Results 10,861-10,880 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Policy (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is right and I hear that developers are proceeding to take options on possible sites for development in different parts of the country. That has been ongoing for 15 years. If the export possibility develops, the process will be on a larger scale. Deputy Colreavy knows enough about the history of this country to acknowledge I cannot do anything about farmers who want to sign up...

Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: To meet our binding target of 16% of all our energy to be from renewable sources by 2020 as set out in the EU renewable energy directive, the Government is committed to increase renewable energy to 40% in the electricity sector, 10% in the transport sector and 12% in the heating sector. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has modelled in its energy forecasts for Ireland for 2020 that...

Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The matter to which Deputy Moynihan referred of the change from 10% to 5% on bio-fuels is not yet a decision of the European Union. He is correct that there is a proposal from the European Commission. The proposal, known as ILUC, indirect land use change, is being progressed by the Irish Presidency, jointly between myself and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government,...

Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I beg the Leas-Chathaoirleach's pardon.

Other Questions: Environmental Schemes (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The answer to Deputy Moynihan's question is "Yes". The possible synergies between the two companies are being explored. It would be premature to state that final conclusions have yet been reached but I think I could also speak for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, in that we are probably agreed that the mooted privatisation of Coillte looks...

Other Questions: Seismic Surveys (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that a communication has been received from the European Commission seeking certain clarifications with regard to the implementation of the environmental impact assessment, EIA, directive and the habitats directive, in granting permission to carry out a 3-D survey over the Corrib field. The European Commission advised that it has received a complaint alleging a violation of the...

Other Questions: Seismic Surveys (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My advice is that there is no danger the country is in breach. One can never say so with certainty before one goes before a quasi-judicial authority, but this is not the only case where the Department has experience and it will continue to have experience as we try to accumulate a repository of knowledge on the seismic data around our coasts. The Department is insistent it has had regard to...

Other Questions: Seismic Surveys (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The question raised by Deputy Moynihan really relates to the Corrib field. I suppose what is afoot is that companies are presumably taking steps to establish whether there might be adjacent resources of the same order or similar if they make a strike such as the Corrib find. As regards fracking, which is a different issue, I would be slow to take my knowledge from signs on the N4. My...

Other Questions: Online Business Voucher Scheme (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A report commissioned by the European Commission estimated that traditional enterprises with a strong online presence grow twice as fast, export twice as much and employ twice as many people as those who do not. In Ireland, Irish consumers spend almost €4 billion per annum online and yet the proportion of SMEs trading online is estimated to be as low as 23%. One of the key...

Other Questions: Online Business Voucher Scheme (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for that support, as it is important that Members are perceived to have a bipartisan approach in the House on this issue. As the Deputy noted, there is a digital divide but regardless of whether it is acknowledged, almost €4 billion in business was done last year through e-commerce. Moreover, approximately €3.7 billion of that goes outside the State and, in...

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin needs to do a FÁS course on question asking.

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: She is an absolute genius.

Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: If she waited 20 years for it, she can wait another 20 minutes.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 95 and 109 together. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Since 4 April 2011 prices in the electricity retail market have been fully deregulated. Business customers can therefore avail of competitive offerings from electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Media Pluralism (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The event to which the Deputy refers was organised by the Institute for International and European Affairs and was held on the 22nd of March. It was titled 'Media Pluralism and Freedom in a Connected Europe', and provided an opportunity to discuss some important trends that are emerging across Europe in relation to media. Other speakers included Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland is the only country in the EU and OECD that does not have a national postcode. I wish to reiterate the strong commitment of the Government to introducing a national postcode system. A national postcode system is in my view a vital part of the national infrastructure. Apart from providing efficiencies for postal delivery it will significantly impact deliveries of public and private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation is responsible for issuing licences to construct generation capacity and to generate electricity. Ireland primarily supports the development of renewable energy in order that we can meet our challenging targets under the Renewable Energy Directive. To achieve the 16% target we will have to ensure that renewable energy contributes 40% to our electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Plans to locate wind turbines in specific locations is in the first instance a matter for developers in consultation with the relevant planning authority, having due regard to the Development Plan for the area. Any such proposed project would be subject to the Planning Acts, including the requirements for public consultation. Additionally, proposed projects would require appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 101 and 377 together. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Prices in the electricity retail market are fully deregulated and similarly for gas, except in the case of BGE tariffs for domestic consumers. Customers can...