Results 12,821-12,840 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Further to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 27 May 2014, I can confirm that the area of Newtown referred to in the published county-by-county list of towns and villages which have been identified for a fibre build-out is in Nenagh, County Tipperary. As indicated previously, this is an indicative list and is subject to the completion of the comprehensive mapping exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (10 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Programming obligations are imposed on broadcasters in the Broadcasting Act 2009, which also sets out the objects of the national public service broadcasters. In pursuit of these objects RTÉ and TG4 are charged, inter-alia, with ensuring that programmes reflect the varied elements which make up the culture of the people of Ireland and “have special regard for the elements which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Responsibilities (10 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: At my request, the Government delegated certain of my statutory functions in relation to energy and natural resources matters to the Minister of State at my Department, Fergus O'Dowd, who is also Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The powers (other than the power to prosecute an offence) and duties conferred on me by or under the enactments,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (10 Jun 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. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with “3”, the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps and 1.4Mbps...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (11 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Workplaces Scheme, which funded new approaches for implementing sustainable energy upgrades to existing facilities in the public, commercial and industrial sectors closed in 2012. In the four years of its operation (including its precursor schemes), some 321 projects were funded with over €36m grant aid disbursed to eligible projects, which realized 822GWh of energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jun 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: - policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment; and - a State-led...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (11 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. The response to Question No. 424 of 13th May 2014 sets out comprehensively the position as regards the issues raised by the Deputy. While the position has not changed since then, I would be happy to ask IFI to contact the Deputy directly if he requires further clarification.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's national broadband plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring high speed broadband services, comparable with high speed services available across the European Union, are available to all citizens and businesses. This is being achieved by providing a policy and regulatory framework to accelerate and incentivise commercial investment and a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is correct in that there are several reports. The report on which the Department and I rely is ComReg's quarterly data review. I must make a decision on the barometer of measurement. According to ComReg, in December 2013 Ireland was 15th lowest of 26 countries in the case of fixed-lined business broadband services, six places below or 16.5% cheaper than the average; 13th lowest...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy stated, in some cases the speeds promised are not delivered, for which there are technical and complex explanations. This is one of the reasons we have gone for a fibre solution. The roll-out of a network the foundation of which is a fibre solution means that the matter raised by the Deputy will not be an issue in the future. Fibre has the capacity to meet any reasonable...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While I have no statutory function in either the regulated or non-regulated markets, I am acutely conscious of the impact of energy prices on citizens across the country. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, which is an independent statutory body. Prices in the electricity retail market are fully...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I am aware of Ofgem's public statement in Britain. In addition, I have noted the comments by Ofgem's chairman, who is the former chairman of our own Commission for Energy Regulation. The situation is not directly analogous; the main driving force here is the wholesale price of gas, over which we have no control. I take the Deputy's point that I am ultimately accountable to the House but,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I beg your pardon. I missed the point.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Thank you very much. I may need it. In response to his point on renewables, Deputy Moynihan will be interested to examine the SEAI report on renewables which I published on Monday morning of this week. The SEAI considered what savings accrued in 2012 as a result of the supports for renewable energy. It concluded that savings of €245 million were realised. If one adds to that the...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos 6. and 11 together. The Government’s national broadband plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to change radically the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. That will be achieved by providing a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As to whether it is fair, it does not really matter whether I think it is fair. These are the European Union rules and I sometimes find some of them to be massively frustrating. However, given that the Government has decided the commercial sector is doing a job in the cities and towns of Ireland which is comparable with anything that happens throughout the European Union and that the very...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There has been a shift in the European policy approach to this issue, which is that the Commission is looking for a future-proofed system. Whereas it was previously technology-neutral, without specifying the type of network, European policy now essentially states that a fibre-based solution is required. Therefore, the answer to Deputy Kyne's question is that from the regular contacts the...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: For those of us who support the noble post-war aspirations that led to the European Union project, it is sometimes a cause for concern that the degree of intrusion by the apparatus of the European Union can be excessive. It is frustrating that one Directorate General is urging that quality of connectivity is a sine qua nonfor economic and social progress, while a different Directorate...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 10 together. I have appointed an independent panel of experts chaired by Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The independent expert panel has held five meetings between 10 February 2014 and 10 June 2014. At its meeting on 2 May 2014 the panel finalised and approved the terms of reference for comprehensive...

Other Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: When I ask Ms Justice McGuinness to take on this task, I did not envisage that she and her panel of experts would have delved into matters so deeply. I did not intend to impose on them the burden of work they have taken on themselves. I very much appreciate that they are examining the issues entrusted to them so rigorously. The meeting they held this week, which lasted four hours, was...