Results 11,761-11,780 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 620 together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Lough Foyle is within the remit of the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, which is a North-South Body established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.I am advised that under the Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) Regulations 2010, intoduced by the Loughs Agency, the Agency is required to “suspend netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 to 623, inclusive, together. The Better Energy Communities, Better Energy Areas, Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes Schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Exchequer funding of €6 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Areas scheme in 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pensions Levy Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that this is a matter for the Trustees of the Pension Scheme concerned and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Salmon Hardship Scheme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together. I understand that the tragic events referred to by the Deputy are under independent investigation by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board and therefore comment or speculation, including in relation to the cause of the tragedy, from any party while that investigation is ongoing is not appropriate. I refer to my reply to Question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In January of this year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum sent a strong signal of our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain and will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A key contributor to attracting manufacturing or assembly facilities to Ireland is the proposed pipeline of wind generation projects. In that regard, conscious of the need to meet our 2020 targets, and recognising the need for policy certainty on the part of developers, I implemented a number of changes to support scheme flexibility this year providing developers who are due to build post...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 629 and 630 together. The Digital Agenda for Europe sets a broadband target of 30Mbps for all Europeans by 2020, with at least 50% of EU households subscribing to broadband above 100Mbps by 2020. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and - a State-led...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no partial year monetary effect on my Department's expenditure arising from Budget 2014. The full year reduction over the 2013 Estimate amounts to €14.566 million with €9.566 million current savings and €5 million capital savings identified. The following tables outline the current and capital expenditure Budget 2014 allocations. Current Area of Expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 to 636, inclusive, together. Insofar as the share capital of ESB is concerned, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform holds 85% capital stock in the company, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources holds 10% and the ESB's current and former employees hold 5% through the Employee Share Ownership Plan. The manner in which the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), the independent National Regulatory Authority for energy. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. The CER's responsibilities...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no function in this matter. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent regulator. The CER was assigned responsibility for the regulation of the Irish electricity sector following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 and subsequent legislation. Since April 2011 prices...

Retirement of Head Usher (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On behalf of the Labour Party, I agree with all of the tributes paid by my colleagues to Tom McGrath, whom I knew before I came into this House and have known well since I came in. He has, indeed, taken great pride in the discharge of his duties. These exchanges have been useful in that they have established on the record that Deputy Micheál Martin cannot be blamed for the mistaken...

Retirement of Head Usher (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I would like to thank Tom McGrath for his service to the Oireachtas and to the people, and to thank him for his unfailing courtesy and professionalism down the years. I hope he enjoys his retirement.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (6 Nov 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. Commercial decisions by individual private operators in relation to its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Energy Regulator for Great Britain, Ofgem, published its most recent annual Electricity Capacity Assessment on 27 June, 2013. The assessment analyses security of electricity supply in Great Britain over the forthcoming five winters. It shows that the buffer between peak electricity demand and supply could be lower than previously expected and proposed for consultation certain measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 628 [PQ 46801/13] of 5 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (7 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Neither the Government nor I seek to direct the energy infrastructure developers to particular technologies, sites or routes as was made clear in the July 2012 Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure. That statement emphasises that these are matters for the developers and for the forward planning process through regional and...

Leaders' Questions (12 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Mattie McGrath's support for cannabis went down badly in Tipperary.