Results 3,661-3,680 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table: Name Post Date of Appointment Salary on appointment Increase Finbarr O'Malley Special Adviser to Minister 28 March 2011 €83,337 (2nd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) €86,604 (3rd point Principal Officer Standard Scale) Simon Nugent Special Adviser to Minister 11 April 2011 €97,200 None Mr O'Malley was awarded...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of the total number of board places, the remuneration applicable and the savings which would occur in reducing the amount paid, is set out in tabular form below. The One Person One Salary principle and voluntary waiver option have been brought to the attention of the Boards. The issue of payment of fees and expenses is an operational matter for each agency. Body/ Regulator...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There would be no savings to the Exchequer from such a cap on CEOs of Commercial State Bodies as these salaries are funded from the own resources of the companies in question. In regard to Exchequer funded agencies I will write to the Deputy with the estimated gross savings from the imposition of such a cap.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not employ any agency staff. There are a number of contractors employed in my Department on fixed term contracts related to specific programmes and I will write to the Deputy with the Exchequer cost arising in these instances. 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...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is not currently involved in any public private partnerships.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to my Department there are no public service provision responsibilities outsourced to the private sector.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I assume the Deputy is referring to spending on payroll. No spending delays have occurred in the salaries budget of my Department. The Department will continue to manage staff numbers in line with the Employment Control Framework while filling critical vacancies.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Jul 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. In relation to cost, I assume the Deputy is referring to payments made from my Department Vote to help meet the running costs of Agencies. Details of payments to the Bodies on this basis is set out in tabular form below. Name...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together. A Petroleum Exploration Specialist was re-employed in my Department for eight days in April 2012 at a cost of €1,600. Normal abatement rules were applied in this case. Three former public servants have been engaged in specific consultancy with my Department related to specific projects, including periodic work since March of this year.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There is a provision of €545,000 for Postal and Telecommunications Services for my Department, in my Department's Estimate (Vote 29) for 2012. Expenditure to date is €198,000.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following tables: Total Sick Days Taken 2009 2010 2011 Sick Days Taken 3,572.13 3,355.83 2,382.83 Average per Employee 11.49 11.98 8.83 Average Sick Days by Department Section 2009 2010 2011 Communications and Knowledge Society 15.9 21.24 13.68 Energy 10.95 9.59 7.06 Finance, Corporate Services and Natural Resources 15.78...

Written Answers — Gas Exploration: Gas Exploration (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's fiscal terms are tax based and the return to the State is linked directly to the profitability of an individual oil or gas field. Profits from petroleum production arising from exploration licences granted prior to 2007 are taxed at a rate of 25%. The direct financial return to the State from the Corrib gas field will be through the 25% tax on profits. The level of profits from...

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 462 and 468 together. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a legally binding target of ensuring that 16% of all energy consumption is to be from renewable sources by 2020. This target has to be achieved across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. This target, like all targets assigned to other Member States, is challenging and the...

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In 2005 and 2006, the Mineral Oil Tax Relief (MOTR) schemes, valued at over €200m in excise foregone, were introduced as an interim measure to incentivise the use of biofuels in Ireland. Prior to introduction of the schemes, market penetration of biofuels in Ireland was almost non existent. These schemes ended in 2010, with the introduction of the national Biofuel Obligation Scheme. The...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Sector: Broadcasting Sector (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that I have received submissions from the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland with regard to their recent proposals which include suggestion to the effect that licence fee funds be dispersed to independent broadcasters in recognition of their public sector output and that RTÉ's commercial operations be restricted. It should be clear that these stations were founded as...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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. In accordance with this function and with its obligations under national and EU law, ComReg designs and manages the assignment of radio spectrum, which includes the imposition and...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: With regard to the post office network, operational matters and the sustainability of the post office network are a matter for the management and board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I do have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. An Post has...

Written Answers — Broadband Services: Broadband Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to co-invest with the private sector and commercial Semi State sector to provide Next Generation Broadband customer access and associated fast speeds to every home and business in the State. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce (NGBT) report, which I launched on 2 May last, will have an important role to play in this regard. The...

Written Answers — Petroleum and Gas Exploration: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No commercial discoveries of oil, gas or other minerals have been made either onshore or offshore arising from exploration licences issued in the past ten years. While there have been incremental technology advances, no new exploration methods have been employed.