Results 10,081-10,100 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum (22 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 141 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) recently announced the winning bidders of its Multi-band Spectrum Auction for the 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands. The winning bidders will pay €854.64 million for these spectrum rights, comprising firstly of Upfront Fees amounting to €481.7...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (22 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland encourages exploration companies to invest in exploration for oil and gas in the Irish offshore on the basis that the exploration companies carry the full cost associated with that exploration. Then in the event of a commercial discovery being made, the oil or gas discovered would be demised to the licensees under a petroleum lease. While the State would benefit in a number of ways,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Licence Fee (22 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy is aware, RTÉ is funded through both a Grant-In-Aid for a proportion of broadcasting licence fee receipts and through the commercial revenue it generates. This dual funding model, which is consistent with EU State Aid rules, has been in place since the establishment of Raidió Teilifis Éireann at the start of the 1960’s and is reflective of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (22 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is a matter in the first instance for private sector service providers operating in a liberalised market, regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over telephone lines), fixed wireless,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (22 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of international telecommunications infrastructure is a commercial matter for the companies involved, in a fully liberalised competitive market. Given our island status, our dependence on international trading and the increasing number of global ICT firms that have set up in Ireland, excellent and competitive international connectivity infrastructure is a very important...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: How is the Deputy's tour going?

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is a boomerang.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Ross is one of the four angry booksellers.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Ross is the most unlikely angry young man I have ever come across.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 461 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes under the Better Energy Programme. The scheme is a demand-led programme and the Government has committed €76.146 million in Exchequer funding to the programme in 2012. The Better Energy Homes scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Affordable Energy Strategy was published in November 2011 and developed by the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy (IDGAE) as part of the Department’s commitment in the Programme for Government to help mitigate energy poverty. The Affordable Energy Strategy provides a framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect households at risk from...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The multi-year, multi-stakeholder programme for Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System (DS3) was launched by EirGrid in 2011. The DS3 programme is about developing solutions to the challenges associated with increasing levels of renewable generation, particularly with regard to secure power system operation, as we work to achieve the 2020 renewable targets. The DS3 programme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2012 edition of the World Energy Outlook was published on 12 November 2012. It highlights the global nature of world energy markets and that no country is an energy island. It re-affirms the requirement for a sustainable global energy system and highlights, inter alia, the vital role that energy efficiency and renewable energy will play in meeting global energy demands and reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services (27 Nov 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. ComReg’s recently held auction awarded spectrum rights in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800MHz for the period 2013 to 2030. ComReg’s Information Notice, available on the ComReg website www.comreg.ie , sets...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Services (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There is currently a single multiplex in operation on the SAORVIEW service. This provides access to eight TV channels including a HD channel, plus 10 radio stations. This multiplex is not underused. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that a second multiplex could be operated by RTÉ in the event that additional capacity is required. This is intended to provide for HD versions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. With basic broadband services now widely available across Ireland, the challenge is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. The National Broadband Plan, which I published recently, aims to radically change the broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not established any new State Agencies, forums or taskforces this year. The Next Generation Networks (NGN) Taskforce completed its work in 2012 and the National Broadband Plan for Ireland, which was published recently, is informed by the findings of the report of the NGN Taskforce. The NGN Taskforce involved no additional staff.

Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In fairness, Deputy Finian McGrath jumped ship.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Prospecting Licences (28 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised that there are eleven Prospecting Licences currently held in County Clare by Lundin Mining Exploration Ltd. Prospecting area No 3787 includes the Gorteen (Electoral District of Doora) area and other townlands in the Bunratty Upper Barony (an area of 39.53 km²). The licence for this area has been held since June 1994 and covers exploration for base metals (lead and zinc),...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (28 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial assistance to householders who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels...