Results 12,061-12,080 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (15 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department’s expenditure on consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews was €3.606m for the period March 2011 to date. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary. The attached table outlines the projects which incurred consultancy expenditure. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts (15 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: A full cost benefit analysis is under way to determine if it is mutually beneficial for Ireland and the United Kingdom to enter an Inter-Governmental Agreement in 2014 to facilitate trade in renewable energy. A key objective, from an Irish Government perspective, is to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. The cost benefit analysis is being carried out by my Department with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The booking of photographers is managed by my Press Office in each case. Photography Costs – Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources March 2011 – Jan 2014 Company Event Date Event Cost Maxwell Photography 13/06/2011 Government convenes Next Generational Broadband Taskforce 340.92...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significane and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department contributed €75,000 per annum for the years 2010-2013 inclusive to co-fund research work undertaken by the ESRI within the Programme of Research in Communications (PRC). The research, which was agreed annually in advance with my Department, was conducted independently by the ESRI and is accessible on its website . The following table 1 lists the research projects...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (16 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in November 2012. In relation to my Department, the current position on the Bodies which fall under this review is as follows: Body Current Position on Rationalisation Ordnance Survey Ireland The OSI will be merged with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Jan 2014)

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 the Irish market can be found on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The funding of registered charities is not a direct function of my Department. However there are a number of bodies that engage in research or support social and community initiatives in areas such as e-inclusion which have qualified for charitable tax exemption under Section 207, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 and such organisations have provided services or carried out research work for my...

Topical Issue Debate: Inland Waterways Maintenance (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy Bannon for raising this matter. On behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Brian Hayes, who is absent on business, I welcome the opportunity to address the House on the subject of the management structure of the River Shannon. At the outset, it would be useful to outline briefly the position regarding the...

Topical Issue Debate: Inland Waterways Maintenance (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As Deputy Bannon said, one of the main problems with the Shannon is the frequent flooding. I accept that. The management of flood risk on the Shannon is being actively and comprehensively addressed through the OPW's catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, programme. The CFRAM programme is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon basin. The CFRAM study is...

Topical Issue Debate: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Griffin for giving me the opportunity to address the House on this important issue. I have already spoken on the issue in discussion with my ministerial colleague, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, and with Deputy Arthur Spring, both of whom have consistently engaged with me on this issue. At the outset, let me underline the Government's positive interest in the potential investment by...

Topical Issue Debate: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not regard County Kerry as peripheral and I assure the Deputy that if Shannon LNG proposed to build a terminal at Ringsend, precisely the same European regulatory framework would be applied. In terms of my capacity to give a general direction, the Deputy is correct, I can do so, but I cannot give a direction that would aid a particular company. I am in a very unusual position, not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form below. The bulk of the studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned. Payments from Ministerial allowances are not a charge on my Department’s Vote and are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 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: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is important that the boards of Irish Commercial Semi State Companies are led by persons with the requisite knowledge, skills, expertise, competence and leadership ability required to ensure such companies perform optimally. The position of Chairperson of EirGrid does not carry an entitlement to a salary. However, the Chairperson is offered an annual fee. Currently the fee offered to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Payments made by my Department to Oracle since March 2011 are set out in the following table. There have been no payments made to Accenture in that period. Year Amount Paid 2011 € 72,634 2012 € 76,049 2013 €213,777

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 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: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy's correspondent has been misinformed. The company referred to in the Question is not in receipt of State grants or funding in relation to the rollout of broadband services. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Biofuel Obligation Scheme Implementation (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. The Directive also requires that all biofuels used to meet the 10% target must comply with certain sustainability criteria. That is, they must not be made from feedstocks sourced from certain categories of land, and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

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 the Irish market can be found on...