Results 11,541-11,560 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Funding (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy Warmer Homes and the Better Energy Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures providing home insulation to low-income homeowners, that are vulnerable to energy poverty and who live in privately-owned dwellings. The measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Over €5.5m has been allocated by my Department to the BenefIT digital engagement and skills schemes since their commencement in 2008. To date approximately 79,000 people nationally have participated in and benefited from these programmes including just over 1,000 people trained under the fourth programme which has recently got underway. On 29 July 2013, I announced the first tranche of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid's Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland's transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to come. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of fixed line telecommunications connections between telephone exchanges and customer premises by Eircom are typically provided on multiline cables installed along public roads, from which individual premises are connected directly at a suitable local distribution point. It is a matter for Eircom to undertake the repair of customer connections within the statutory framework set out.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 Oct 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 Meath,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Funding (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy: Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as part of the Better Energy Programme. The scheme provides financial assistance to households who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are allocated towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is currently developing the project plan for undertaking the development of the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework. This framework will provide an opportunity to integrate the relevant requirements set out in various EU Directives, including the requirement for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and an Appropriate Assessment (Habitats Directive),...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the terms of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) contract which my Department has in place with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”), the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps and 1.4Mbps respectively, subject to a maximum contention ratio of 18:1. The NBS satellite service, which is utilised in a small number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony Services Provision (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within Ireland's competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am here out of respect for the House and my understanding is that I will be here again next week to deal with legislation.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am grateful for that, Sir, but perhaps I can have the temerity to say that, as a Member of the Lower House, I was advised at some stage today that I should be here at 5.55 p.m. It is now 8.20 p.m and, without intruding into the affairs of a House of which I am not a Member, if it is the wish of the Seanad, as it ought to be, to have Ministers come into the House to deal with issues for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am grateful to you, Sir. I understand the issues concerning the ESB pension scheme, which has some 13,700 members, need to be handled sensitively and carefully. I am pleased to provide what information I can, which was provided to my Department by the ESB. In late 2008, the trustees of the ESB superannuation scheme brought forward the tri-annual valuation of the scheme by one year to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Pension Provisions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with the Senator. The last thing the country, the economy and private domestic consumers need is industrial unrest. I genuinely do not believe there is any serious cause for industrial unrest. The ESB pension scheme is absolutely sound. There is no comparison of any kind to be drawn with Waterford Glass and the tragic circumstances that happened there or in any other private...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Senator for raising what seems to me to be a reasonable question. I am answering on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, although I do not have any expertise in the matter. However, I will read the Minister's statement on the record of the House for the information of Senator Burke. At present there is no system of statutory registration for...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Regulation of Health and Social Care Professions (8 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: According to the text I have read into the record of the House, the information on how the private sector operates is distinctly different from what Senator Burke was advised. I do not know whether that is of any assistance in this particular case. I am bound to say that I cannot disagree with Senator Burke. If we are talking about a recognised validated university in Northern Ireland, I...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I move:That Report Stage be taken now.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "Report by Minister 4. (1) The Minister shall, not later than one year after the commencement of this Part, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a report on the operation of this Act during that period. 2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), a report under this section shall include...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputies for acknowledging that the amendment, hopefully, goes a long way to meet their arguments. To ensure there is accountability to the House, I assure Deputy Moynihan, who laid the original amendment, that the report will go to both Houses.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, the usual procedure will be followed. The report will laid before both Houses and it is for the Whips to agree when to roster it. Deputy Naughten took the opportunity to set out again the arguments why it is important his region accesses the gas network and for industrial development in particular. I fully appreciate his arguments. I met the Western Development Commission following...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Naughten is being a bit unfair to me.