Results 11,961-11,980 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Industry Data (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no commercial discoveries of oil or gas within the territory of the State in the last three years. However, Ireland now has the highest number of petroleum exploration authorisations in place since exploration began in our offshore more than four decades ago. With new company entrants this year including large independent oil companies such as Cairn Energy, Kosmos Energy and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of these markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. While I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market, I am acutely conscious of the impact of energy prices on citizens and businesses across Ireland. Similarly, I have no function...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The European Commission maintains a Statistics and Market Observatory, which presents consumer prices and net prices (excluding duties and taxes) of petroleum products in EU Member States (known as the Oil Bulletin) on a weekly basis. The Oil Bulletin is designed to improve the transparency of oil prices and to strengthen the internal market. The relevant link is: .In addition to the weekly...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland. Reducing energy consumption remains the most cost-effective means of reducing Green House Gases and one of the primary means of achieving Ireland’s climate change objectives. The NEEAP acts to underpin and extend the energy-related actions contained within the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Parks and Wildlife Service Investigations (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Corrib Partners submitted Environmental Impact Statements in support of their applications to construct the Corrib Gas Field Development. The Deputy will appreciate that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a statutory consultee under this process and has therefore been consulted on a number of occasions by my Department with respect to potential environmental impacts of the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I am pleased to confirm that my Department's Annual Report for 2012 is published and is available on the websites of both the Houses of the Oireachtas and my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The planning, development and routing of 400 kV transmission line infrastructure, including any necessary consultancy services, are matters for EirGrid and not matters in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.In 2008 my Department commissioned an independent study on Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables. The analysis was undertaken...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together. I welcomed the decision made by EirGrid last week to extend the deadline for the consultation process on the GridLink project to 7 January 2014. The period between now and the close of the extended deadline will, no doubt, be useful in providing EirGrid with an opportunity to reflect further on the valid concerns raised in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In May of this year, a process was initiated to sell the Bord Gáis Energy business. This process was led by Bord Gáís Éireann and overseen by a Government Steering Group which included officials from my Department, the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance and the NewERA unit of the NTMA.I am advised that the process was conducted in a professional, open...

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

Pat Rabbitte: No additional resources, either internal or external were retained by my Department for the purpose of the Bord Gáis Energy sale process. My Department did not directly engage or incur any expenses in respect of third party services relating to the process as this was undertaken by the NewERA unit of the NTMA. The NTMA is under the aegis of the Minister for Finance. The final details on...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The dispatch of wind generation is carried out within the regulatory framework for market and grid operational requirements. Under Statutory Instrument No. 445 of 2000 Eirgrid, the Transmission System Operator (TSO), is obliged to operate and ensure the maintenance and development of a safe, secure, reliable, economical and efficient electricity transmission system. As the TSO, EirGrid is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300, 303 and 309 together. I refer to the reply to Question No 219 (51905/13) on 3 December last which addresses comprehensively the issues raised by the Deputies. The legislative code governing inland fisheries is dated and scattered across a range of instruments, with a clear need for modernisation. This is an important task and I have organised a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There are three stages in the development of the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework. I have stated on a number of occasions that transparency in the development of the framework is crucial and that the views of local communities must be at the heart of the transition to renewable energy. The Stage 1 consultation, which involved the publication of Stage 1 information...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The figures referred to by the Deputy which relate to the various Gate processes and those in the queue awaiting connection agreements, are under the Commission for Energy Regulation's Group Processing Approach for the treatment of generation facilities seeking access to the Irish electricity grid. These projects are aiming to supply the domestic Irish market and contribute to achieving 40%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Hotels are able to receive grants to improve the energy efficiency of their business through the Better Energy Community Programme. This programme, launched in 2013, provides Exchequer funding to support energy efficiency projects within local communities. It encourages innovation and pioneering partnerships between public and private, domestic and non-domestic, commercial and not for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid’s Grid25 Programme, launched in 2008, is the most important investment in Ireland’s electricity transmission system for several generations.Grid25 will take several years to complete and it represents an investment of €3.2 billion. It involves extensive work throughout the country, including building 800km of new power lines and upgrading 2,000 km of existing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am aware that many people are concerned about the impact that new transmission lines and other energy infrastructure can have on the landscape, the environment and on local communities. I have, therefore, repeatedly said that it is essential that Grid25 and other energy infrastructure plans are taken forward on the basis of the best available knowledge and informed meaningful engagement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The total capital expenditure by my Department from 2008 to the end of November 2013 is set out in the table. Generally, expenditure in my Department is not allocated at county or regional level. Table: Capital Expenditure by Sector - 2008 to end November 2013 - 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (end Nov) Sector €000s €000s €000s €000s €000s €000s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Pléifidh mé le Ceist Uimh. 311 agus 312 le chéile. Comhlacht reachtúil neamhspleách is ea Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann a bunaíodh faoin Acht Craolacháin 2009 agus atá freagrach as ceadúnais a thabhairt do Chraoltóirí. Tá aidhmeanna Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann leagtha amach in Alt 25...