Results 3,501-3,520 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (9 Oct 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: Exploration Licences (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: For clarity, I would like to advise the Deputy that neither an Exploration Licence nor a Petroleum Lease has been granted with respect to any land in the Lough Allen Basin. On a general note, the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 provides that all petroleum vests in the State. The Act also provides for a compensation mechanism for persons who immediately before the passing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Banking Sector Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: A fundamental element of Government policy as set out in the Programme for Government has been to stabilize and restore an effective and functioning banking system. This involved the radical restructuring of the domestic banking system which was announced last year and recalibrated the banking system by introducing the two pillar banks structure thereby creating a banking sector more...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Applications (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme provides a range of energy efficiency retrofit services free of charge to vulnerable fuel poor households. The Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the services include cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, draught proofing, cylinder lagging jacket and CFLs. The measures are installed as appropriate,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (9 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: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Water Services Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The planning and development of water infrastructure is a matter for the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. I have not discussed any individual water storage project with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Programme for Government Implementation (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In March this year the first Annual Report setting out progress being made on the commitments in the Programme for Government, was published. It is the intention of Government to publish the second annual report next March which will set out specific progress on implementation during the second year. I have outlined in tabular format below the commitments in the Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Chapter 6, Section 125 and Section 126 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides the legislation to permit the development of an Oireachtas TV channel to be known as the “Houses of the Oireachtas Channel”. This legislation provides that the channel should be established by the Commission of the Houses of the Oireachtas and that the oversight of the channel should be the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Authorisation to operate wireless equipment in the provision of communications services to the public is a matter for the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Any additional requirements for planning consent would be a matter for the appropriate planning authority. ComReg has advised me that its authorisation process does not distinguish between wireless equipment located on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (9 Oct 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: Proposed Legislation (4 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Legislative proposals in respect of geothermal energy, and the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment, have been published and are available on the Department’s website at . Geothermal energy is a new area of legislative endeavour, which will create a legislative framework to facilitate the exploration for and development of geothermal energy resources. It will provide significant...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Services Provision (4 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department works with local authorities in a number of different areas. This would include both project level involvement as referred to below and interactions with local authorities as part of different statutory provisions. In addition the Semi State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, e.g....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Environmental Schemes (3 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that that it is currently reviewing options in respect of Reendonegan Lake. This will involve discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), amongst others, as the lake was previously an inlet of the sea. Consideration must be made as to the appropriate long term solution for Reendonegan. In addition, any proposed works on the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is in the Koran.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Strócaí.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My officials and I have met with RTÉ on several occasions over the course of the last 12 months and we have discussed a wide range of issues, including provision of RTÉ services to the wider Irish Diaspora. Section 110(4) and (5) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 require RTÉ to review and report on the provision of such services and I received RTÉ’s latest report in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am aware of the recent OECD survey which reported that Ireland was more expensive than the EU average for pre pay mobile phone customers. The OECD pre-paid basket includes at least two operators for each country, once they cover 50% of mobile subscriptions. In Ireland’s case only two operators are included. The methodology used takes the cheapest offer from these two companies...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Allowances payable by my Department are common to more than one Department. These allowances were accordingly reviewed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of the recent review of allowances and my Department was not required to prepare a Business Case in respect of the allowances. As part of the overall review, the Delegates allowance which was payable in my...