Results 10,281-10,300 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Order of Business (14 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin is not correct. The backdrop to the property tax was not the Honohan report. The backdrop to it was Fianna Fáil's surrender to the troika.

Order of Business (14 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin negotiated that surrender.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Dividends (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The dividend paid by ESB to the Exchequer for 2010 (which was received in 2011) was €73 million. The dividend paid by ESB to the Exchequer for 2011 (which was received in 2012) was €68.9 million. The dividend paid by BGE to the Exchequer in 2011 was €33.091m and is based on 2010 profits. The dividend paid to the Exchequer in 2012 was €23.814m and is based on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: European Council Meetings (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The policies of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy are dealt with, under one Council formation – Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE). Councils are normally held in spring (February/March), June, October and December. There are usually four meetings of Transport Ministers (March, June, October and December), three meetings of Energy Ministers (spring, June...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The requirement for a TV licence is set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. This Act requires everyone who possesses a TV capable of receiving TV signals to have a TV licence. In this regard those who possess a TV in Ireland must have a TV licence regardless of whether they are using the TV to receive SAORVIEW, or not. It is worth noting that TV licence holders in Ireland are not required to...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Gaslink, which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Saorview Boxes (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTE has developed the SAORVIEW specification and this is now the national Irish TV specification. It is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure that the equipment they sell in Ireland works to this specification. It is my understanding that there is widespread availability of large button remote controls in Ireland which meet the specifications for a large number of TV sets on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In December 2008, my Department entered into a contract with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (“3”) for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), following the conclusion of a competitive dialogue procurement process. The objective of the NBS is to deliver broadband to certain target areas in Ireland in which broadband services were deemed to be insufficient. Since October...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (18 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: TV3 is a commercial broadcaster and is regulated by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). I have no role in the regulation of TV3 and decisions regarding which platform TV3 is carried on are, in the first instance, commercial decisions for the company itself. Prior to SAORVIEW, TV3 chose to broadcast from just 11 transmission sites on the RTÉ terrestrial network. This provided...

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Cleaning up the mess after Fianna Fáil.

Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy's party built too much.

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services (19 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Harrington is absolutely right about the potential of broadband for economic dispersal and job creation in a region such as the one he represents, which I visited very recently for an engagement with David Puttnam, who, I am happy to tell the House, has accepted the appointment as digital champion for Ireland. Living in Skibbereen as he has for the past 26 years, he has arranged a...

Topical Issue Debate: Broadband Services (19 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with everything the Deputy has said about the potential and the importance of this in terms of priority policy decision making at Government level. A few weeks ago, colleagues from my Department visited a secondary school in what can only properly be termed a socially disadvantaged area of the city. They were amazed to find five young women studying honours mathematics remotely with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (19 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Total capital expenditure by my Department for the country as a whole was €123m in 2011 and is currently forecast at around €85m for 2012. This expenditure is not allocated at county level. The most significant component of my Departments capital expenditure is in respect of energy efficiency programmes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. They have...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Telecommunications Services (19 Dec 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 recently announced the winning bidders of its Multi-band Spectrum Auction for the 800, 900 and 1800 MHz bands. I can confirm that ComReg transferred the amount of €450M, in respect of upfront fees...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Applications (20 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes programme. Better Energy: Warmer Homes provides assistance to upgrade privately owned homes built prior to 2006 with energy efficiency measures. Measures provided under the programme include attic insulation, wall insulation, lagging jackets, efficient lighting and energy advice. Queries in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Microgeneration Support Scheme (20 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Electric Ireland has been offering a 9c/kwh feed in tariff, on a commercial basis, to domestic microgenerators since February 2009. No other electricity supply company has to date chosen to enter the market and to offer a microgeneration feed-in-tariff on a commercial basis, although the Commission for Energy Regulation invited them to do so. Previously, a joint ESB/Electric Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Inspections (20 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy: Homes provides financial assistance to private homeowners 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services (20 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 185 together. The authorisation of telecommunications service providers generally and the award of spectrum licences including the imposition and monitoring of associated quality and coverage requirements for the spectrum rights to provide mobile telephony services are statutory functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Development (20 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The existing Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Wind Energy Development (published by the Department of Environment in 2006), state that in general, noise is unlikely to be a significant problem where the distance from the nearest turbine to any noise sensitive property is more than 500 metres. The Guidelines also advise planning authorities to seek evidence that the types of turbines...