Results 3,541-3,560 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Responsibilities (26 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister of State at my Department, Mr Fergus O’Dowd T.D., has been delegated with certain of my statutory functions in relation to energy and natural resources matters. The functions in question relate to the Natural Resources area and include Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Inland Fisheries and the Geological Survey of Ireland. These statutory powers were delegated to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (26 Sep 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: Digital Television Service Provision (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. I have been informed by RTÉ Networks Limited (RTÉNL) that the transmitter in...

Topical Issue Debate: ESB Disconnections Policy (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for allowing me to address the main issue she has raised. The regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, an independent statutory body with no ministerial role or function in this matter. However, other than in vacant premises which account for approximately one third of disconnections, I am concerned about any...

Topical Issue Debate: ESB Disconnections Policy (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am unsure of the provenance of the Deputy's information, but the fact is that the supply company is supposed to offer such a person the option of having a pay-as-you-go meter installed rather than disconnection. The accumulated arrears at the time are put on the meter and cleared over a period. It is important that the Deputy has raised this issue at this time of the year. The net point...

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin never used to read the documentation he got.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin is trying too hard.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin is under pressure.

Leaders' Questions (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Martin is under stress.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Angling Season (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that, as each River has a genetically unique stock, Ireland’s salmon rivers are managed on an individual basis by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Available surpluses (if any) of salmon are calculated for each individual river annually. The annual surplus of salmon available on the River Maine is divided between the commercial and recreational anglers. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Digital switchover refers to the process of switching off the free to air analogue television network and replacing it with a digital free to air network. As part of digital Switchover my Department is managing a national information and awareness campaign and also at a local level around the Country, a Digital Switchover Community Outreach Programme. Under the Broadcasting Act 2009...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (25 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: Electricity Transmission Network (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Supervision of the grid connection process, including access to offers, is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). There is no Gate 4 at present and this area will not be developed until the uptake of Gate 3 offers is clearer. The current round of offers for connection to the electricity networks is known as Gate 3. 3900 MW of offers was issued by the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Broadband Plan contains a very clear commitment that my Department will undertake a full mapping exercise in respect of high speed broadband deployment. This important exercise will formally define the levels of investment that will be met by industry and clearly identify those areas in which a State intervention will be required. My Department has already begun some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Biofuel Obligation Scheme, which was introduced in 2010, currently obliges that the amount of biofuel brought to the market is not less than 4.166% of the relevant disposal of petroleum road transport fuels. Biofuels are defined as liquid or gaseous transport fuels produced from biomass. In 2011, the biofuel obligation resulted in 145 million litres of biofuel being placed on the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Numbers (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that my Department still grants leave of absence in line with the relevant Circulars currently in force.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has been working on microgeneration activities for a number of years. Some initiatives that SEAI has undertaken to support micro-generation include: - Formation of a standards development group to develop FETAC standards for accredited microgeneration installer training awards - Development of micro-generation product quality assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (25 Sep 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: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (25 Sep 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 set out the process it has adopted for the award of rights of use for radio frequencies in the 800Mhz, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands in its information memorandum and associated documents (ComReg document 12/52)....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Redundancy Payments (25 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. I have asked Bord na Móna to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.