Results 3,441-3,460 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Other Questions: EU Directives (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together. The existing energy services directive, Directive 2006/32/EC, was fully transposed by SI 542 of 2009, the European Communities (Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services) Regulations 2009. Therefore, it is incorrect to say that Ireland is not in compliance with its existing EU obligations. The current national energy efficiency...

Other Questions: EU Directives (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The energy efficiency directive will only be published next month and this will be followed by a prolonged consultation period because of the severity of the measures included. However, I welcome the measures and I supported the Danish Presidency at the Council of Ministers when it introduced them because they are hugely important. I welcome anything that gives an impetus to the renovation...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 16 together. 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 30 Mbps 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...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Cowen is being very severe. Extraordinary developments are under way at present and I have no doubt that the private telecommunications companies will furnish more than 50% of the population with industrial-strength broadband by 2015, which is ahead of the target set by the Commissioner in Europe. I do not see any point in my replicating that or seeking to spend State money where the...

Other Questions: Broadband Services Provision (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The rural broadband scheme was intended to pick up premises which did not have a service because of topographical or other issues. The investment of State money meant that the rural broadband scheme could not apply where a service provider already existed. If there are defects or difficult pockets where the national broadband scheme is not doing its job, I ask that specific complaints be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Radio Broadcasting Issues (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As I have told this House on a number of occasions, I fully recognise the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. As I noted when I addressed the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland annual conference earlier this year, "Local radio gives a voice and enhances social dialogue for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Radio Broadcasting Issues (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not agree with Deputy Halligan's conclusion but I do not dispute anything he has said about the merit and value of the independent broadcasters. I entirely accept what he stated about the extraordinarily high listenership of his local radio station, WLR, which I accept provides a quality service in the region. Of course, I did read their document and I met the board to discuss it. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Radio Broadcasting Issues (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not have any objection to meeting the IBI but I do not want to mislead it. I stated what my advice is. I repeat that these are commercial ventures. I recall a colleague in his House who is no longer with us described it at the time as a licence to print money. There was fierce competition to get those licences. They were commercial ventures. I do not know what the difference in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I apologise to Deputy Daly. The remainder of my answer deals with all of this but she must wait to read it on the record. Anyway, it deals with the matter at some considerable length.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I know the Deputy would prefer to have all the information. What am I doing to protect our indigenous wind resources? Potentially, we have the capacity to generate perhaps twice our own requirement. We would only do this if we had a market for the excess; otherwise, there would be no point. Generally speaking, one cannot store electricity. If there were a market then there would be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Would that we had more entrepreneurs like him.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I was only getting off the runway.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: At the start of the national digital switchover information and awareness campaign in October 2011, approximately 250,000 households had to make the switch to digital television. These households were solely reliant on the analogue television network, which is switching off in 13 days' time, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 October. Households that use only pay television platforms, such as Sky...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I sincerely hope the switchover will go as well as Deputy Cowen anticipates, because Irish people have a habit of leaving it until the last minute. Whereas it is fair to say that no one could be unaware that the switchover is taking place, it is worrying that there is still some way to go. I am reluctant to predict a 100% smooth transfer on 24 October. I take this opportunity to say to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Digital Television Service Availability (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I will have to cut back on giving all this information to the House. Clearly I am overdoing it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Resources (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Any alleviation of the burden on my shoulders that the Chair can provide for will be welcomed. In 2011 Ireland had figure of 17.6% for renewable electricity, 3.6% for bio-fuels and 5% for renewable heating, which amounted in total to 6.5% of all energy consumed being generated from renewable sources. The Government is committed, to meet our 2020 binding targets, to increasing the figure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As Deputies are aware, I have no statutory function in the setting of gas prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of the market. Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory body. Until 1 October 2011, the CER regulated the Bord Gáis Energy tariffs for its residential and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: What is happening is being driven by events in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan. The particular matter Deputy Cowen raises about the application from gas companies and the decision of the regulator is a function of how rapidly the position is changing. From the date Bord Gáis Energy submitted its application until the delayed date of the regulator's announcement, the position...

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

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid the State-owned electricity transmission system operator has recently overseen the completion of construction of the East West Interconnector between the electricity grids of Ireland and Britain. The construction and operation of the East West Interconnector is the statutory responsibility of EirGrid. The cost of the Interconnector is underwritten by all electricity customers under...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Spectrum Management (11 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. 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...