Results 2,721-2,740 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Research Centres Programme (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 145 together. The National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is a private company which is funded by my Department through a Concession Agreement to develop research based projects to market ready stage by means of collaboration between researchers and commercial development staff who work together in joint project teams. The Concession Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Services (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: TG4 is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 of that Act provides that TG4 shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no function in TG4’s management of its day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together. The REFIT scheme for biomass (REFIT3), which was opened in February 2012, is designed to incentivise the addition of 310 MW of renewable electricity capacity to the Irish electricity grid. The technologies being supported include anaerobic digestion and combined heat and power, which will also contribute to our renewable heat...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (6 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Energy Efficiency Fund (the Fund) will be established with the aim of providing finance to energy efficiency initiatives in the public and private sectors. The aim is to attract matching funding from the private sector, such that the overall amount available for investment is greater than €70 million. NewEra has been asked by Government to coordinate establishment of the Fund and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised that bye-laws drafted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) or its predecessor, the South Western Regional Fisheries Board (SWRFB), and subsequently enacted, did not affect the opening date of the Maine/Brown Flesk River. IFI’s research indicates that CS No. 61 of 29 June 1910, set the close season for salmon fishing by single rod and line, in all rivers and their tributaries...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to my reply to your Question No. 434 dated 12th February 2013. As outlined in my response to you, broadband provision through private and State investment means that Ireland has met the EU Commission’s Digital Agenda for Europe 2013 target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas, including County Meath. The National Broadband Plan which I launched last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Charge (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 328 together. The Programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the TV licence fee in light of existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the TV licence into a household based Public Broadcasting Charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless of the device...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and thus the delivery of broadband services is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector commercial operators who are licensed and regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Decisions relating to the provision of broadband services in any particular area,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In December 2008, my Department entered into a contract with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (“3”) for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), following the conclusion of a competitive dialogue procurement process. The objective of the NBS is to deliver broadband to certain target areas in Ireland in which broadband services were deemed to be insufficient. Since October...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been 64 appointments made to State Boards under the aegis of my Department in the period March 2011 to January 2013 and details of these are set out in the following table. All of the appointments have been made in light of the objectives of the organisation and on the basis of appointees having the necessary competencies, expertise and experience...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Registration Scheme for Oil Technicians (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume that the Deputy’s concern relates to the potential dangers that may result from faulty installations, especially carbon monoxide gas, which would be dangerous to people in their homes and at their places of work. In that regard, I was pleased to launch the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on the 24th September 2012. The Awareness Week saw a sustained, multi-media...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Supervision of the grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The CER sets the policy by which connection offers to grid applicants are issued (under section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended). I have no role or function in the matter of grid connections. The grid connection offers are issued (i) by EirGrid, the Transmission System...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (5 Mar 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Three onshore licensing options were granted in February 2011, two over parts of the North West Carboniferous (Lough Allen) Basin and one over parts of County Clare. These licensing options conferred upon the holders the first right, to apply for an exploration licence over the areas concerned. I can confirm that two of the three companies, (Tamboran Resources and Enegi) have submitted...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with a great deal of what Deputy Wallace said. In my recent reply to a similar question from him, I set out that it is my clear objective that An Post remain a strong and viable State company, providing high-quality services on a nationwide basis through a network of economically viable post offices, and this remains my position. I know this objective is shared on all sides of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Post Office Network (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have passed on to An Post the concerns about Duncormick post office, in particular, which the Deputy mentioned. Contractual issues arose there and I understand notices have been posted locally inviting submissions from the local people. An Post has guaranteed me it will take them into account in making whatever decision it eventually arrives at, and that consultation process is quite...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The strategic and economic importance of investment in networks and energy infrastructure was emphasised in the ‘Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure’, published in July 2012. The North-South transmission line is vital infrastructure for the island. The lack of sufficient interconnection between the North and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is committed to introducing postcodes across the State. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System began in 2011 with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on . That process is still ongoing, and it is expected to conclude in the first half of 2013. The final decision to proceed with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (28 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that no members or former members of the Judiciary have either acted as Chairperson or been a member of the Board of any State Body under the aegis of my Department or carried out a function in any other capacity as outlined by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (27 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme under the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Oil and Gas Installations Regulation (27 Feb 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume that the Deputy is referring to the potential dangers that may result from faulty installations, especially carbon monoxide gas, which would be dangerous to people in their homes and at their places of work. In that regard, I was pleased to launch the first Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week on 24 September 2012. The Awareness Week saw a sustained, multi-media publicity campaign to...