Results 12,941-12,960 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There are enough crocodile tears over there to supply Intel.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Perhaps there is a FÁS course for those opposite on how to write questions.

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this important issue. I assure him that the Government is committed to a strong and viable An Post and supports the maintenance of the maximum number of economically viable post offices providing high quality services on a nationwide basis. The commercial operation of An Post's post office network is a matter for the board and management of the company. In...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I am entirely in agreement with Deputy Kitt about the affection with which the post office network is regarded, especially by small communities in provincial areas. The problem for An Post is that it is a commercial State company, the core business of which has been diminishing at a fairly serious rate because traditional letter-writing has been replaced by electronic substitution and it...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I was merely going for a wander down memory lane.

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand the concern of the residents of Barnaderg and elsewhere, but I point out again that it is only in the exceptional case that An Post has gone ahead and closed post offices in the past three years.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: CeadúnasTeilifíse (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Faigheann RTÉ maoiniú trí Dheontas i gCabhair do chuid de na hadmhálacha ó tháillí ceadúnais teilifíse agus tríd an ioncam tráchtála a ghineann sé. Faigheann TG4 maoiniú trí Dheontas i gCabhair, admhálacha ó tháillí ceadúnais teilifíse agus ioncam tráchtála. Déantar...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The cost associated with the change of name from Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia is an operational matter for the company and not one in which I have a function. However, I did request that the company to ensure that any associated rebranding costs would be minimised and that any publicity campaign is appropriate and focussed on avoiding any potential negative safety implications arising...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metropolitan Area Networks Programme (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together. Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) are State owned, open access, underground telecommunications networks, linking the main commercial and public buildings to "co-location centres" where service providers locate their telecommunications equipment and access the network. MANs are available to licenced telecoms providers to enable them...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Since market liberalisation, 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 developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish National Petroleum Company (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) is the State company which previously ran the Whitegate refinery and Whiddy Island oil terminal facility. It has never received Exchequer funding. The refinery and oil terminal facility were sold by the State in 2001 and it has had no Chief Executive or employees since then. The refinery and oil terminal facility are currently owned by Phillips...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for generation constructed for security of supply purposes (including peat generation), and for the development of renewable electricity. The levy is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by these producers....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The cost associated with the change of name from Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia is an operational matter for the company and not one in which I have a function. However, I did request that the company ensure that any associated rebranding costs would be minimised and that any publicity campaign is appropriate and focussed on avoiding any potential negative safety implications arising...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 130 of 26 June 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Natural Gas Grid (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Over the past three decades the natural gas network has been steadily developed and expanded by Bord Gáis Networks. Infrastructural developments have ensured that the network is well placed to accommodate gas demand in the medium term. Currently, some 39% of Irish households are connected to the gas network and a further 18% of households are situated in areas which have access to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos 288, 290 and 293 together In June 2011, I established a Next Generation Broadband Taskforce which comprised the CEOs of all of the major telecommunications operators in Ireland and a number of smaller operators, together with senior officials from my own Department. The purpose of the Taskforce was to consider how best to facilitate the delivery of high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department entered into a contract in late 2008 with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”) for the delivery of the NBS. The Scheme has facilitated the availability of a basic, affordable broadband service to fixed residences and businesses located within 1,028 Electoral Divisions across 25 Counties. In accordance with the EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme, the NBS...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Broadband Plan, in addition to containing clear commitments regarding addressing market failure in the provision of high-speed broadband services to all parts of the country, also sets out specific targets in relation to a number of complementary measures aimed at accelerating commercial investment. These include, inter alia, a review of national spectrum policy and possible...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: State Bodies (1 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: ComReg's Annual Report and Accounts for 2013 has not yet been received in my Department. I expect the Report to be sent to me once the Comptroller and Auditor General has completed its statutory review of the accounts. In line with well-established procedures, ComReg's Annual Report for 2013 will be published once approved by Government.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (2 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of the SAORVIEW digital terrestrial television (DTT) network and I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. Specifically, the Act requires RTÉ to provide digital coverage to the same extent as provided over the previous analogue network, i.e. 98% population coverage, and I...