Results 3,681-3,700 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The management of all aspects of any organisations IT systems is a matter primarily for the relevant organisation itself. Where the organisation operates in a regulated sector there may be a duty for that organisation to report any incidents in relation to the lack of performance of their IT network to their regulator. With respect to the recent experiences in the banking sector I believe...

Energy Conservation (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, administers the better energy programme, which includes the better energy homes and warmer homes and workplaces schemes. Exchequer funding of €76.146 million has been allocated to the better energy programme in 2012, which is projected to deliver 597 GWh in energy savings this year and is the equivalent of €34.2 million in the value of...

Energy Conservation (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The position is that the SEAI is still doing research to establish why there are fewer applications. It is undoubtedly the case from previous studies that if the winter is very bad, the spike in applications is evident for anyone to see. Therefore, the mild winter is plausible as a part explanation but it is not the full explanation. It would appear that people are reluctant to put their...

Energy Conservation (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The answer is "No". In fact, we will direct any extra money to the workplace scheme in particular, where there is increasing awareness and uptake on the part of SMEs. It is not the case that there are not many householders in the queue. It is just that the numbers have fallen. There are many in the queue and they will not be left hanging.

Postal Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) 2011 Act, An Post is statutorily required, as the designated universal service provider, to provide a universal postal service. The essential element of this obligation is the collection and delivery of mail to every address in the State on every working day. The universal service obligation is a form of safety net, ensuring by way of...

Postal Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm for the Deputy that legal proceedings have been commenced by the independent regulator, ComReg, against An Post on the basis that the company has failed to achieve the next-day delivery targets fixed by ComReg. The application by ComReg seeks to have imposed a financial penalty of €11.9 million on An Post for breach of the quality of service standard as measured by ComReg in...

Postal Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a reasonable question as to the extent to which the imposition of a penalty of €11.9 million on An Post would correct the perceived deficiency. Greater challenges than this face An Post. I suspect the extent of electronic substitution, the decline in its core business, the challenges that confront it from competition and so on rank higher in the matters that confront its management....

Postal Services (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is not taking No. 3.

Energy Prices (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of gas prices is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is an independent statutory body. Bord Gáis Energy's gas tariffs for domestic customers continue to be regulated by the CER and are reviewed each year. I have no function in the matter. The regulator is undertaking its annual detailed review of the Bord Gáis Energy, BGE,...

Leaders' Questions (19 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy was almost on jobseeker's allowance himself.

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenditure: Ministerial Expenditure (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables: Costs for Minister Name Year Subsistence€ Expenses€ Mobile Phone€ Eamon Ryan June 2007–Dec 2007Jan 2008–Dec 2008Jan 2009–Dec 2009Jan 2010–Dec 2010January 2011 1134260593800 0005800 1,5451,1701,4741,096211 Minister Ryan had the use of a Garda driver and car for his period in office. Costs for Ministers of State ...

Written Answers — Bord Gáis: Bord Gáis (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The award of the Networks Services and Works Contract to Balfour Beatty CLG is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) and consequently I have no statutory function in this matter. BGÉ has advised that following the contract award, issues arising from the Transfer of Undertakings Regulations and the transfer of employees from one entity to another are a matter between Balfour...

Written Answers — Bord Gáis: Bord Gáis (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) and one in which I have no statutory function. BGÉ has advised that all the relevant legal and contractual provisions with respect to the Late Payments in Commercial Transactions Regulations 2002 are being complied with by the company.

Written Answers — Workplace Safety: Workplace Safety (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. The matters raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) regulated in accordance with the safety regulatory framework established by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and I have no function in this regard. BGÉ is the owner of the national gas transmission and distribution systems and is mandated...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The general scheme of a Geothermal Energy Development Bill was published in July, 2010 along with the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment. Both these documents are available on the Department's website. Geothermal energy is a new area of legislative endeavour which will create a legislative framework to facilitate the exploration for and development of geothermal energy resources. It...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of payments by my Department to local authorities for the period in question are set out in the following Table. These related to a variety of programmes including Information and Communications Technology (Metropolitan Area Networks), Capital Mining Works, Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource (INFOMAR). Table: Payments to local authorities...

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. There are two Special Advisers employed in my Department. Both were appointed by the Government on my behalf. My predecessor who was assigned to the Department in June 2007 also employed two Special Advisers. One Special Adviser was appointed to various Ministers of State who served in my Department from June 2007 to March 2011.

Electricity Transmission Network (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am grateful to Deputy Damien English for raising this important issue. The Meath-Tyrone transmission line has been in development since 2006 and has been marked by considerable local controversy, as Deputy English has noted. In line with the programme for Government, I appointed an independent international commission last year to review the case for, and cost of, placing all or part of...

Electricity Transmission Network (18 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I assure Deputy English and his colleagues in respect of the latter point that EirGrid must have regard to the policy statement endorsed by the Government yesterday. That policy statement will be available this afternoon and will be sent to the various stakeholders concerned. Deputy English has put a blunt question to me about whether the door is open to underground options. I have no wish...

Written Answers — Better Energy Homes Scheme: Better Energy Homes Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and provides financial assistance to householders who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes while saving money, improving comfort and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Fixed grants are provided...