Results 10,801-10,820 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: Keeping the cost of energy in Ireland as low as possible is important for all consumers and plays a critical role in maintaining our overall economic competiveness. Late last year the Government agreed with my decision on cost grounds not to proceed with an application to the European Commission for State Aid clearance for a higher priced feed in tariff to support offshore wind development...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The construction of onshore wind farms in Ireland is subject to the Planning and Development Acts, including the requirements for public consultation irrespective of the source of funding for their construction. Best practice Wind Energy Guidelines were also published in 2006. Currently, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government – in conjunction with my...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The matter raised in the question is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 781 on today’s Order Paper.

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

Pat Rabbitte: Bord Gáis Éireann is a commercial State company and this is an operational matter for the Board and not one in which I have a function. SWS Natural Resources Limited was part of a business originally founded by the South Western Cattle Breeding Society. In December 2009 Bord Gáis Éireann acquired SWS Natural Resources Limited, a renewable energy business which included...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The market for the provision of telecommunications network facilities and services is fully liberalised. These are therefore matters for commercial operators authorised by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), the independent regulator of the telecommunications market. I have no statutory function in relation to the provision of such facilities nor have I a shareholder role...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I was abroad on official business in the United States over the period 13th March to 17th of March. While there, my intensive programme of events and engagements was aimed primarily at promoting Ireland as a location for investment. I was accompanied by my Private Secretary and my Special Adviser. The cost incurred by my Department to date amounts to €4,068.76.

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

Pat Rabbitte: Prices in the retail market have now been fully deregulated, effective since 4 April 2011, and there is no longer scope for specifying a regulated tariff/payment for microgeneration in the retail market as part of the Commission for Energy Regulation’s (CER) tariff setting. Individual supply companies, however, remain free to make payment offerings in respect of surplus electricity...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 737 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Croke Park Agreement Implementation (16 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The implementation and the provision of information on the extent of the application of the Croke Park II Agreement are matters for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is my understanding, however, that, as in the case of the first Croke Park agreement, the proposed new public service agreement - Croke Park II – will not pertain to staff in RTÉ....

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 739 to 741, inclusive, together. Details of all extant petroleum authorisations made under the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960, e.g. petroleum exploration licences, petroleum licensing options and petroleum prospecting licences can be found in the half-yearly reports made to the Houses of the Oireachtas under the Act. An acreage report and...

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

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

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

Pat Rabbitte: Bord Gáis Éireann is a commercial State company and this is an operational matter for the Board and not one in which I have a function. However, I have been advised by Bord Gáis Eireann (BGE) that in 2010 the company agreed to invest €2 million in Wavebob Limited, an Irish based wave energy technology development company. The investment was planned to be carried out...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The amount the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has invested or provided in grant aid to ocean energy developers over the period 2005 to 2013 is set out in the table below. This comprises grants provided from the Renewable Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Fund (2005 – 2008) and its successor the Ocean Fund (2009 – 2013). Grants Paid to Ocean Energy...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme on behalf of the Department. The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to those that are vulnerable to energy poverty and who live in privately-owned dwellings. The scheme is delivered through a combination of Community Based Organisations, augmented by a panel of private...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is committed to introducing postcodes across the State. The implementation of a national postcode system is a complex and detailed process. Consequently the procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System is ongoing. It is expected that the matter will be put to tender in mid-May. The final decision to proceed with...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The matter in question relates to issues raised by a constituent of the Deputy in a letter which has separately been received in my Department. The letter in question touches on a wide range of areas regarding RTÉ. It is my view that this correspondence is more appropriately addressed within the system of representations received in my Department. This will provide for a full and...

Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The more it is ventilated, the better. He is absolutely right that several colleagues in the House have been in touch with me about this issue, perhaps in some cases prompted by some of the more garish headlines the issue attracts. I entirely accept that communities have some concerns. Deputy Penrose has been with me on a number of...

Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This would be an overreaction to what is actually happening. We have 200,000 acres of cutaway bog not too far from Deputy Troy. For many years Bord na Mona has been considering what to do with this after its primary business expires. This is a big piece of the jigsaw which might well be taken into account.

Topical Issue Debate: Wind Energy Guidelines (17 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: What I stated in October is probably accurately quoted by Deputy Troy, and I am very glad to say I was aiming those remarks at certain players at the time and that logjams which had existed, particularly in connection to regulatory matters in the context of the all-island market, have since been happily concluded and now we are getting on with the business. Today I state to the Deputy I...