Results 2,261-2,280 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Biofuel Obligation Scheme Implementation (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set a binding target on all Member States to achieve at least 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. The increased deployment of Electric Vehicles will help in this regard but, it is clear that the primary means of meeting this target for all Member States will be by the increased use of biofuels. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Joint Oireachtas Committee's report represents a valuable contribution to the debate on how Ireland should manage its indigenous oil and gas resources, to ensure the best result for the people of Ireland. I am aware that the former Joint Committee members invested considerable time in the gathering of evidence, consideration of such evidence, and preparation of the final report. In...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The development and operation of wind farms in Ireland require planning permission from the relevant planning authority and, in the case of offshore wind farms, a foreshore lease from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. They also require an Authorisation to Construct a Generating Station and a Licence to Generate from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER)....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Gas Grid (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 86 together. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE). The company operates in accordance with the safety framework established by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which has statutory responsibility for gas safety. In addition, in accordance with section 39A of the Gas Act 1976, as...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 509 together. The Irish energy market, including power generation, is a commercial market, regulated as appropriate by the Commission for Energy Regulation, and one in which I have no function. I understand that the Generation and Wholesale Markets arm of the ESB operates a mixed portfolio of generation using both fossil fuels and renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to reiterate the strong commitment of the Government to introducing a national postcode system. A national postcode system is in my view a vital part of the national infrastructure. Apart from providing efficiencies for postal delivery it will positively impact on deliveries of public and private services. The procurement process for a national postcode system has proven to be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 88 together. The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides support to homeowners towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades including solar thermal...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulation of the electricity and gas market is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 provided for the establishment of the CER as an independent statutory regulator. Since its establishment, there have been a number of changes to the regulatory framework, and CER’s functions, in line with the continually evolving...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Third Energy Package, agreed in 2009, aimed to fully implement the EU Internal Energy Market. The objectives of the internal energy market are the achievement of better outcomes for EU citizens through contributing to economic growth and jobs, by providing secure energy at an affordable and competitive price, and through sustainability in energy use. On 4 February 2011 the European...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ.In relation to the Deputy’s query, figures published by ComReg for Q4 2012 indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Industrial Development (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The market for technologies and services associated with sustainable energy and decarbonisation is growing rapidly. Internationally, the International Energy Agency estimates that governments will need to spend $180 billion in 2035 alone on sustainable energy measures to achieve climate change targets. Ireland is ideally positioned to sell the skills of the domestic ICT sector, to test...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August last, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible....

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Kelvin Project provides direct international telecoms connectivity between the North West of Ireland and North America, and improved telecoms connectivity to Europe, via a transatlantic submarine telecoms cable which was brought ashore at Portrush in 2009. The IDA uses the benefits of the transatlantic link provided by Project Kelvin to promote the North West and Border region as an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum Management (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. In November 2012 ComReg announced the results of its successful Multi-Band Spectrum Award (MBSA) process which resulted in a total licence yield of €855 million to be paid over the duration of the terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Publication (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is my intention to publish the National Digital Strategy over the coming weeks. The Strategy will complement the significant investment in broadband infrastructure envisaged under the National Broadband Plan and will complement and assist in achieving goals set out the National Payments Plan, The eGovernment Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs. In order for Ireland to capitalise on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 507 together. The Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff scheme, known as REFIT, has been designed to incentivise the development of wind powered electricity generation in order to ensure that sufficient new renewable electricity generation plant is built to enable Ireland to meet the legally binding target of 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The requirement to have a TV licence and pay the accompanying fee is dependent on possession of a television set, as defined by section 140 of the Broadcasting Act 2009.In estimating the national evasion rate, my Department must take into account a range of factors including the overall number of occupied houses and liable businesses, the levels of vacant units and the estimated television...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 514 together. Ensuring sustainable supplies of power to all consumers is central to this Government’s energy policy. Harnessing the clean, sustainable, indigenous, renewable wind resource that Ireland is fortunate to have in abundance is crucial to reducing our dependence on expensive fossil fuels imports, reducing harmful emissions and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Correspondence (11 Jun 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The correspondence concerned refers to a number of highly technical and complex issues, some of which I addressed in previous correspondence with the community council, in addition to containing other aspects touching on matters which have already been adjudicated upon by the Courts. Consequently, I will require considerable technical and other detail in order to provide a considered...