Results 2,081-2,100 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for peat generation, for certain conventional generation constructed for security of supply purposes, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Payments (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets including the operation of the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy is charged to all electricity customers. It is designed to support the national policy objectives of security of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The final tender for a National Postcode System issued recently. Subject to satisfactory conclusion of the procurement process it is intended to award a contract for a National Postcode System in the autumn of this year. The structure of the postcode will depend on the outcome of the procurement.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Official Travel (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information he has requested is an operational matter for the individual Bodies and Regulators concerned. All agencies have been kept up to date on public sector travel and subsistence policies and are aware of the need to minimise their operational expenses on an ongoing basis.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that, following a Government decision, the salary rate for newly appointed CEOs of Commercial Semi State Companies under the aegis of my Department is as set out in the table below with effect from 21st June 2011. Salary Rate for newly appointed CEOs of Commercial State Companies Name of Company New Appointment Rate An Post €240,448 BGÉ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (16 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that there are eleven Non Commercial Bodies, including Regulators, under the aegis of my Department and details of these are set out in tabular form below. Non Commercial State Bodies Inland Fisheries Ireland Digital Hub Development Agency Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) National Oil Reserves Agency Irish National Petroleum...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (11 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each county, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together. The development and operation of a wind farm in Ireland requires planning permission from the relevant planning authority. It also requires an Authorisation to Construct or Reconstruct a Generating Station and a Licence to Generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The issue of planning permission is a matter between...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (11 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 is the principal statute underpinning Ireland’s mineral, oil and gas exploration licensing regimes. Since it was enacted, a broad body of legislation at national and European Union level that is directly relevant to oil and gas exploration and production activities, including planning, safety and environmental legislation, has been...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: What does the Deputy say is linked - pay and what else?

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The main issue raised by Deputy Moynihan relates to the rationalisation of premises. As members are aware, there has been a great deal of rationalisation here in recent times. Nine boards have become a single board, there has been considerable restructuring and the organisation is extracting itself from expensive rental accommodation in north Dublin. A new headquarters has been acquired...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Essentially, what happens is that the money comes in on one side of the balance sheet and goes out on the other side. It is broken down by way of an allocation of 7% to the sound and vision fund, with a fixed figure of just over €9 million to TG4. Also, as mentioned earlier, 12.5% goes as an agency fee to An Post for collection of the licence. The allocation to TG4 was enshrined in...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a fair point that in seeking professional advice on which one is likely to rely when making policy decisions, this advice must be evidence based, impartial and fair in so far as this can be achieved. We have people in the Department, albeit a small number, who have experience of all these matters and are able to assess ongoing performance and the feedback we receive. None of those...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The whole thrust of policy is to get control of emissions and to decarbonise the energy sector. We have had considerable success so far. International experts regard Ireland having 17% of its electricity generated from wind as a considerable achievement. The figures Deputy Colreavy referred to relate to the amount of renewable energy added per annum. It is not even. We have targets to...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Colreavy is correct. The accounting system is changed somewhat so that, other than straight pay, additional costs are spread over the different areas of the Department in line with some proportionality of the significance of each division. As I explained, there are particular reasons that the Department is required to take external expert advice in this area. The increase in the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with Deputy Michael Moynihan that the merit of the energy efficiency drive is that it is a win-win. It reduces our consumption of energy. It leads to a reduction in our import bill, contributes to healthier living and leads to savings for the consumer. There is no doubt that given current constraints, we should be targeting money at energy efficiency measures. As the Deputy said,...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: That is correct. I accept that much of the built environment is not up to the standard that it might be if we were developing it now. That is true. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, was allocated €50 million in the past few weeks to address the precise issue identified by the Deputy, which relates to local authority housing. That should see a fairly quick...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: To some degree, it is in the eye of the beholder. The Act sets out broad principles. Philosophically, we are talking about the obligation on public service broadcasters to reflect society back to itself in terms of current affairs, news reporting, quality productions, drama and culture, for example. I refer also to the support of symphony orchestras. Regional radio stations produce public...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 29 - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Revised) (10 Jul 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, but it was to facilitate the independent sector which constitutes people who are not RTE employees although they may be former RTE employees or just young people have come through the education system who make documentaries or other programmes and sell them to RTE. They do have access to that fund.