Results 3,421-3,440 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Proposed Legislation (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has a legally binding 2020 renewable energy target under the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Our target is that we must achieve 16% of all energy consumed by 2020 from renewable sources. We have set out in our National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) that we will do this through 40% renewable electricity, 10% renewable transport and 12% renewable heat, which together would...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There are fourteen staff members in my Department that are currently on career break and the grade breakdown is as follows: Grade Number Clerical Officer 6 Executive Officer 4 Higher Executive Officer 1 Assistant Principal 2 Geologist 1 No persons were hired to cover those on career break. In relation to the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department, this is an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (16 Oct 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 currently in the process of awarding spectrum rights of use across three critical bands – the 800Mhz, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands – for the period 2013 to 2030. This award process is a vital step...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department spent €5,514 approximately in translation and interpretation costs in 2011. In addition there would have been an element of expenditure related to Irish language requirements across a range of expenditure areas e.g. salaries, printing of reports and statutory instruments, maintenance of website, etc. that is not broken down separately. In relation to the State...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In relation to the availability of the Aertel teletext service, RTÉ must agree terms with individual network operators for retransmission of this service. In relation to these services on UPC, I have been informed that RTÉ and UPC have agreed terms and are working together to make the Aertel teletext service available across all UPC digital customers. It is hoped the service will...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ Networks Limited (RTÉNL), a wholly owned subsidiary of RTÉ, developed the technical specification for SAORVIEW set top boxes and put in place the approvals process for such equipment to be classified as ‘SAORVIEW approved’. The cost of SAORVIEW set top boxes, like any other television equipment, is a matter for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers and not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In October of last year, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. In May 2012, the EPA published its preliminary research into the environmental aspects of shale gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mobile Telephony (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile phone networks and services is undertaken by telecommunications service providers who operate in a fully liberalised market. The regulation of telecommunications service providers, including regulatory issues surrounding mobile phone network coverage and quality, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As part of the Better Energy Programme energy suppliers have agreed voluntary agreements with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in the delivery of their energy saving targets for 2012. While overall education policy is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, I would encourage schools to approach and actively engage with their energy suppliers to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Banking (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department operates two commercial bank accounts (one current and one deposit) with Bank of Ireland. The purpose of the current account is to facilitate supplier and grant payments and the deposit account is used for cash and credit card receipts. There are no fees payable in respect of either account. A monthly fee of €15 is paid in respect of the provision of banking online...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Tribunals of Inquiry Reports (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no proceedings initiated against my Department arising out of the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal. However, proceedings arising from the 2nd GSM licence competition were initiated by Persona and Comcast against the State prior to the public hearings of the GSM module of the Moriarty Tribunal.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Numbers (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Eight members of staff availed of the Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme 2009. The cost of the scheme to this Department, since its introduction, was approximately €276,667. The approximate savings on the pay bill in that time period was about €691,000. This figure does not include PRSI contributions which would add to the savings. The estimated full year...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Numbers (16 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There are fourteen staff members in my Department that are currently on career break. There is no cost to the scheme and no persons were hired to cover those on career break. In regard to staff numbers, staff members on career break are counted as a reduction in numbers for that period. The terms of the scheme do not provide that staff return automatically to the Department. They will...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have heard the fear expressed that the children's referendum will not get the ventilation, scrutiny, debate and promotion it deserves because the apparent support of everybody in this House for the proposed amendment will make it difficult for broadcasters to implement the 50-50 rule as they have traditionally done. I hope that will not be the case. If I told Deputy Cowen, who is trying...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Coughlan judgment has been interpreted by the broadcasters as meaning 50-50 coverage of certain matters, such as referendums. If the overwhelming majority of the people, as demonstrated by their representation among the membership of this House, are in favour of a particular amendment, I agree that it seems difficult to know how the 50% on the other side can be comprised. I have seen...

Other Questions: EU Directives (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The amount of money that must be put up front under the existing retrofit scheme depends on what exactly is being done.

Other Questions: EU Directives (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The average would be a ratio of approximately 2:1. For example, if people are getting a grant of €4,000, they are expected to put up approximately €8,000. In the current climate, this is something to cause homeowners to reflect on whether to retrofit and this is one of the reasons I am in the process of compiling a new pay-as-you-save scheme, which will have the merit of not...

Other Questions: EU Directives (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree there is a significant jobs dimension to all of this. Last year, the figures indicated that 5,500 were involved in the retrofit programme. Undoubtedly, there are jobs in this area. However, the current scheme is a demand-led scheme and there is limited investment in terms of what can be put into such a grants-based scheme. This is why we are working on the transition from that...

Other Questions: Broadcasting Legislation (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, as the independent regulator responsible for the oversight of compliance in relation to broadcast content in the State. One of the objectives of the authority, set out in section 25(b), is to ensure “that the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, especially those relating...