Results 2,941-2,960 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas Pipelines (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am somewhat puzzled by Deputy Wallace's comments. I am told by my technical people that the Deputy has experience of this area but the clear advice is that the project is being done to standard. I cited the relevant standard and the code of practice for gas transmission pipelines and pipeline installation. The standard requires infrastructure to be laid at a depth of 1.2 m and, where...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas Pipelines (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Is the Deputy referring to a particular area?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas Pipelines (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I will do precisely that and will communicate the reply to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Energy Schemes (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 22 and 37 together. I intend to publish the national energy efficiency action plan in the next four weeks. This second action plan reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to a 20% energy savings target in 2020 in pursuit of our EU obligations. This is equivalent to 31,925 GWh or a reduction in annual CO2 emissions of 7.7 Mt. The actions outlined in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have some difficulty in understanding Deputy Daly's indignation about it being shut down for a period. She tried to shut it down altogether and organised and motivated people to go to the High Court to do precisely that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: She opposed it from day one and now she professes to be indignant about necessary engineering works to be carried out for a period of between two to three weeks as I am advised.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid contracted professional companies to do the job to the highest specification and will ensure that the project is completed to the highest specification. I have no doubt that this will be the case and I have every confidence in the technical and other competence of EirGrid to ensure that it is done to the highest specification.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market, including disconnections, is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory regulator. In line with the CER's code of practice on disconnection, electricity and gas suppliers must facilitate payment options or plans for domestic customers experiencing genuine hardship and, where appropriate,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is important to record that the number of electricity disconnections is down. The problem is in the gas area. The latest figures I have suggest that the increase is 64% year on year. It is very difficult to get figures that strip out vacant houses and seasonal lets. There is also an apparent tendency in some summer months to switch off gas. None of these factors denies the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There is a great deal of validity in what the Deputy says. There are people who are unaware of the existence of the protocol to which I refer. Communicating to them can be a challenge. Some of the work done by some of the charity organisations in this regard is very significant. These organisations include the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and State organisations like the money advice...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree broadly with what the Deputy says. I have read some incredible nonsense since the memorandum of understanding was agreed. Some of the commentary has been trite and uninformed. Some of the commentary from outside the State has been very odd. In fact, the deal has the potential to be a win-win for Britain and Ireland. I am interested in what Ireland Inc. gets from the deal, whose...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The commercial and technical operations of the east-west interconnector are an operational matter for EirGrid, which is a commercial State company. I have no role or function in that regard. EirGrid is the independent statutory body responsible for the development and maintenance of the national electricity transmission system. As with any major complex project using purpose-built...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My understanding is that the system will be shut down for two to three weeks to enable whatever technical remedial works are necessary to allow the interconnector to function as intended. I can assure the Deputy that I was not trying to say anything. Whatever I wanted to say, I said. I am not trying to say anything and I am not trying to conceal anything. There is nothing unusual about a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree that as a result of the collapse of the core business of An Post there needs to be an urgency, as Deputy Moynihan puts it, in terms of acquiring new business and diversification and so on. In fairness to An Post, it has been going about its business quietly and in a commercial manner and it continues to do so. For example, there is an arrangement between An Post, One Direct and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I accept the importance of the network of An Post, not least in rural Ireland, and I accept that it is a trusted brand. It is also a commercial State company, though, and must compete commercially and it is focused on doing precisely that. The State contracts to which Deputy Moynihan refers are those which An Post ought to compete for and for which it should have at least a 50:50 prospect...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for developing planning policy and legislation. Extensive public consultation rights are enshrined and protected under Irish planning law. These apply not only to wind energy developments but to all forms of development that require planning permission. The Government Policy Statement on the Strategic...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The answer to all of the questions concerning what went into the examination being done about the development of wind energy is "Yes". Deputy Colreavy's concluding point specifically referred to the memorandum of understanding I signed last week with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. I would be more than pleased to appear before the Oireachtas committee...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I have some sympathy with the Deputies' proposition that State forests should be retained in public ownership, but not for the overly emotive reasons they advanced. I am interested in exploring the possibilities of synergies between Coillte and Bord na Móna in creating a bioenergy company, for example. It has nothing to do, however, with the fact that Coillte is profitable. Bord...

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The problem is that neither of the Deputies accepts that the country was bankrupted under the previous Government and what-----

Topical Issue Debate: Forestry Sector (31 Jan 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Who said it is not correct?