Results 11,821-11,840 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Road Safety (14 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no function regarding use of satellite navigation devices. Questions regarding the regulation of such devices for road safety purposes or for tourism development are appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Prospecting Licences (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387, 396 to 398, inclusive, 400 and 401 together. The three companies referred to in the Questions were awarded onshore Licensing Options in February 2011 for a period of two years from 1 March 2011 to 28 February 2013. While applications for Petroleum Prospecting Licences were submitted by the three companies, no such authorisations were granted due to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 to 392, inclusive, together. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a matter for Bórd na Mona and one in which I, as Minister, have no function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 6 of 17 July 2013

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 404 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Ireland Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department, working closely with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), is finalising a wide-ranging and comprehensive review of the 1959 Fisheries Act with a view to introducing Heads of a new Inland Fisheries Bill as soon as possible. The aim is to ensure that the sector, valued at €755m annually to the national economy and supporting 10,000 jobs in rural and peripheral areas, is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (19 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. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is not a matter in which I, as Minister, have a function. In accordance with section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, all commercial communications by broadcasters are subject to codes established by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). In particular, the BAI General Commercial Communications Code sets out the rules in respect of sponsorship of news and current affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cross-Border Projects (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Loughs Agency of Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC) is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland (DARD) and my Department. The total funding provided by both Departments for the years in question is set out in the following table. Annual State Grants Provided to the Loughs Agency of the FCILC. Year Grant £ Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: At my request, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland undertook an Expressions of Interest process in 2011 in order to identify parties interested in providing new services on the SAORVIEW DTT network. Following completion of this process and subsequent engagement between my Department and the BAI, I wrote to the Authority in 2012 confirming my acceptance of its recommendations in regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Meetings (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department received an invitation from UTV Media for my attendance at a meeting with some of the company's representatives in order to discuss the proposed new television service which it plans to launch in 2015. I accepted the invitation as it afforded me a good opportunity to hear from its television management representatives on their plans for the introduction of the service in this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Section 103 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that a corporation requires my consent for new services and variations in channels. I have received a submission from RTÉ in respect of the proposal to which the Deputy refers and it is currently being examined by my Department in order to consider its public value. My Department has also consulted with the Broadcasting Authority of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Community media is an important and distinct third strand of Irish broadcasting, sitting alongside commercial and public service broadcasting. Community television and radio stations provide a social benefit to the communities they serve, allowing for community access and participation. They are uniquely situated so that the output of each station reflects the special interests and needs of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume the Deputy is referring to the public consultation on the introduction of a Public Service Broadcasting Charge which I launched on 26th August and which closed on 8th October. 385 submissions including 59 from stakeholders were received during this process and my Department is currently reviewing their contents. Once I have considered the outcome of the consultation process I will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, and, as such, I, as Minister, have no role in its day-to-day operations including in relation to RTÉ's pricing of its advertising rates. Furthermore, neither I or my Department has any role or responsibility in the provision of subsidies for health...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: SEAI Wind Atlas (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On 25 August 2011 the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) advertised a Request for Tenders on the Government eTenders website for Provision of Services to Update the Wind Atlas for Ireland. Arising from this process, UK Met Office Consulting Services were selected to carry out the work and issued with a contract in May 2012. To support the execution of the contract, SEAI...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (19 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. Under the terms of the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (20 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Whilst there has been some welcome upturn in the level of interest in exploration off our coast in recent years, the reality is that the only commercial discoveries of hydrocarbons made in the Irish offshore to date are the three producing gas fields in the Kinsale area and the Corrib gas field. There have been no commercial discoveries of oil to date.Despite the low level of commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (20 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. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...