Results 11,281-11,300 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Colreavy is correct. The accounting system is changed somewhat so that, other than straight pay, additional costs are spread over the different areas of the Department in line with some proportionality of the significance of each division. As I explained, there are particular reasons that the Department is required to take external expert advice in this area. The increase in the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a fair point that in seeking professional advice on which one is likely to rely when making policy decisions, this advice must be evidence based, impartial and fair in so far as this can be achieved. We have people in the Department, albeit a small number, who have experience of all these matters and are able to assess ongoing performance and the feedback we receive. None of those...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: What does the Deputy say is linked - pay and what else?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The main issue raised by Deputy Moynihan relates to the rationalisation of premises. As members are aware, there has been a great deal of rationalisation here in recent times. Nine boards have become a single board, there has been considerable restructuring and the organisation is extracting itself from expensive rental accommodation in north Dublin. A new headquarters has been acquired...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Essentially, what happens is that the money comes in on one side of the balance sheet and goes out on the other side. It is broken down by way of an allocation of 7% to the sound and vision fund, with a fixed figure of just over €9 million to TG4. Also, as mentioned earlier, 12.5% goes as an agency fee to An Post for collection of the licence. The allocation to TG4 was enshrined in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (11 Jul 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 Generation (11 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. The development and operation of a wind farm in Ireland requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority. It also requires an Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct a Generating Station and a Licence to Generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The issue of planning permission is a matter between...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 is the principal statute underpinning Ireland’s mineral, oil and gas exploration licensing regimes. Since it was enacted, a broad body of legislation at national and European Union level that is directly relevant to oil and gas exploration and production activities, including planning, safety and environmental legislation, has been...

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to share time with Deputy John O'Mahony.

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is the second opportunity we have had within the past couple of weeks to discuss the report of the joint committee on the future of the post office network. I discussed it recently in the Seanad. It is clear that the role played by the post office network is held in high esteem throughout the country and among all the political parties. Another significant report on the post office...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The table below sets out the number of successful applications on a River Basin District basis relating to fish stockings from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2013. 2009 relates to the 6 month period from 1 July to 31 December 2009. Years 2010 to 2012 are based on calendar years, with 2013 based on applications for the 6 months up to 30th June 2013. I am advised by IFI that they review all...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 696 to 698, inclusive, together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which 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: Research and Development Funding (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The International Energy Research Centre (IERC) is a joint initiative between industry, Government Departments and Agencies. Established in 2010-11, it is supported by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation working with a coordinated agency project team drawn from IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 701 and 719 together. In 2012 I published the Strategy for Renewable Energy 2012-2020. This strategy reiterates the Government’s firm view that “the development of Ireland’s abundant indigenous renewable energy resources, both onshore and offshore, clearly stands on its own merits in terms of contribution to the economy, to the jobs...

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

Pat Rabbitte: All post-primary schools will have a 100Mbps broadband connection installed by the end of 2014, through a project jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills (DES). In March last, I announced that all post-primary schools in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Meath will be provided with a 100Mbps broadband connection in 2013 under the phased national programme. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The issues raised by the Deputy are two of the eleven recommendations made by the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture in its report of May 2012 on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. As the Deputy will be aware the debate on the Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee concluded last week. In the context of the outcome of the debate I propose...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form below. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 732 together. The information which the Deputy requested is set out in tabular form below. The Deputy will be aware that the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides that serving public sector employees are not eligible to receive remuneration in relation to their membership of boards of State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department is compiling the information she has requested and I will write to her with the information sought as a matter of urgency. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in non-commercial Semi State Companies, including reductions arising from the implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, have been brought to...