Results 12,741-12,760 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. Ireland is critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas to meet its energy needs. This dependency underlines the immediate and long term imperatives of enhancing energy security, reducing price volatility and ensuring energy sustainability. National energy policy objectives are in line with overall EU...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (7 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 136, inclusive, together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (7 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Having listened to Senator Burke I wonder if there is something particular about Courtbrack which I should consider. To be honest, the matter has not been brought to my attention before today but as a result of Senator Burke's remarks, I will examine it. The Senator is already aware that Ireland's telecommunication's market has been liberalised since 1999 and has developed into a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Telecommunications Services Provision (7 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I entirely agree with Senator Burke that in the 21st century high-quality connectivity is as important a part of the infrastructure as are energy, roads or water. It is puzzling that a new community should be left bereft of the services Senator Burke has outlined. All I can say is that we have two very radical initiatives under way which I think will be revolutionary in their impact in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The complaint in relation to the National Postcode procurement process was made under the EU pilot scheme which is managed in Ireland by the Department of the Taoiseach. Accordingly, my Department wrote to the Department of the Taoiseach on 19 March seeking the release of information from the European Commission in relation to the complaint. I understand that the request was forwarded to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 126 and 130 together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 136 and 137 together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme, which includes the following strands: Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area-based programme, which has been merged with the Better Energy Communities programme this year. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: State owned Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) sold the Whitegate refinery and Whiddy Island oil storage facilities to a private firm called Tosco Corporation in 2001. A key element in the transaction was Tosco Corporation’s undertaking to operate the two facilities (the Whitegate refinery and Bantry (Whiddy Island) storage terminal) for at least 15 years (until mid-2016) on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. The overall aim of the CER’s economic role is to protect the interests of energy customers, maintain security of supply, and to promote competition in the generation and supply of electricity and supply of natural gas....

Leaders' Questions (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Former Deputy Dermot Ahern was aware of it for eight years.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There are seven Commercial Semi State Companies under the aegis of my Department: An Post, Bord Gáis Eireann, Bord na Mona, EirGrid, ESB, RTE and TG4. Any issues regarding pension funds for these companies are an operational matter for each company. I understand that the Annual Reports of the companies contain details on the pensions schemes, including assets and liabilities, and are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Regulatory Bodies (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The postal services market has been fully open to competition since 1 January 2011. The 2011 Act charges the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), as the postal regulator, with the promotion of the development of the postal sector and particularly the availability of the universal postal service, the promotion of the interests of users and the facilitation of the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Priority Question No. 111 [19991/14] of 6 May 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. Broadband services under the NBS are available since October 2010 from “3”, the NBS service provider, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in all of the designated 1,028 NBS Electoral...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs, including in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and a State-led intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 to 433, inclusive, together. Since market liberalisation in 1999, the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The market...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Communications (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not have and has never had a system or policy in place to record incoming or outgoing telephone calls. The issue of storing or costs does not, therefore, arise. My Department in common with most business entities has a voice mail system which enables callers to record a message to leave on the voicemail system if an official or service is temporarily not contactable. This,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435, 440 and 441 together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and...