Results 10,121-10,140 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Other Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: A joint modelling study entitled, Impact of Wind Generation on Wholesale Electricity Costs in 2011, was undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and EirGrid. The study looked at the impact of wind on the electricity market, including the impact on the operational requirements of the thermal generation. It shows that wind did not add any additional cost to the price of...

Other Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the content of the Deputy's remarks and his broad support for the build out of greater renewable capacity in this economy. He is correct that it is an issue of security of supply. It would be sensible to use a valuable indigenous resource capable of contributing to energy generation. We are moving towards our 2020 targets which is 40% electricity generated from renewables. It is...

Other Questions: Semi-State Companies (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department and I have actively engaged with Bord na Móna on the challenges the company faces and its future strategy. I am strongly supportive of the company, which provides valuable employment in the midlands and is an important producer of energy and other services. The challenges include environmental constraints on the use of peat in power generation and horticultural products...

Other Questions: Semi-State Companies (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not believe Bord na Móna is lined up in the State assets disposal programme, nor should it be. It is true, however, that the company is running out of turf and that diversification is, therefore, the way forward. In this regard, the company has been very successful in some of its operations. The Deputy put his finger on an aspect that was not successful thus far, namely, the...

Other Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 13 and 16 together. In order to meet our 2020 binding targets, the Government is committed to increasing renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector, which together amount to 16% overall, in line with our target under the EU renewable energy directive. A number of organisations are...

Other Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I hear what Deputy Moynihan says about the exhortation he would offer to State companies in terms of an expectation that they could play a more significant role than they are playing. I had representations earlier this week from my party colleague, Senator Heffernan, and Deputies Neville and O'Donovan about a company in west Limerick, which may well have prompted the Deputy's question. It...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Services (29 Nov 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 (IBI) Annual Conference earlier this year, “Local radio gives a voice and enhances social...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sale of State Assets (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business and some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity as part of the State Assets disposal programme. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the electricity and gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Language (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is the independent Regulator responsible for the oversight of the broadcasting sector in this country. The Contract Awards Committee makes arrangements to invite, consider and recommend to the Authority proposals for the provision of broadcasting services additional to the existing broadcasting services provided in the State. Section 25 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Advertising Standards (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is an independent statutory body which has responsibility under Section 26 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 for the preparation of broadcasting codes or rules. Section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 obliges the BAI to prepare and monitor compliance with certain broadcasting codes, including the Children’s Commercial Communications Code, as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In 2011, Ireland had 17.6% renewable electricity, 3.6% biofuels and 5% renewable heating, which amounted in total to 6.5% of all energy consumed being from renewable sources. Our intention, in order to meet our 2020 binding targets, is to increase renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector, which together amounts to 16%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 30 together. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means to meet the target of at least 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020, which was mandated by the Renewable Energy Directive. It is estimated that 8.4% of the energy in transport in Ireland will be achieved by deployment of biofuels. The Biofuel Obligation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 50 together. The additional cost incurred with no wind generation is an estimated figure of approximately €300 million in avoided national gas imports from the use of all renewable energies in the generation of electricity in 2011 which was published recently by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). They calculate that wind...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 45, 49 and 144 together. As the Deputies will appreciate An Post is a Commercial State body with its own Board and Management. Therefore operational matters are a matter for the Board and management of An Post. These are areas in which I have no statutory function. Nonetheless, it is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes 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 provides financial assistance for improving energy performance of older homes, built any time...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Reports into Media Activities (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, and, as such, I, as Minister, have no role in its day-to-day operations. As the Deputy will be aware, RTÉ established an editorial review of The Frontline 2012 Presidential Election Debate on 12th March 2012, following the decision of the Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: 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 , sets out the population coverage obligations that apply to these licences. In this regard it requires that all licence holders must attain and maintain a minimum coverage of 70% of the population...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This is an operational matter for the ESB, which is a commercial State company and I have no role or function in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business as part of the State Assets disposal programme. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic infrastructure, critical for the delivery of secure, sustainable and competitive energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Affordable Energy Strategy was developed by the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy (IDGAE) and published in November 2011 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...