Results 3,121-3,140 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I apologise that I did not hear the debate because I have only now returned to Leinster House. I suspect I know the song very well, however.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am glad to see that Deputy Tóibín is back with us.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am sorry I missed Deputy McDonald, in particular, but I think I know the text very well.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Sinn Féin clearly had a number of eager little beavers with social science degrees working away on scripts over the last two days for this parliamentary farce that they know very well is going nowhere.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Sinn Féin knows what it is about, I know what it is about and it knows that I know what it is about.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It is exploiting the circumstances for any advantage it can garner. This has nothing to do with governance, bringing forward solutions, putting people back to work or protecting sections of the community. It produces endless rhetoric without a single policy to be found. There is a soundbite for everything and a policy for nothing.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The policies it has published have more holes than a colander.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I watched Deputy McDonald on television with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Brian Hayes, when she could not account for the missing €750 million. It does not matter that her party cannot produce an alternative budget, however, because its aim is to exploit the mood of the people for electoral advantage.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It tried to do the same thing with the fiscal treaty so that it could get 50% of the coverage. It learned a lesson from the experience.

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: At the end of the process it was exposed as not having a single positive proposal to offer the Irish people. If the people had followed Sinn Féin's example on the fiscal treaty, where would we be now?

Confidence in the Government: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: We would be in worse circumstances than the unfortunate people of Greece. That is the fundamental division in this House. In the current economic climate, Sinn Féin has embarked on creating as much mayhem as it can in the hope it will get some support for that. I do not believe it will.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It has not been possible to compile the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to him with the information he has sought as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The procurement process for a national postcode system is currently under way. This process is being managed by my Department on a ring fenced basis. The pre-qualification questionnaire issued on the e-tenders website on 17 January 2011 for the appointment of a postcode management licence holder. This offered the opportunity for all potential suppliers at that time to apply for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that the terms of reference for the second and more detailed EPA research on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reservoirs are currently being drawn up by a steering group, which includes representatives from amongst others, the EPA and my Department. In line with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Bullying (12 Dec 2012)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (12 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has two Clerical Officers and two Executive Officers on temporary higher duties allowances, covering vacancies that exist at Executive Officer and Higher Executive Officer level respectively, for the duration of the EU Presidency. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issued a sanction letter on 4 May 2012 following a request from my Department on 12 April 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Oil and Gas Exploration (11 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As set out by the Minister for Public Service and Reform in his replies to Parliamentary Questions numbers 285 of 23 October 2012, 79 of 26 September 2012 and 493 of 18 September 2012, the terms applicable to the Kinsale gas field are governed by a 1959 Oil Exploration and Development Agreement which sets out the regime of royalties, tax and rentals that apply. I should point out that the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Commercial Fishing Licences (11 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In 2009, the number of commercial salmon fishing licences available for issue was governed by the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 2009 (S.I. No. 142, 2009). Licences were issued then by the Regional Fisheries Boards, now Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). I am advised that a total of 149 commercial salmon licences were issued in 2009. A further 28 licences have been issued by the Loughs...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (11 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together. Responsibility for non-ionising radiation lies with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. However, I and the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly, TD, agreed to the appointment of an independent expert panel to consider and comment on data and report on Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emissions in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: EU Directives (11 Dec 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a global standard ensuring transparency of payments from natural resources' is a reference to Chapter 9 of the proposed Accounting Directive (Com (2011) 684) and which Chapter is intended for inclusion in the proposed Transparency Directive (COM (2011) 683). I understand that both Directives are currently under negotiation in the...