Results 3,601-3,620 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: Since the formation of the new government in March 2011 and the revised transport arrangements for Ministers introduced in May 2011, the total cost incurred in the provision of transport to the Minister and Minister of State at my Department amounts to €260,076.25 to date. This amount consists of salary costs of €221,709.25 (including employer’s PRSI) for four civilian...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the total expenditure from February 2011 to date on external reports commissioned by my Department is €575,042 and details of the consultants responsible for these external reports are set out in tabular form. The complex and diverse nature of my Department’s brief requires use of outside consultants. The bulk of these studies referred to below...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and since then has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available on a county-by-county basis can be found on the Commission for Communications Regulation’s...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Labour Court Recommendations (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department, since its formation in June 2007, has had no involvement with the Labour Court. 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. I will, however, request the relevant Agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond...

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

Pat Rabbitte: In July 2011, the Government decided that, in the context of the EU Third Energy Package, the ownership of the electricity transmission network is to remain with ESB while the operation and development of the transmission network will continue to be the responsibility of EirGrid. Ownership and operation of the electricity distribution network will remain with ESB. ESB Networks owns the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has established the NewERA shareholder executive as a business unit within the NTMA. Its functions include the corporate governance from a shareholder perspective of a number of commercial State companies including Bord na Móna and Coillte. The Government is also progressing a programme of State asset disposals, including consideration of the sale of certain Coillte...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The total number of people currently employed in my Department is 244 full time equivalents of which 5.7% of staff have disclosed a disability. My Department is meeting the statutory 3% target of employment of people with a disability under the Disability Act 2005 and this target is monitored on an annual basis. There has been no recruitment of staff with a disability during the period 1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (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: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 981 and 994 together. My core policy is to maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production of our indigenous petroleum resources, while ensuring that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users. While there have been some discoveries of oil off our coasts none have...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 982 to 985, inclusive, 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 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Payments (18 Sep 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulations underpinning the current TV Licensing regime are set out in Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. The possible introduction of different categories of licence, under Section 144 of the 2009 Act, was considered by my Department in an exercise conducted last year. An evaluation of the feasibility and cost benefits of such a step was carried out in conjunction with a...

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

Pat Rabbitte: In support of the Department’s business objectives, funding for staff development is budgeted for across three main areas – training course activity, relevant third level education and membership of professional bodies which include in their membership significant elements of function related professional development training. In addition essential Health and Safety related...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision. This Scheme is aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural non-NBS areas. The Application Phase of the RBS...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I am very much aware of the challenges digital switchover brings, in particular for households that are reliant on the existing free to air analogue TV network. The necessary assistance and support for everyone but in particular for those households who need to make the switch to digital is being provided through a substantial national information campaign. In addition there is a Community...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated 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. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. The upward trend...

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 there are 16 bodies under the aegis of my Department that have boards. Details of the current breakdown between men and women serving on these boards are set out in tabular form. The Deputy will also appreciate that in making appointments to boards I must have regard to the provisions of the governing legislation as regards members’ qualifications and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will no doubt appreciate it is also a key concern of mine to ensure high quality representation on Boards irrespective of gender. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to seeking to attain the 40% target for both genders on Boards. The Deputy will also appreciate that in making appointments to boards I must have regard to the provisions of the governing legislation as...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm for the Deputy that I am aware of the Report in question which was published by the European Parliament a little over a year ago. I am also aware of the three most recent Reports, Unconventional Gas: Potential Energy Market Impacts in the EU; Climate Impact of Potential Shale Gas Production in the EU and the Report on Unconventional Gas in Europe which were published by the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: First of all, I would like to point out that TV viewers who use the analogue TV network will need to make the change to digital in advance of 10 a.m., Wednesday 24 October when this network will be closed down. TV viewers who currently use pay TV are unaffected. The replacement digital “free to air” TV network, SAORVIEW, has been nationally available since May 2011....