Results 3,581-3,600 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cloud Computing Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In a recent report, Quantitative Estimates of the Demand for Cloud Computing in Europe and the Likely Barriers to Take-up, prepared for the European Commission, it is stated that “More than half of EU businesses and consumers already use some kind of cloud services …. the majority of EU enterprises already use at least one or more cloud services (64% in the survey sample...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Eircom is a private company and the enabling and upgrading of exchanges is an operational matter for that company and not one in which I have the statutory authority to intervene. The State only intervenes in market failure situations where licensed service providers have been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. The National Broadband Scheme (NBS) represents such an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sale of State Assets (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has decided to dispose of Bord Gáis Éireann’s Energy business and some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity as part of the State Assets disposal programme. The Government has also reiterated its commitment to retaining the electricity and gas networks as well as the two gas interconnectors in State ownership as national strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Provision (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As part of the digital switchover information campaign, Millward Brown Lansdowne carry out research on the digital television switchover. The most recent tracking study was carried out in August 2012. The findings show that 93% of Irish people are now aware of the Digital TV Switchover. In rural areas 96% of adults are now aware of the digital television switchover. Furthermore, 82% of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Green Paper (18 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. On 11 May 2012, the EPA published its preliminary research into the environmental aspects of shale gas...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas and Electricity Disconnections (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 954, 989 and 990 together. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity and gas prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of these markets. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Since 4 April 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that twelve task forces, advisory groups, steering groups and project groups and committees have been established by my Department since February 2011. I convened the Next Generation Broadband Task Force in summer 2011 to provide a forum for detailed discussions with certain industry stakeholders on their views regarding the optimal policy required to facilitate...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that the number of Commercial State bodies and Non-Commercial State bodies, including Regulators, under the aegis of my Department, is 18. These commercial companies and other bodies are generally not quangos if the Deputy has a particular quango in mind and if it falls under the aegis of this Department, I will endeavour to answer any questions he raises. While no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation Issues (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 957 to 959, inclusive, together. The Action Plan on Jobs announced in February of this year is primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Under the Action Plan my Department is responsible for a range of measures and policies which will support the objective of promoting sustainable economic growth and fostering...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has a contract with a taxi company to provide taxi services at a very competitive rate. I have set out below the information for the 18 month period requested by the Deputy, as it relates to that contract. February 2011 to August 2012 €17,535.70 In addition to the expenditure incurred on the contracted taxi service, officials are reimbursed for taxi expenditure when...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Numbers (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There is one Press Officer employed in my Department at an annual salary cost of €72,386. Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those organisations and my Department does not have the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that since taking office on 9th March 2011 I have made 35 appointments to the boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department and the Minister of State, Deputy O’ Dowd, T.D., has made 10 appointments. Details of the 45 appointments are set out below together with details of the remuneration which may be paid in respect of such appointments. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The booking of photographers is managed by the Department’s Press Office in each case. Photography Costs: Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, February 2011 - August 2012 inclusive. Company Event Date Occasions Cost € Maxwell Photography 13/06/2011 Government convenes Next...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No entertainment has been provided for my Department since I came into office. There is no specific policy regarding the booking of entertainers but it is not intended to incur any expenditure under this heading unless the Deputy has worthwhile proposals from experience that he would like me to consider.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department’s spending on official entertainment adheres to the policy set out in circular 25/2000; the strictest economy is observed and the expenditure on Irish public officials is incidental to that of other persons that the Department is required to host during the ordinary conduct of its business. Similarly in relation to meetings and conference costs, refreshments are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department incurred no expenditure on hair and make-up over the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Adviser Pay (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There are two Special Advisers, Mr Finbarr O’Malley and Mr Simon Nugent, employed in my Department. Both were appointed by the Government, on my behalf, with effect from 28 March 2011 and 11 April 2011 respectively. My Department requested sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to appoint my Special Advisers at salary rates commensurate with their previous...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 968, 970 and 971 together. The total amount of expenditure by my Department from its consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews budget in the years 2010 and 2011 and for the first eight months of 2012 is set out in table 1. My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief, and procurement of specialist consultancy advice is necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Expenditure (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The total gross annual salary costs of the private offices and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State are outlined in the tables. Minister’s Private Office Annual Salary Cost September 2011 €406,562 September 2012 €436,900 Minister’s Constituency Office Annual Salary Cost September 2011 €161,269 September 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Adviser Appointments (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The restrictions under the terms of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour on civil servants engaging in political activity do not apply to Special Advisers and they can engage in political activity or join political parties if they wish. These are not matters for which my Special Advisers are accountable to me under their contracts of employment.