Results 2,661-2,680 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This relates to two factors, those being, the improved performance in finishing previously unfinished estates-----

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: -----and the application of a standardised nationwide methodology of assessment. Deputy Michael McGrath well knows the background to the property tax. He ought to, given the fact that his party authored it.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The tax's purpose is to broaden the tax base so that the Government can avoid putting additional taxes on income and people at work. In terms of fairness and consistency, I am sure that the Deputy will agree that it would not be fair to require some citizens to pay while exempting others. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government assures me that it has gone through...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Over the past three years the Programme has disbursed Exchequer funding in respect of the Better Energy Homes, Better Energy Warmer Homes, Better Energy Workplaces and Better Energy Communities Schemes. The Better Energy: Homes scheme provides support to homeowners towards the installation of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Inland Fisheries Ireland, (IFI) is the statutory agency responsible for the conservation, protection and development of the inland fisheries resource and recreational sea angling. It has also a remit to promote the inland fisheries and sea angling resource. I am advised by IFI that a comprehensive and wide-ranging array of measures is implemented aimed at the conservation, protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Renewable electricity is supported through REFIT (Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff). Various renewable energy technologies are supported through REFIT, including onshore wind, hydro, landfill gas, biomass CHP, anaerobic digestion and biomass combustion and co-firing. The lowest REFIT reference rates are offered in respect of onshore wind. The objective of the five part All-Island Grid...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department uses both 1890 lo-call number and national number for members of the public. The use of a lo-call number affords considerable savings to people who do not have access to free national call services. In accordance with best practice there is an accompanying note on the Department’s website and in press notices or other literature advising that the rates charged for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Information and Communications Technology Issues (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The telephony/switchboard service in my Department is currently under contract with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). I understand that NCBI provides services to other public bodies in this regard. The contract provides valuable employment for two people with a registered disability as well as an excellent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Presidential Reports (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Being Young and Irish was an initiative launched by President Higgins, the consultation process of which took place between May 25 and September 29, 2012. Young people aged 17-26 from across the country were invited to share their views on the future of Ireland. Arising from the consultation process, a report entitled ‘Take Charge of Change’ was produced. I have received a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The policy approach in regard to the imposition of programming obligations on broadcasters is set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, which also sets out the objects of our national public service broadcasters. In pursuit of these objects RTÉ and TG4 are charged, inter alia, with ensuring that programmes reflect the varied elements, which make up the culture of the people of Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is aware that thorium is an alternative to uranium as a fuel for nuclear fission. I understand that there are large scale thorium resources available worldwide but that it will be some time before nuclear power stations fuelled by thorium become commercially available. The use of nuclear fission for the generation of electricity in Ireland is prohibited by Section 18(6) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Decisions by commercial telecommunications operators, including Eircom, in relation to investing in infrastructure or new services are taken on purely commercial grounds, having regard to the likely return on the investment in question. I therefore have no role or function in relation to the matter raised in the Deputy’s Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (20 Mar 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. I have no statutory function in the matter of disconnections of electricity or gas customers regardless of the supply company involved. The CER provides quarterly and annual updates on the electricity...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: ESB operates a mixed portfolio of generation using both renewable and fossil fuels to generate power. ESB’s hydroelectric power stations are Ardnacrusha (86MW), Inishcarra Dam (19MW), Carrigadrohid (8MW), Golden Falls (4MW), Clady (4MW), Poulaphouca, County Wicklow (15MW), Leixlip (4MW), Cliff (20MW), Cathleen’s Falls (45MW), Curramore <1MW and Parteen <1MW. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers operating in a fully liberalised market. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is responsible for issuing licences to mobile phone operators and for monitoring compliance with the conditions attached to the licences. ComReg concluded a spectrum allocation process in late...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Charities Regulation (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the 2010 Premium Rate Services Act, the provision of premium rate services, including services for the benefit of charitable organisations, is subject to a licensing requirement administered by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). There is no charge imposed on charitable organisations involved in this process and it may be done electronically online for convenience. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Consultations (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Officials in my Department engage on an ongoing basis with European and international colleagues in relation to radio spectrum issues of common interest. My Department is also represented at various European fora and at the World Radiocommunication Conference at which radio spectrum issues are discussed. The National Broadband Plan published last year following extensive consultation with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is an operational matter for the company involved and I, as Minister, have no role or function in this regard. However, my Department has requested that EirGrid, which has statutory responsibility for the East West Interconnector, will furnish further information directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts (20 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This is an operational matter for the company involved and I, as Minister, have no role or function in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Music Industry (14 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The policy approach in regard to the imposition of programming obligations on broadcasters is set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, which also sets out the objects of our national public service broadcasters. In pursuit of these objects RTÉ and TG4 are charged, inter-alia, with ensuring that programmes reflect the varied elements, which make up the culture of the people of Ireland and...