Results 3,761-3,780 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department manages sick leave in accordance with its Attendance Management Policy which is based on Department of Finance Circular 09/2010 which sets out sick leave entitlements of civil servants. In 2011 a combined (certified and uncertified) total of 2,383 sick leave days were taken by staff in my Department at a total cost of €430,640. This is a reduction of 29% in days taken and a...

Written Answers — Fuel Prices: Fuel Prices (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in relation to the setting of diesel and petrol fuel prices. The oil market is fully liberalised and deregulated. Prices at the pump reflect global market price which is highly volatile, transportation costs, Euro/Dollar exchange rate fluctuations, operating costs as well as taxes. As the Deputy will be aware the taxation of diesel and petrol is a matter for my...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 420 from him of 19 June 2012. There has been no change in the matter since then.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below: 2009 2010 2011 Minister's Office 0 0 €63,580 Minister of State's Office €40,687* 0 €63,370 *This relates to the period of 1st January 2009 up until 24th April 2009. The Minister of State after this period did not claim mileage in my Department. During 2009 and 2010 all Government Ministers were provided with a...

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Members of the House who contributed and repeat my appreciation of the Members of this House who were members of the committee that compiled the report. I regret that one Member of the House seems to consider that I ought to have come in to the debate today with decisions already made on the report before the debate on the report commences. That is not a reasonable position....

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I stand corrected. If Senator Landy does not mind, I will give the eels a miss. On the LNG matter he raised, I can inform him that I sincerely hope and expect the regulator will announce a decision before the end of the month. It was delayed again, as the House will be aware because I was here recently, as a result of complaints lodged with Brussels but the expectation is that it will make...

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Senators for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture on offshore oil and gas exploration. The report focuses on an interesting and topical area of public policy and a range of diverse subjects and issues. The joint committee invested considerable time in the preparation of the...

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: He needs a bite of an eel at this stage.

Seanad: Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration: Statements (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: At an eel.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Macho, with an altar boy's face.

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: We are all agreed on that.

Written Answers — Strategy for Renewable Energy: Strategy for Renewable Energy (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Keeping the cost of energy in Ireland as low as possible is important for domestic consumers and plays a critical role in maintaining our overall economic competiveness. Late last year the Government agreed with my decision on cost grounds not to proceed with an application to the European Commission for State Aid clearance for a higher priced feed in tariff to support Offshore Wind...

Written Answers — Seismic Surveys: Seismic Surveys (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 124 together. In March of this year Shell E & P Ireland Ltd applied to my Department for permission to acquire 3D seismic data over the Corrib Field. The survey, which commenced on 17 June, 2012 is being undertaken to supplement the 3D seismic data previously acquired on the Corrib Field in 1997. The primary objective of the survey is to improve the...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, including petrol and diesel fuel prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Energy policy objectives for Ireland and the European Union are delivering security of supply and reducing the impact of energy costs for consumers and business, through the development of renewable energy resources, enhanced energy...

Written Answers — Strategy for Renewable Energy: Strategy for Renewable Energy (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 119 together. A key priority under the ocean energy strategy is to increase the research and design capabilities in ocean energy in Ireland. Wave and tidal technology is still at the RD&D stage globally and is not yet a commercially viable technology. The Ocean Energy Development Unit was established in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department must operate within the multi-annual Employment Control Framework (ECF) as agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The ECF places annual limits on the number of full time equivalent staff which may be employed within the Department. Currently the Department has some headroom as between the existing complement and the ECF and the ECF limit. It is,...

Written Answers — Strategy for Renewable Energy: Strategy for Renewable Energy (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 125 together. The Programme for Government states that a feed-in tariff will be provided for micro-generators wishing to produce electricity for their own homes, farms and businesses and that they will be facilitated to sell surplus electricity to the grid, while the tariff should not be significantly above the single energy market price for...

Written Answers — Bord Gáis: Bord Gáis (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has decided that Bord Gáis Éireann's (BGÉ) Energy business will be included as part of the assets disposal programme. BGÉ is a strong and dynamic State company. The success of Bord Gáis Energy demonstrates BGÉ's capacity to develop new and efficient businesses for the benefit of Irish consumers as well as the State as shareholder. The Government is irrevocably committed...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Currently approximately 1900MW of renewable generation is connected to the grid including over 1600MW of wind generation, small and large hydro generation and some small amounts of biomass generation including landfill gas. In order to connect to the electricity grid, generators require a grid connection offer. Supervision of the grid connection process, including access to offers, is the...

Written Answers — Press Standards: Press Standards (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, I currently have no function with regard to the print media sector, and as such have no powers to legislate for that sector. However, legislation is being prepared by my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation that, once enacted, will transfer responsibility for a modernised media mergers system to my Department. The Press Council here has...