Results 2,301-2,320 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters in relation to the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works by the developer is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Pending such completion, it is not possible to state a date for when gas from the Corrib gas field will become available. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, which began in 2011, including the construction of a 5km...

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

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, Social Media are online platforms that allow people create, share and exchange information, and to comment amongst themselves in virtual communities and networks. To date, these media have not been subject to a formal regulatory regime akin to that used to "regulate" traditional radio and television broadcast media, either in Ireland or in other jurisdictions....

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

Pat Rabbitte: Recent trends in international oil prices have indeed been downwards and pump prices in Ireland in the last 6 months indicate that motor fuel pump prices have also been falling. The average price at the pumps at the start of November 2012 for diesel was €1.57 per litre, while the average price for unleaded petrol was €1.64 per litre. By the end of April 2013, the average price...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland currently has 1,763 MW of installed wind generation, 238 MW of hydro power and 71 MW of smaller renewable sources (combined heat and power, solar and bio-energy). In 2012 this installed renewable generation capacity met 19. 5% of overall electricity demand. As regards proposed targets for the future, under the Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland is legally required to increase...

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

Pat Rabbitte: In 2012 15.5% of Ireland's electricity demand was met by wind generation. By the end of quarter one2013 1,763 MW of wind generation capacity was connected to the grid. Under the Renewable Energy Directive Ireland is legally required to ensure 16% of total energy demand is met by renewable sources by 2020. Ireland proposes to meet this target through 40% in electricity, 10% in transport and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Cloud computing has the potential to revolutionise the IT investment model in Ireland and elsewhere. It allows companies to use the internet to efficiently access vast amounts of computing resources that would otherwise be beyond their reach. A report undertaken by A&L Goodbody and commissioned by Microsoft has suggested that Cloud Computing sales by Irish firms could be worth...

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

Pat Rabbitte: There are currently two technical staff employed by my Department's Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD). During the past three years two technical staff have left that Division. The process to fill both these vacancies is underway.

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

Pat Rabbitte: As I have stated on previous occasions in the House, the proposal by Shannon LNG to construct a LNG terminal near Ballylongford is welcomed by the Government. Such a facility, together with the bringing onshore of Corrib Gas, would provide important security of gas supply for Ireland. The Deputy will be aware of Shannon LNG’s application to the Courts for Judicial Review of the CER...

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

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is currently working on transposing a number of EU Directives the details of which are set out in tabular format below. Title of Directive/Regulation Present Position Required latest date of transposition EU Regulation 994/2010  concerning measures to safeguard security of gas supply and repealing Council Directive 2004/67/EC The Regulation came into effect on...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 532 and 536 together. The National Broadband Plan commits to speeds of 30Mbps – 70Mbps with target upload speeds in the region of 25% - 30% of these speeds. This will require investment by the State in areas where there is no commercial market. In order to progress the State-led investment, a full procurement process must be designed. In...

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

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is making preparations to commence a formal national mapping exercise to identify those areas where State intervention will be required to enable the delivery of high speed broadband services over the coming years in line with the commitments set out in the National Broadband Plan. It will also form a critical input to an EU State Aid application in respect of any State-led...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 534 and 535 together. The State can only intervene to ensure access to broadband services in areas where the competitive market has failed to deliver such services, as in the case of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Following an extensive mapping exercise and a competitive tendering process, my Department entered into a contract in late 2008 with...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Given the Irish Presidency’s emphasis on promoting stability, jobs and growth, our focus within the Telecoms’ Council has been to progress initiatives under the Digital Agenda for Europe and to push for the completion of the various dossiers linked to the Digital Single Market. At its meeting on June, I reported to Council on progress in relation to the various files for which...

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

Pat Rabbitte: At the Energy part of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE) Council, which was held in Luxembourg on Friday, I presided over discussions by EU Energy Ministers on the areas of the internal energy market, the indirect land-use change issue in relation to biofuels production, energy technologies and innovation, and external energy relations. Ministers were presented with a...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is committed to introducing a national postcode system. The implementation of a national postcode system is a complex and detailed process. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System is ongoing. It is expected that the matter will be put to final tender in the near future. A national postcode system is in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation Targets (30 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has an excellent, largely untapped, wind energy resource. The opportunity to harness this resource for the export market, and realise its potential for investment, job creation and economic growth has been identified. To this end, I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation with my UK counterpart, Mr Edward Davey, on 24 January this year. This Memorandum of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. This market is regulated by Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). 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....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (30 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market, including disconnections, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory regulator. While disconnections are a matter of concern to me, I have no statutory function in the matter of disconnections of electricity or gas customers regardless of the supply company involved. The CER...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (30 May 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On 17 April, 2013, I attended the Information Session on Fracking at the Royal Irish Academy. The Academy hosted this discussion in order to place scientific facts on the record in a measured manner. Speakers at this meeting included, Professor Shannon, Geosciences Committee, Professor Richard Davies University of Durham, Professor Padraic O’ Donoghue, Chair Engineering Sciences...