Results 10,641-10,660 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is committed to introducing postcodes across the State. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System began in 2011 with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on . That process is still ongoing, and it is expected to conclude in the first half of 2013. The final decision to proceed with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that no members or former members of the Judiciary have either acted as Chairperson or been a member of the Board of any State Body under the aegis of my Department or carried out a function in any other capacity as outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised that bye-laws drafted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) or its predecessor, the South Western Regional Fisheries Board (SWRFB), and subsequently enacted, did not affect the opening date of the Maine/Brown Flesk River. IFI’s research indicates that CS No. 61 of 29 June 1910, set the close season for salmon fishing by single rod and line, in all rivers and their tributaries...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to my reply to your Question No. 434 dated 12th February 2013. As outlined in my response to you, broadband provision through private and State investment means that Ireland has met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe 2013 target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas, including County Meath. The National Broadband Plan which I launched last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 328 together. The Programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in light of existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the TV licence into a household based Public Broadcasting Charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless of the device...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and thus the delivery of broadband services is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector commercial operators who are licensed and regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Decisions relating to the provision of broadband services in any particular area,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (5 Mar 2013)

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: Appointments to State Boards (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been 64 appointments made to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period March 2011 to January 2013 and details of these are set out in the following table. All of the appointments have been made in light of the objectives of the organisation and on the basis of appointees having the necessary competencies, expertise and experience...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Registration Scheme for Oil Technicians (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume that the Deputy’s concern relates to the potential dangers that may result from faulty installations, especially carbon monoxide gas, which would be dangerous to people in their homes and at their places of work. In that regard, I was pleased to launch the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on the 24th September 2012. The Awareness Week saw a sustained, multi-media...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Supervision of the grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER sets the policy by which connection offers to grid applicants are issued (under section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended). I have no role or function in the matter of grid connections. The grid connection offers are issued (i) by EirGrid, the Transmission System...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Three onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right, to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned. I can confirm that two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted...

Topical Issue Debate: Miscanthus Industry (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am glad Deputy Moynihan has raised this matter because it is an issue about which I am concerned and have a little knowledge. Moreover, I met the company directly to try to tease out the issue. The background is that to meet Ireland's 2020 binding targets to increase renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector, the...

Topical Issue Debate: Miscanthus Industry (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: That last point about what was the understanding at the time is critical. I should not say or go as far as saying the company asserts it was seduced into a contract at the time with Bord na Móna and that it now is in difficulty. Bord na Móna insists this is not the way it happened and since I came into the Chamber, I have received a communication from JHM Crops Limited, to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and thus the delivery of broadband services is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector commercial operators who are licensed and regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Decisions relating to the provision of broadband services in any particular area,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Research Centres Programme (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 145 together. The National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is a private company which is funded by my Department through a Concession Agreement to develop research based projects to market ready stage by means of collaboration between researchers and commercial development staff who work together in joint project teams. The Concession Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Services (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: TG4 is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 of that Act provides that TG4 shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in TG4’s management of its day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. The REFIT scheme for biomass (REFIT3), which was opened in February 2012, is designed to incentivise the addition of 310 MW of renewable electricity capacity to the Irish electricity grid. The technologies being supported include anaerobic digestion and combined heat and power, which will also contribute to our renewable heat...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Energy Efficiency Fund (the Fund) will be established with the aim of providing finance to energy efficiency initiatives in the public and private sectors. The aim is to attract matching funding from the private sector, such that the overall amount available for investment is greater than €70 million. NewEra has been asked by Government to coordinate establishment of the Fund and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Chairman and the members of the committee for inviting me to appear before them. In so far as I know this is the first committee of the House that has sought to address this relatively new phenomenon. My colleagues in the Department and I will be very interested to see the conclusions of the committee's deliberations. We will also be interested to hear first-hand from the other...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Social Media: Discussion (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Moynihan is probably correct to say that some people have the impression that the normal law of the land does not apply online and a minority behaves recklessly without any regard to the hurt they inflict. The truth is that defamation law and the criminal law relating to harassment apply online. In the latter case, the Garda has advised my Department that the interpretation by the...