Results 9,881-9,900 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This includes information on transmitter sites being used. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ. Section 130 of the Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Flood Prevention Measures (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have received the Report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht entitled, ‘Eight proposals urgently required to tackle flooding on the river Shannon, its tributaries and the waters feeding into it’. I have, as requested, forwarded copies to the relevant agencies under my remit and asked them to respond directly to the Joint Committee itself. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to the post office network, including the development of commercial strategies, are an operational matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. Nonetheless, it is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable State company, providing high quality services on a nationwide basis. In this context, the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum Management (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: 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. I am advised by ComReg that the 800MHz spectrum currently allocated for use in broadcasting analogue television signals, until 24 October 2012, is included in ComReg’s current Multi-Band Spectrum Award. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The number of long-term sustainable jobs that new renewable energy projects can deliver depends on a variety of factors. The figures quoted are estimates based on a variety of assumptions. A 2009 report by the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) entitled “Jobs and Investment in Irish wind energy” estimated that the wind energy sector in Ireland can support 1.5 jobs per MW...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Energy use comprises electricity, heating and transport. In 2011, 6.5% of all energy we consumed in the State was from renewable sources. The development of renewable energy in Ireland is being pursued in line with our obligations under the Renewable Energy Directive, to have 16% of all energy consumed in the State to be from renewable sources by 2020. This is a legally binding obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme, which includes Better Energy Homes, Warmer Homes and Workplaces. Exchequer funding of €76.146 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Programme in 2012, which is projected to deliver 567GWh in energy savings this year, equivalent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Provision of approximately €200,000 is made in the administrative budget of my Department to cover legal costs in 2012. Expenditure of €99,000 has been incurred from this provision to the end of September 2012. Other legal costs can arise that are funded from the relevant programme areas within my Vote. In the time available, it was not possible to gather information on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As Deputies are aware, I have no statutory function in the setting of gas prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of the market. Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory body. Until 1 October 2011, the CER regulated the Bord Gáis Energy tariffs for its residential and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: What is happening is being driven by events in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan. The particular matter Deputy Cowen raises about the application from gas companies and the decision of the regulator is a function of how rapidly the position is changing. From the date Bord Gáis Energy submitted its application until the delayed date of the regulator's announcement, the position...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Any alleviation of the burden on my shoulders that the Chair can provide for will be welcomed. In 2011 Ireland had figure of 17.6% for renewable electricity, 3.6% for bio-fuels and 5% for renewable heating, which amounted in total to 6.5% of all energy consumed being generated from renewable sources. The Government is committed, to meet our 2020 binding targets, to increasing the figure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I apologise to Deputy Daly. The remainder of my answer deals with all of this but she must wait to read it on the record. Anyway, it deals with the matter at some considerable length.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I know the Deputy would prefer to have all the information. What am I doing to protect our indigenous wind resources? Potentially, we have the capacity to generate perhaps twice our own requirement. We would only do this if we had a market for the excess; otherwise, there would be no point. Generally speaking, one cannot store electricity. If there were a market then there would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Would that we had more entrepreneurs like him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I was only getting off the runway.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: At the start of the national digital switchover information and awareness campaign in October 2011, approximately 250,000 households had to make the switch to digital television. These households were solely reliant on the analogue television network, which is switching off in 13 days' time, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 October. Households that use only pay television platforms, such as Sky...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I sincerely hope the switchover will go as well as Deputy Cowen anticipates, because Irish people have a habit of leaving it until the last minute. Whereas it is fair to say that no one could be unaware that the switchover is taking place, it is worrying that there is still some way to go. I am reluctant to predict a 100% smooth transfer on 24 October. I take this opportunity to say to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I will have to cut back on giving all this information to the House. Clearly I am overdoing it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Radio Broadcasting Issues (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As I have told this House on a number of occasions, I fully recognise the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. As I noted when I addressed the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland annual conference earlier this year, "Local radio gives a voice and enhances social dialogue for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Radio Broadcasting Issues (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not agree with Deputy Halligan's conclusion but I do not dispute anything he has said about the merit and value of the independent broadcasters. I entirely accept what he stated about the extraordinarily high listenership of his local radio station, WLR, which I accept provides a quality service in the region. Of course, I did read their document and I met the board to discuss it. I...