Results 9,741-9,760 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: There is a provision of €545,000 for Postal and Telecommunications Services for my Department, in my Department's Estimate (Vote 29) for 2012. Expenditure to date is €198,000.

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

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following tables: Total Sick Days Taken 2009 2010 2011 Sick Days Taken 3,572.13 3,355.83 2,382.83 Average per Employee 11.49 11.98 8.83 Average Sick Days by Department Section 2009 2010 2011 Communications and Knowledge Society 15.9 21.24 13.68 Energy 10.95 9.59 7.06 Finance, Corporate Services and Natural Resources 15.78...

Written Answers — Gas Exploration: Gas Exploration (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's fiscal terms are tax based and the return to the State is linked directly to the profitability of an individual oil or gas field. Profits from petroleum production arising from exploration licences granted prior to 2007 are taxed at a rate of 25%. The direct financial return to the State from the Corrib gas field will be through the 25% tax on profits. The level of profits from...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 462 and 468 together. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of ensuring that 16% of all energy consumption is to be from renewable sources by 2020. This target has to be achieved across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. This target, like all targets assigned to other Member States, is challenging and the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: In 2005 and 2006, the Mineral Oil Tax Relief (MOTR) schemes, valued at over €200m in excise foregone, were introduced as an interim measure to incentivise the use of biofuels in Ireland. Prior to introduction of the schemes, market penetration of biofuels in Ireland was almost non existent. These schemes ended in 2010, with the introduction of the national Biofuel Obligation Scheme. The...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that I have received submissions from the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland with regard to their recent proposals which include suggestion to the effect that licence fee funds be dispersed to independent broadcasters in recognition of their public sector output and that RTÉ's commercial operations be restricted. It should be clear that these stations were founded as...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. In accordance with this function and with its obligations under national and EU law, ComReg designs and manages the assignment of radio spectrum, which includes the imposition and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: With regard to the post office network, operational matters and the sustainability of 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 the Company in this regard. An Post has...

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

Pat Rabbitte: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to co-invest with the private sector and commercial Semi State sector to provide Next Generation Broadband customer access and associated fast speeds to every home and business in the State. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report, which I launched on 2 May last, will have an important role to play in this regard. The...

Written Answers — Petroleum and Gas Exploration: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No commercial discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals have been made either onshore or offshore arising from exploration licences issued in the past ten years. While there have been incremental technology advances, no new exploration methods have been employed.

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of all aspects of any organisations IT systems is a matter primarily for the relevant organisation itself. Where the organisation operates in a regulated sector there may be a duty for that organisation to report any incidents in relation to the lack of performance of their IT network to their regulator. With respect to the recent experiences in the banking sector I believe...

Constitutional Referendum: Announcement by Taoiseach (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Which you never did.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am here to express my support for and my confidence in the Minister for Health and the huge challenge that he has been left by the outgoing Fianna Fáil Administration. For more than ten years the people opposite failed in the best of times to deliver a quality health service. In times of plenty they had the unique distinction of making the situation worse. I cannot believe, having...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: -----from the people who created the mess coming into this House on day one of the new term-----

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: -----with the same old codology about a motion of no confidence that they know has no prospect of success in this House.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am very sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I would have liked more time because I am only getting off the runway.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of the market. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. Prices in the retail electricity market are now fully deregulated and since 1 October 2011 gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has introduced a programme for new generic Top-Level Domains (such as .com, .org, .net, etc.). The stated aim of the programme is to increase competition and choice by introducing new gTLDs into the Internet addressing system. ICANN states that any established public or private organisation that meets eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that there has been no discussion in relation to a rod licence for fishing on Lough Ree nor are there any plans for same at present.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Other than income from taxation and royalty payments, the principal income derived from petroleum exploration and production activities results from licence acreage rental fees, together with application fees. The aim of these fees is to encourage effective and timely exploration and to also help meet costs incurred by the Department in discharging its regulatory functions. Receipts for...