Results 10,361-10,380 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Community radio stations in Ireland receive funding from various sources, including funds derived from donations, advertising and sponsorship. In terms of public funding, the Broadcasting Funding Scheme is a significant source of support. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is assigned responsibility under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 for the administration of the Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together. Broadband connectivity, as an enabling infrastructure for economic and social development, is a critical element of future sustainable economic growth and a priority for Government. In terms of telecommunications policy, my Department plays a key role in providing a supportive legislative and regulatory environment within which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In terms of supporting renewable energy, Ireland is legally obliged under Directive 2009/28/EC to increase consumption of renewables to 16% by 2020. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan sets out the planned trajectory for achieving the target across the electricity, heat and transport sectors with 40% needed in electricity, 10% in transport and 12% in heat to meet Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. I have no statutory function in the setting of oil prices. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. Increases in oil prices arise primarily from increases in the international commodity prices over which Ireland has no control. For example, the spot price of a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Reform Plan Update (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that following the review undertaken on rationalisation of State agencies, insofar as Bodies under the aegis of my Department are concerned, it was determined that the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will be merged with Dublin City Council (DCC). A transition team has been established to give effect to the transfer of the DHDA to DCC and administrative...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commission for Energy Regulation Staff (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is a statutory independent regulator, established under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. I have no function in the day to day operational matters of the CER in line with its statutory regulatory independence. The scheme of performance related payments referred to by the Deputy dates from when the CER was set up in 1999, and was subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible. During the preparation of...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter and convey the apologies of the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to the House. He is involved in European Union commitments. The examination of the sale of Coillte does not have anything to do with a drive for privatisation, the influence of Margaret Thatcher or anything to do with ideology. The assets disposal programme is a requirement of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I will read the last sentence, which is relevant, before the Deputies respond. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion. The Deputies will be aware that this entire process is a very complex one and it is not possible at this stage to pre-empt the outcome of the analysis and its possible consequences for the future of Coillte. As the...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have some sympathy with the Deputies' proposition that State forests should be retained in public ownership, but not for the overly emotive reasons they advanced. I am interested in exploring the possibilities of synergies between Coillte and Bord na Móna in creating a bioenergy company, for example. It has nothing to do, however, with the fact that Coillte is profitable. Bord...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The problem is that neither of the Deputies accepts that the country was bankrupted under the previous Government and what-----

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Who said it is not correct?

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy accepts then that the country is bankrupt.

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: We are agreed at least that the country was bankrupted and the Government is trying to bring it back to economic health. I was talking to my Greek counterpart recently about the scale of the disposal of state assets imposed on Greece. She is of the opinion that they do not have the assets stipulated in their programme unless they sell islands. There is not any acceptance on the part of...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I hope the two Deputies will jump up and down with the same vigour if it turns out that they are not to be sold.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: An Post is a commercial State body with its own board and management. Accordingly, operational matters are a matter for the board and management. These are areas in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I do have a strong concern about the ongoing commercial position of the company and I regularly liaise with the company in this regard. The reality is the core...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree that as a result of the collapse of the core business of An Post there needs to be an urgency, as Deputy Moynihan puts it, in terms of acquiring new business and diversification and so on. In fairness to An Post, it has been going about its business quietly and in a commercial manner and it continues to do so. For example, there is an arrangement between An Post, One Direct and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I accept the importance of the network of An Post, not least in rural Ireland, and I accept that it is a trusted brand. It is also a commercial State company, though, and must compete commercially and it is focused on doing precisely that. The State contracts to which Deputy Moynihan refers are those which An Post ought to compete for and for which it should have at least a 50:50 prospect...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for developing planning policy and legislation. Extensive public consultation rights are enshrined and protected under Irish planning law. These apply not only to wind energy developments but to all forms of development that require planning permission. The Government Policy Statement on the Strategic...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The answer to all of the questions concerning what went into the examination being done about the development of wind energy is "Yes". Deputy Colreavy's concluding point specifically referred to the memorandum of understanding I signed last week with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. I would be more than pleased to appear before the Oireachtas committee...