March of this year.