Results 12,861-12,880 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland which I launched on 12 May highlights the potential of the energy sector to create jobs, attract investment, facilitate research and development, and enhance economic growth. Under the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs, provision is made for €57 million in Exchequer supports to further stimulate energy-saving activity in the residential sector. This...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is, in the first instance, a matter for commercial services providers. These service providers operate in a competitive commercial market reporting to the independent market...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies Mergers (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In the context of the Programme for Government commitment to create a streamlined and refocused commercial state company in the bio-energy and forestry sectors, the Government decided in June 2013 that an evaluation would be carried out on how to give effect to a beneficial merger of Coillte and Bord na Móna. A Steering Group, comprising representatives from my Department, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulation of premium rate services is a function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) which is independent in the exercise of its functions. I have forwarded the details of the case to ComReg, who have confirmed they will contact the person directly to provide an update. I have no statutory role in the Commission’s investigation of complaints of the type raised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (12 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department continues to maintain its staffing levels within the Employee Control Framework ceiling laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. While there are currently no vacancies at Principal Officer or equivalent grade in my Department the staffing cohort is reviewed on a regular basis with regard to prevailing business priorities. Information in respect of bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects like the Shannon LNG project. I and Government colleagues have consistently been supportive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 416 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. [24726] of 12 June, 2014. In addition, the scale of the technology to be deployed for specific renewable electricity generation projects is a matter for the individual developer and the relevant planning authority.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The total amount of renewable electricity generation capacity currently connected to the national grid is over 2,300 MW. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has oversight of the process for connecting generators, both renewable and non-renewable, to the national grid.This is generally referred to as the Group Process Approach, which has been implemented to date through a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos 411 and 412 together. According to the An Post Annual Report 2013, which is available on the company's website at , there are 57 company post offices and 1,090 sub-post offices in the post office network. Insofar as the issue of expanding the range of services that could be delivered through the post office network is concerned, I refer to the reply to Question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the replies to Question Nos. 124 and 125 on 30 January 2014 and Question No. 326 on 11 March 2014 in which I indicated that first gas from the Corrib gas field cannot be expected sooner than the first half of 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 419 and 424 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 has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I presume the Deputy is referring to EirGrid's Grid25 programme. I have appointed an independent panel of experts, chaired by Mrs 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) does not compare Irish and European fuel prices, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) analyses electricity and natural gas prices published by Eurostat, collected for Ireland and other European countries under the methodology for the EU Gas and Electricity Price Transparency Directive 90/377/EEC as amended by Council Decision...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Capital Programme Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The total capital budget for my Department in 2014 is €118.5 million which includes carryover of €8.5 million and stimulus funding of €30 million. Capital funding of just over €58 million has been allocated to the Better Energy programme in 2014. Virtually all of this expenditure will be on energy efficiency measures which generate substantial economic activity and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Industrial Relations (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has one ongoing case with the Equality Tribunal.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: On 25 March 2014, BGE signed an agreement for the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, which is currently expected to complete on 30 June 2014 subject to receipt of regulatory and merger approvals. The sale of Bord Gáis Éireann's (BGÉ) energy business is for an enterprise value of up to €1.1 billion. Following sale completion, it is expected that BGÉ will commence the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no function in the provision of such information. This is an operational responsibility for EirGrid, a commercial state body. This information is publicly available and is published annually, along with an electricity demand forecast, by EirGrid in the All Island Generation Capacity Statement. The latest publication is available on the EirGrid website at:

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Expenses (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The following table outlines the amount paid in subsistence and taxi payments in my Department from 2011 to date. - 2011 (000) 2012 (000) 2013 (000) 2014 (to date) (000) Subsistence payments 197 214 187 90 Taxi payments 24 26 35 13All travel and subsistence payments made to staff in my Department are made in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operators of cable television networks are required to register as an Authorised Undertaking with the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), in advance of establishing such networks or offering regulated communications services to the public and to comply with the ex-ante operational requirements imposed on authorised undertakings by ComReg. It is a matter for the appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has statutory responsibility in this area and I have no function in this matter. Under Section 43 (1)(c)(i) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, the Authority must prepare and, from time to time, revise rules with respect to the specific steps each broadcaster is required to take to promote the understanding and enjoyment by those who are deaf or have a...