Results 2,521-2,540 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (30 Apr 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 (ocean energy, combined heat and power, solar and bio-energy). In 2012, this installed renewable generation capacity met 17.3% of overall electricity demand. As regards proposed targets for the future, under the Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland is legally required to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (30 Apr 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The European Commission maintains a Statistics and Market Observatory, which presents consumer prices and net prices (excluding duties and taxes) of petroleum products in EU Member States (known as the Oil Bulletin) on a weekly basis. The Oil Bulletin is designed to improve the transparency of oil prices and to strengthen the internal market. The relevant link is . In addition to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (30 Apr 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 last year, including the construction of a 5km...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: An EU Commission comparison of “3G” mobile telephony coverage across the EU states for 2010 ranks Ireland 6th highest for coverage at 99.5% compared to an EU average of 89.9%. The award of spectrum licences including the imposition and monitoring of associated quality and coverage requirements to provide mobile telephony services, are statutory functions of the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology Issues (30 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Office of Internet Safety has been established by the Government to take lead responsibility for Internet safety in Ireland particularly as it relates to children. This Office operates under the aegis of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Office also aims at building linkages and cohesion between all Departments and Agencies to ensure that the State provides the best possible...

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Not even Deputy Martin is that naïve.

Order of Business (25 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I see the new pope has taken on the mantle of Francis of Assisi. Deputy Martin can no longer go around pretending he is Francis of Assisi.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (25 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The number of licences issued in any particular year is a combination of direct sales by An Post and ‘free licences’ issued by the Department of Social Protection. The number of TV licences issued on behalf of Social Welfare recipients varies according to the number of people eligible for the Household Benefits Package, and this can change from month to month. The table below...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (25 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy, in respect of my Department, is outlined below: Salary Band Number of Staff 0 - 30K 47 30K - 40K 47 40K - 60K 95 60K - 80K 41 80K - 100K 28 100K - 150K 9 150K - 200K 1 No member of staff in my Department is paid a salary greater than €200,000. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephone Charges (25 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: EU Regulation No. 531/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 June 2012 on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union regulates the maximum retail charges which can be imposed for mobile roaming services in the EU. It is the third in a series of such Regulations, each of which has reduced the maximum permitted roaming charges. The current EU...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (24 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 177 and 178 together. I can confirm for the Deputy that none of my Department’s 2012 capital allocation was used for current expenditure purposes last year. In relation to my Department’s 2013 capital allocation, a month by month profile of the allocation is provided in the following table. The profile includes a €10.4m capital carryover...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (24 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In January of this year I signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with my UK counterpart, Mr. Edward Davey M.P., to explore the potential for exporting wind based renewable energy from Ireland to the UK. Intensive discussions are being progressed by my Department and its UK counterpart on this matter. Whilst the signing of the MOU indicates a strong statement of intent on the part of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Irish Offshore Operators Association estimate that in the region of €3 billion has been spent by the oil industry on exploration offshore Ireland and I understand a not dissimilar amount will have been spent on bringing gas from the Corrib field to the Grid. While much of the expenditure will have related to drilling rigs and seismic vessels, it also relates to expenditure on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs including decisions it makes on its financial expenditure and on its budgetary position. These are purely matters for RTÉ management. RTÉ has a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Dumping at Sea (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The matter of dumping at sea is not within my remit as Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have, however, made enquiries in relation to this issue, which was mentioned in the course of the recent British Irish Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Letterkenny on 4 March. I am also aware that Minister of State, Ciaran Cannon, TD,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets, including disconnections, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory regulator and one in which I have no statutory function. The CER provides quarterly and annual updates on the electricity and gas retail markets, including on disconnections, and further information may...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy, in respect of my Department, is outlined as follows: Salary Band Number of Staff 0 - 30K 47 30K - 40K 47 40K - 60K 95 60K - 80K 41 80K - 100K 28 100K - 150K 9 150K - 200K 1 No member of staff in my Department is paid a salary greater than €200,000. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (23 Apr 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: Offshore Exploration (23 Apr 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that there are early indications that methane hydrates may be present offshore of the west of Ireland, in particular in the area of the Rockall Basin. However, this is unproven and would require data acquisition, particularly core drilling, in order to establish any existence of hydrates offshore Ireland. Whilst methane hydrates may represent a future source of hydrocarbons,...