Results 11,101-11,120 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Third Energy Package, agreed in 2009, aimed to fully implement the EU Internal Energy Market. The objectives of the internal energy market are the achievement of better outcomes for EU citizens through contributing to economic growth and jobs, by providing secure energy at an affordable and competitive price, and through sustainability in energy use. On 4 February 2011 the European...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ.In relation to the Deputy’s query, figures published by ComReg for Q4 2012 indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Industrial Development (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The market for technologies and services associated with sustainable energy and decarbonisation is growing rapidly. Internationally, the International Energy Agency estimates that governments will need to spend $180 billion in 2035 alone on sustainable energy measures to achieve climate change targets. Ireland is ideally positioned to sell the skills of the domestic ICT sector, to test...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jun 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 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....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Kelvin Project provides direct international telecoms connectivity between the North West of Ireland and North America, and improved telecoms connectivity to Europe, via a transatlantic submarine telecoms cable which was brought ashore at Portrush in 2009. The IDA uses the benefits of the transatlantic link provided by Project Kelvin to promote the North West and Border region as an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum Management (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. In November 2012 ComReg announced the results of its successful Multi-Band Spectrum Award (MBSA) process which resulted in a total licence yield of €855 million to be paid over the duration of the terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Publication (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is my intention to publish the National Digital Strategy over the coming weeks. The Strategy will complement the significant investment in broadband infrastructure envisaged under the National Broadband Plan and will complement and assist in achieving goals set out the National Payments Plan, The eGovernment Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs. In order for Ireland to capitalise on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 507 together. The Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff scheme, known as REFIT, has been designed to incentivise the development of wind powered electricity generation in order to ensure that sufficient new renewable electricity generation plant is built to enable Ireland to meet the legally binding target of 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The requirement to have a TV licence and pay the accompanying fee is dependent on possession of a television set, as defined by section 140 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.In estimating the national evasion rate, my Department must take into account a range of factors including the overall number of occupied houses and liable businesses, the levels of vacant units and the estimated television...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 514 together. Ensuring sustainable supplies of power to all consumers is central to this Government’s energy policy. Harnessing the clean, sustainable, indigenous, renewable wind resource that Ireland is fortunate to have in abundance is crucial to reducing our dependence on expensive fossil fuels imports, reducing harmful emissions and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Correspondence (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The correspondence concerned refers to a number of highly technical and complex issues, some of which I addressed in previous correspondence with the community council, in addition to containing other aspects touching on matters which have already been adjudicated upon by the Courts. Consequently, I will require considerable technical and other detail in order to provide a considered...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy may be aware, in April EirGrid completed a re-evaluation process on the North South 400kV Interconnection Development and published a “Final Re-evaluation Report”. It followed the publication of a “Preliminary Re-evaluation Report” in May 2011. The final report represents a comprehensive re-evaluation of the project, involving, among other things,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions raised by him on this issue, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory, independent body, charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In February, the European Commission published a proposal for a European Directive concerning measures to ensure a high common level of network and information security across the European Union. The Irish Presidency has been active in initiating discussions in the Council of the European Union and on 6 June, I chaired an orientation debate in the Council in regard to this matter. While all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There are various methodologies currently being used with respect to minerals and petroleum exploration both onshore and offshore Ireland that will continue to be used into the future. With specific regard to the likely conduct of exploration activities proposing the use of hydraulic fracking, as I have advised on a number of occasions, the Environmental Protection Agency is in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a binding target where at least 16% of our energy requirements should come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet our overall 16% requirement, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand, 12% of heating and 10% of transport from renewable sources. Though these targets are challenging, I am confident that they can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Coillte Teoranta Harvesting Rights Sale (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government, as part of the agreement with the Troika, has agreed to a State asset disposal programme with a view to using half of the proceeds to invest in economic recovery and jobs. My Department, in cooperation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance and NewERA is progressing the disposal of the Bord Gáis Energy business in 2013. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Considerable progress has been made in recent years in both the coverage and speeds of national broadband infrastructure, with a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. The Government has also undertaken a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts of the country where commercial operators have been unable to offer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Under Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme, 28 MANs were completed and 60 MANs, covering 66 towns, were completed under Phase II. The MANs which are regionally dispersed enhance the attractiveness of the locations for indigenous and foreign investment. A list of the MANs and their respective locations is detailed in the tables below. The MANs are managed, operated,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: 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. Prices in the electricity retail market are fully deregulated. Customers can therefore avail of competitive offerings from electricity and gas suppliers. Prices are set by suppliers and are commercial and operational matters...