Results 10,781-10,800 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Professional Registration (27 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In the context of 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, I was pleased to launch the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on the 24th September 2012. The Awareness Week saw a sustained, multimedia publicity campaign to alert people to the dangers posed by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (27 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity supply contracts in the business or domestic sectors. Ireland’s electricity and gas markets, both wholesale and retail, are characterised by vigorous...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (27 Mar 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 Since then intensive work has taken place on what is a complex national project. It is expected that the procurement process will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Transport (27 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The cost of Ministerial transport in my Department for 2012 was €199,821. The breakdown is as follows: Office Holder Salary cost of 2 Civilian Drivers Mileage Costs Other Travel Costs Total Cost 2012 Minister €81,523 €10,192 €11,421 €103,136 Minister of State €79,186 €15,580 €1,919 €96,685 The decision to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (27 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Programme has disbursed Exchequer funding in respect of the Better Energy: Homes, Better Energy: Warmer Homes, Better Energy: Workplaces and Better Energy: Communities Schemes, over the past number of years. I should clarify that at the recent CIF conference on 21 March 2013 I mentioned...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Agencies (28 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government announced in late 2012 that the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will transition into Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of its programme to rationalise State Agencies. The announcement follows the November 2011 Report on Public Sector Reform, in which the DHDA was earmarked for merger. There will be a transition period over the next number of months with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (28 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it will issue a public call later this year inviting interested parties to submit tenders relating to detailed research on the use of Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction in Ireland, in particular with regard to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology. In this regard, proposed terms of reference for the study...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (28 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Electric Ireland has been offering a 9c/kwh feed in tariff, on a commercial basis under specified terms and conditions, to domestic microgenerators since February 2009. This includes wind microgenerators and other technologies. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (28 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Better Energy: Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that as part of the management of Lough Sheelin and surrounding rivers, IFI relocates fish from there, that are surplus to requirements, to other locations on an annual basis. In 2012 a total of 461 Tench, Bream and Roach/Bream hybrids were caught and relocated to the lakes in the Mohill area of County Leitrim. A similar scheme of work is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (16 Apr 2013)

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 national system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), is statutorily responsible for all aspects of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including disconnections, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory regulator and one in which I have no statutory function. The CER provides quarterly and annual updates on the electricity and gas retail markets, including on disconnections, and further information may be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a number of schemes under the Better Energy programme on behalf of my Department. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides a financial incentive 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On 26 March 2013, I appointed Mr. Christoph Mueller as Director and Chairperson of An Post for a period of five years. The remuneration in respect of this appointment will be at a rate of €31,500 per annum. There are no pension arrangements associated with this appointment.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not provide direct funding to schools who wish to use renewable energy on their premises. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, which is under the aegis of my Department, provides guidance on energy management in schools and An Taisce runs a Green Schools programme and award scheme in Ireland in co-operation with Local Authorities. Green Schools is an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Exploration Licences (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together. In 2012, Shell E&P Ireland applied for a permit under its Petroleum Prospecting Licence 1/12 to acquire 3D OBC seismic data over the Corrib Gas Field. It was the developer’s intention to complete this survey in 2012 but this was not possible for technical and poor weather reasons. The developer is now planning to acquire...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs including...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's Annual Report and Accounts for 2011 was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 11th April.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Information on numbers of wind farms currently being constructed are not held by my Department, EirGrid (the Transmission System Operator) or ESB Networks (the Distribution System Operator). However, data published by EirGrid indicates that 25 larger wind farms are contracted to connect to the high voltage transmission grid and data published by ESB Networks shows that 74 wind farms are...