Results 3,521-3,540 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ. Section 130 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides that RTÉ must roll out a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (2 Oct 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The East West Interconnector is a 500mw High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector linking the electricity grids of Ireland and Great Britain for the first time. The EirGrid project is of strategic national importance in terms of Ireland’s economic infrastructure. Electricity interconnection improves security of supply, promotes further competition in the electricity market...

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

Pat Rabbitte: In 2009, under the initial pilot phase of this project, a total of 78 post primary schools were provided with 100Mbps broadband. I subsequently announced the full rollout of 100Mbps to all second level schools in Ireland, to be completed over a 3 year period commencing in 2012. 202 post primary schools were selected this year for the first phase of the national rollout. Of these, 37...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Government is firmly committed to ensuring that all Irish businesses and citizens have access to high speed broadband services and the 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...

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

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ and therefore one in which I, as Minister, have no function. I have however been informed...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Metropolitan Area Networks (“MANs”) are State owned, underground telecommunications networks that are located in regional cities and towns. They consist of carrier-neutral duct and fibre rings linking the main commercial and public buildings to “co-location centres” where service providers locate their telecommunications equipment and access the network. These...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Section 114(1)(f) of The Broadcasting Act, 2009 requires RTÉ to establish and maintain a television broadcasting service and a sound broadcasting service, which services shall be made available, in so far as RTÉ considers reasonably practicable, to Irish communities outside the island of Ireland. As the Deputy may be aware, in the present financial conditions, it is not possible...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I assume the Deputy is referring to appointment to actual posts in my Department or to Boards of Agencies. Two retired senior civil servants currently hold posts to which they were appointed by me. I appointed Ms Julie O'Neill, retired Secretary General, Department of Transport, to the Board of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on 15th September 2011 for a period of three...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Digital Switchover: Discussion (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Perhaps the Chairman would allow Ms Curtis to reply to several questions which were asked about her domain.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Digital Switchover: Discussion (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Senator Mooney's colleague seems to be under the impression that we can leave the analogue signal on after 24 October. Can Mr. Keogh comment on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Digital Switchover: Discussion (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No, I do not really. As I have said, these difficulties were anticipated a year ago. RTE has put more investment into it than it can afford in the present climate. The view was taken that if this is to be done, it should be done well because everyone is entitled to a service and some people cannot be left behind. As a result, the investment has been very significant. Where issues...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Digital Switchover: Discussion (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I congratulate Deputy Michael Moynihan, who recently assumed the position of spokesman for his party in this area. I can tell Deputy Moynihan and Deputy Brian Walsh that we will have new statistics in coming days for the end of September and will be able to measure how far things have progressed, and again on 10 October. We will have a close handle on the speed of uptake. That is not to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Digital Switchover: Discussion (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the committee for the invitation to appear before it. I take this opportunity to congratulate Deputy Tom Hayes on his appointment as Chairman of the committee and wish him well. There is a heavy agenda to be addressed in this area. We had a good working relationship with the Chairman's predecessor, Deputy Andrew Doyle, and members of the committee, with whom we managed to get...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: 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. With effect from 1st October 2011, gas residential consumers are the only segment of the gas market where prices are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Reception (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the SAORVIEW TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This includes information on transmitter sites being used. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ. I have however contacted...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes (27 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Better Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (26 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme, which includes the Better Energy Homes Scheme. Since the start of 2012 to the end of August, the SEAI has disbursed €23.19 million in grants and supported the installation of 57,301 measures in 20,667 homes under the Programme. The table provides a breakdown of the allocation of grants by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Jobs (26 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme which includes the Better Energy Homes scheme on behalf of my Department. In 2011 there was a total spend of over €91m on the Better Energy Programme of which €56.7m was allocated to Better Energy Homes. This supported the retention of up to 5,700 jobs for 2011 as a whole. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (26 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. The specific areas referred to in the Deputy’s question are covered by the on-going National Broadband Scheme (NBS) provided by 3 Ireland. Under the terms of the NBS contract, 3 is obliged to provide contractually-agreed services to any fixed residence or fixed business wishing to avail of broadband services. The current...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Availability (26 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ has built, owns and controls the Saorview TV network and is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of that network. This is in accordance with Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which provides that the development of the RTÉ network is an operational matter for RTÉ. The SAORVIEW network is largely completed. The remaining thirteen sites, including Dingle...