Results 11,921-11,940 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Other Questions: Energy Prices (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The pay-as-you-go meters have been a considerable success. Under the protocol we have put in place, there can be no disconnections where a pay-as-you-go meter has been installed or a payment plan entered into by the householder. This has worked exceptionally well. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Social Protection on the issue of house occupants resorting to the...

Other Questions: Energy Prices (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I recall from private discussions with my old friend Deputy Broughan when he was a socialist that he was always in favour of a property tax, the conservation of water and water charges.

Other Questions: Energy Prices (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I know we are in the Christmas season-----

Other Questions: Energy Prices (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: -----when some former colleagues of mine have a habit of standing on their head, but Deputy Broughan's forgetfulness is going too far.

Other Questions: Post Office Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is Government policy that An Post should remain a strong and viable company, as the Deputy would wish, in a position to provide a high-quality nationwide postal service and to maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are, of course, a matter for the...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The honest answer to that question is that I did not, but it sounds like an idea that is worth examining. In that case I did not do what the Deputy suggested, but I have made several suggestions because the post office network has a unique retail infrastructure. I understand there are still 1,144 offices of one kind or another nationwide, which is in itself immensely valuable. However,...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not know SUSI like Deputy Naughten knows SUSI.

Other Questions: Post Office Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand the initial difficulties were subsequently corrected. I will not be dragged into discussing particular services that An Post might provide, because there are constraints on me. However, as I stated to Deputy Naughten - and the management of An Post agrees - there appear to be possibilities with regard to the use of existing infrastructure, especially in cases in which, for...

Other Questions: Electricity Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As Deputy Durkan is aware, responsibility for national and international climate change policy is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. However, the overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported...

Other Questions: Electricity Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Work on wave and tidal energy is essentially still at research stage. The expert advice is to the effect that we look to have a propitious resource, but it is still not commercial. To answer the Deputy's question, these energy options will not be integrated early into the system, but, nonetheless, we are maintaining our investment and partnerships in continuing to test the research in that...

Other Questions: Electricity Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Unfortunately, as price takers, we have little influence over the situation where we are importing 100% of our oil needs and 96% of our gas needs. Earlier Deputy Broughan tried to place responsibility for rising gas prices on me. I have responsibilities for many things, but I am not responsible for the global price of gas which reached an all-time high earlier this year. Deputy Durkan is...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland is the statutory independent body responsible for regulation of the broadcasting sector which includes oversight of compliance of all broadcast content, including user generated content broadcast on television and radio. In line with its responsibilities in this area, the BAI already has in place a number of codes, including the code of fairness,...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not disagree with the Deputy. There are inherent pitfalls, but I wonder if it is all that novel. This also happened in the era of the telephone and has gone on in the era of texting. It is remarkable when some interviewees are followed by showers of congratulatory and laudatory text messages praising them to the sky. I am sure it is purely accidental. It is a question of editorial...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a matter of editorial control. I appreciate that the media, for example, have a tendency to recognise qualities in politicians who, for example, leave their party that they never recognised while they were in the party. RTE implemented new guidelines after the presidential election and these guidelines are invoked. The BAI's code of practice was also published after the presidential...

Electricity Infrastructure: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: She is wrong.

Electricity Infrastructure: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Her entire proposition that this is being built for export is wrong. It has nothing at all to do with that.

Electricity Infrastructure: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am amazed every day to learn what responsibilities I do not have.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The transition to a sustainable, low carbon, energy system is central to Government energy policy. Implementation of this policy, as well as delivering substantial environmental benefits, is securing significant economic benefits for the State and our citizens. For example, the wind energy sector employs around 3,400 people in Ireland. In addition, the SEAI estimates that €255 million...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sale of State Assets (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. As I announced on 27 November, I have confirmed to Bord Gáis Éireann that none of the final bids received for the Bord Gáis Energy business are at an acceptable value at the present time. This decision was based on the advice I received that the current bids are not a fair reflection of the strength and potential of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 22 together. In the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure of July 2012, the imperative for the State companies, and all developers of energy projects, of early, transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholder was emphasised. It is expected by Government...