Results 12,141-12,160 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have been called many things in my time here but never that.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Management Appointments (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: All senior appointments to public bodies under the aegis of my Department are publically advertised in accordance with Government Policy. This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the Government Decision of 12...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Outsourcing of Public Services (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department operates a number of shared or outsourced services including: - an ICT Shared service agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) which has been in place prior to March 2012; - a payroll service outsourced to the Department of Finance which has also been in place prior to March 2012; - the Head of Internal Audit Unit which is currently outsourced to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Establishment (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no new State bodies established under the aegis of my Department since March 2011.

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is not often in the House that a measure being introduced is so warmly welcomed by Deputies from all sides. I thank colleagues who have contributed to this debate from all of the political parties and groupings in the House. That measure of consensus demonstrates that there is an awareness and appreciation in Dáil Éireann of the significance and capacity of broadband technology...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Referral to Select Committee (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Data (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department's expenditure on consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews in 2013 was €1.325m. This represents a saving of €0.576m on the overall 2013 allocation. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary. Details of expenditure on consultancy services...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 446 of 15 January 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While primary responsibility for Climate Change mitigation policy rests with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, the achievement of climate change objectives requires contributions from a range of sectors including energy. Increasing Ireland's levels of renewable energy and energy efficiency is critical for reducing our heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water Expenditure (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has the role of driving the overall water sector reform process which includes developing the policy and legislation and ensuring delivery of the Government's water sector reform implementation strategy, which was published in December 2012. The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of this strategy and involves...

Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Does that mean that the Reform Alliance could-----

Censorship of Publications Board Repeal Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I am deputising for my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, who I understand has communicated to the proposer of the Bill the reason he cannot be here. Censorship of publications in Ireland has had a very sad and sorry history, as Deputy Niall Collins has just adduced. Many great works of literature, including many by internationally successful and talented authors, both Irish and...

Report of Joint Committee on Addressing the Growth of Social Media and Tackling Cyberbullying: Motion (24 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the chairman, Deputy O'Mahony, and his committee for addressing an immensely important and very complex subject in a very thoughtful way. I congratulate the committee on a well-considered and valuable contribution to the debate on social media and governance. This report is an important milestone, being the first publication on this issue by an Oireachtas committee. It not only...

Report of Joint Committee on Addressing the Growth of Social Media and Tackling Cyberbullying: Motion (24 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this discussion. I am grateful to the committee, under the chairmanship of Deputy O'Mahony, for the manner in which it went about preparing the report. This can be an emotive issue, for reasons everyone understands, which Deputy Colreavy advanced in his contribution. It is one of these issues that takes off in the media generally from time to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The tender notices which the Deputy is requesting are in the public domain and available on the following websites and . I have no direct role or responsibility in relation to tender processes or contracts awarded by a commercial semi-State company. The Chair of Bord Gáis Eireann, in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, confirms on an annual basis...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies Board Remuneration (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has, in all instances, brought to the attention of each body the policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure in relation to the payment of Board fees, and the payment of board members’ expenses is an operational matter for each State body. Details of fees paid are set out in the Annual Reports of Ordnance Survey Ireland. This Government has made changes...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Online Business Voucher Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The latest indicative figures available from the CSO in their Enterprise & Information Society statistics suggest that less than 1 in 5 Irish businesses are trading online. The National Digital Strategy which was published last year aims to address this challenge, by encouraging more Irish businesses to trade online. The Government provided funding in Budget 2013 for the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Action Plan for Jobs (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Energy Efficiency is an established services sector in Ireland, one that is labour intensive and represents a great opportunity for business and the public sector to reduce costs, improve competitiveness and thereby protect and support jobs. The potential of energy efficiency in terms of the delivery of jobs is underscored by the inclusion of the objective of transforming Ireland into one of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commission for Energy Regulation Staff (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The position of Chairperson of ComReg is currently held by a Principal Officer on secondment from my Department for the duration of his tenure with the Commission. The appointment was made following a public competition. His pensionable pay continues to be based on his salary in his substantive grade of Principal Officer and is subject to pay adjustments during the period of secondment in...