Results 3,241-3,260 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes under the Better Energy Programme. The scheme is a demand-led programme and the Government has committed €76.146 million in Exchequer funding to the programme in 2012. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial assistance for improving energy performance of older homes, built any time...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Reports into Media Activities (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009, and, as such, I, as Minister, have no role in its day-to-day operations. As the Deputy will be aware, RTÉ established an editorial review of The Frontline 2012 Presidential Election Debate on 12th March 2012, following the decision of the Broadcasting...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: ComReg’s recently held auction awarded spectrum rights in the 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800MHz for the period 2013 to 2030. ComReg’s Information Notice, available on the ComReg website , sets out the population coverage obligations that apply to these licences. In this regard it requires that all licence holders must attain and maintain a minimum coverage of 70% of the population...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This is an operational matter for the ESB, which is a commercial State company and I have no role or function in this regard.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business as part of the State Assets disposal programme. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic infrastructure, critical for the delivery of secure, sustainable and competitive energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Affordable Energy Strategy was developed by the Inter-Departmental/Agency Group on Affordable Energy (IDGAE) and published in November 2011 as part of the Department’s commitment in the Programme for Government to help mitigate energy poverty. The Affordable Energy Strategy provides a framework for building upon the many measures already in place to protect households at risk...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Eircom is a private company operating in a liberalised market. Decisions in relation to the future utilisation of its buildings, is a matter for Eircom and is not a matter in which I have any role.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together. In November, research by Nielsen’s estimated that 55 thousand households were yet to make the change to digital TV. My Department will continue to monitor this situation. I am assured, however, based on the number of calls received by the helpline being operated by my Department, that the actual figures are much less than that at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) sets out 90 actions that Government is either already taking or will take in the period to 2020 to achieve the national energy efficiency targets of 20% across the economy and 33% in the public sector. The savings identified in the Action Plan represent approximately €1.6 billion in avoided energy costs for the economy in 2020. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. Regulation 9(6) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Authorisation) Regulations 2011 requires that rights of use of radio frequencies be in force for such period as ComReg...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The recently published IEA World Energy Outlook 2012 outlines how ongoing discoveries of oil and new methods of extraction of oil and gas combined with increased use of renewable resources continue to change the fossil fuel landscape as well as having impacts on global energy markets. Oil production is projected to rise from 84million barrels per day in 2011 to 97 million barrels per day in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act 2002, as amended. ComReg is, of course, independent in the exercise of this spectrum management function. As you may be aware ComReg recently completed a multiband spectrum auction process and awarded spectrum rights in the former...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of these markets. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Since 4 April 2011 prices in the electricity retail market have been fully deregulated and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda sa Ghaeltacht (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Is é aidhm Scéim Leathanbhanda Náisiúnta an Rialtais atá foilsithe le déanaí, ná an tírphictiúir leathanbhanda a athrú go radacaí lena chunntiú go mbeidh seirbhísí ard-luasa 30Mbps ar a laghad a chur ar fáil dar saoránaigh agus lucht gnó tamall maith roimh 2020, sprioc dáta an AE, agus chomh maith...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Metal Theft (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The protection of telecommunications industry from metal theft is a matter for the owners of such property in the first instance. The investigation of any individual case of theft, as a criminal offence, is a matter for An Garda Síochána and is not therefore a matter in which I have any statutory role. I am aware of reports of thefts from public lands and premises of metal for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision. This Scheme is aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural non-NBS areas. The Application Phase of the RBS...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Security Policy (29 Nov 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: Renewable Energy (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the Renewable Energy Directive, Ireland is legally required to ensure that 16% of all energy consumed is from renewable sources by 2020. This target must be met across the electricity, heating and transport sectors, with a sub-target of 10% in transport. In order to meet 16% of total energy, Ireland requires 40% renewable electricity, 10% renewable transport and 12% renewable heat in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Scientific research into a range of alternative/ renewable energy sources has been taking place over many years, and continues to take place in Ireland and internationally. This is supported from both national and EU sources. Such work can apply at various stages in the development path from idea to market: from basic research to applied research to development to demonstration to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (29 Nov 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of these markets. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Since 4 April 2011 prices in the electricity retail market have been fully deregulated and...