Results 3,701-3,720 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together. Wave energy technology is still at the research, development and demonstration stage globally. Whilst EU funding has not been directly provided to support wave testing through my Department or the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), I understand that there are a number of Irish partners, including the Hydraulics and Maritime...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicle Grants: Electric Vehicle Grants (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The EU Renewable Energy Directive places a legal obligation on all Member states that by 2020 10% of energy in the transport sector must come from renewable energy sources. Ireland intends to meet this requirement mainly through the increased use of biofuels, but also by the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). In April 2011, I introduced the EV Grant Scheme to incentivise and support,...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets Ireland a binding 16% target for the penetration of renewable energy across the electricity, heat and transport sectors by 2020 and bioenergy will have a major role in helping to meet this target. My Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is currently finalising a...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 413 and 415 together. A procurement process for a national postcode system is currently under way. The process commended last year with the publication of a pre-qualification questionnaire on the e-tenders website www.etenders.gov.ie for the appointment of a postcode management licence holder. Since then intensive work has taken place on the procurement...

Written Answers — Rural Broadband Scheme: Rural Broadband Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The person to whom the Deputy refers is in receipt of a broadband service through the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). By way of background, my Department entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS in late December 2008, following the conclusion of a competitive dialogue procurement process. The objective of the NBS is to deliver broadband to...

Written Answers — Television Reception: Television Reception (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 416 and 420 together. 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...

Written Answers — Act na dTeangacha Oifigiúla: Act na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Feidhm oibríochtúil ó lá go lá don chomhlacht ar leith atá ann agus níl ról nó feidhm agam ann. Déanfaidh mé socruithe leis an chomhlacht a chur ar an eolas faoi.

Written Answers — Ministerial Allowances: Ministerial Allowances (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Houses of the Oireachtas is the primary body administering allowances payable to members, including Ministers and Ministers of State, and publishes a list of these allowances on its website www.oireachtas.ie. Any request for details of actual amounts claimed and paid should, in the first instance, be directed to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The telecommunications market throughout Ireland has been liberalised since 1999 and thus the delivery of broadband services in any particular region is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector commercial operators who are regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Information regarding broadband services on a county basis is...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of State agencies and bodies under the auspices of my Department that have power to enter premises in the course of their investigations are set out in the table below. Body Powers An Post Section 146 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, authorises an officer of an issuing agent to enter at any reasonable time any premises or specified place for the purposes of ascertaining whether there...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 424 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that on the 3rd of June 2011 I invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department, which were expected to occur up to the end of 2011. On 9th February 2012 I invited further expressions of interest from persons...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Since its formation in 2007, my Department has re-employed two former members of staff. One was a Principal Geologist who was re-employed during 2008, 2009 and 2010. The other was a Petroleum Exploration Specialist who was re-employed for a short period in 2012. My Department has not replaced any staff member availing of the term time / shorter working year scheme since 2008. The...

Written Answers — Advertising Standards: Advertising Standards (12 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The matter of advertising on billboards does not come within the remit of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and I have no function in the matter. The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) is a non-statutory self-regulatory body, independent of Government and set up and financed by the advertising industry. Certain marketing communications that do...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos.165 to 167, inclusive, together. I fully recognise the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. As I noted when I addressed the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) Annual Conference earlier this year, "Local radio gives a voice and enhances social...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (12 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: 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 been adversely affected by a significant...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that since 9 March 2011 there have been three Bills initiated by me and brought through the legislative process to completion. The first was the Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011. There were no amendments proposed by the opposition to this Bill. While no Regulatory...

Ballylongford Landbank (11 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Spring for raising this issue, in which he has shown a keen interest for some time. I welcome the opportunity to update him and Members of the House on this important issue. The matter raised relates to the decision published by the Commission for Energy Regulation on 29 June last, relating to the regulatory treatment of the BGE interconnectors and the future gas transmission...

Ballylongford Landbank (11 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As a matter of coincidence, the International Energy Agency published its review today of the effectiveness, efficiency and competitiveness of the Irish energy sector. The executive director from Paris was here to launch that document and the conclusions of the review find the work of the Irish regulator praiseworthy. I accept the point made by Deputy Spring and inform him that within days...

Road Improvement Schemes (11 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputy for raising this important local issue. I am standing in for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and I will undertake to bring the Deputy's views directly to his attention. While the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme, the construction, improvement...

Road Improvement Schemes (11 Jul 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I will certainly talk to Minister for Transport. I know the stretch of road well. I travelled it twice in the last four days. Some of the median to which the Deputy refers is already built.