Results 3,781-3,800 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Radio Spectrum: Radio Spectrum (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: 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. ComReg is independent in the exercise of this spectrum management function. In accordance with its statutory functions, ComReg has consulted extensively on its proposals for the release of spectrum rights of use in the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Last week, building on the June 2011 British Irish Council agreement on developing an all islands energy approach, I had the latest in a series of meetings with UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry around the issue of developing renewable electricity trade between the two countries. Both sides agreed to work towards concluding a Memorandum of Understanding by the end of the year which will be...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336, 337 and 340 together. 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. ComReg is independent in the exercise of this spectrum management function. In accordance with its statutory functions, ComReg has consulted extensively on...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 339, 342 and 346 together. The staffing level in my Department is currently below that allowed under the Employment Control Framework, consequently there are no staff in the Department on the redeployment panel. 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 — Copyright Infringement: Copyright Infringement (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I regret the delay in responding formally to the Deputy in writing. On foot of the Deputy's correspondence I met with the parties on whose behalf he wrote to me regarding their concerns about digital piracy last December. In the interim the Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation signed into law the European Union (Copyright and Related Rights) Regulations 2012. This provides a...

Written Answers — Warmer Homes Scheme: Warmer Homes Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty at no cost to the homeowner. The measures include draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation. To date, the...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Following scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) indicating that the European eel stocks are in a critical state, the EU introduced Council Regulation 1100/2007, the objective of which is to achieve recovery of the stocks to previous high levels. The Regulation required that all Member States prepare a national Eel Management Plan...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and 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, including county Kilkenny, can be found on the Commission for Communications Regulation's...

Written Answers — Better Energy Homes Scheme: Better Energy Homes Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes Programme, which is a demand-led scheme open to all homeowners of dwellings built before 2006. One of the principal requirements of the Better Energy Homes scheme is that a grant offer remains valid for 6 months from the date of the offer notification and all works and paperwork must be notified and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested is contained in the table below. In addition to the standard lump sums paid to retirees in years 2011 and 2012, the total gratuities for those years includes balances of lump sums paid to staff who opted to retire in 2009 under the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme (ISER) and who reached minimum retirement age in those years. Year No. of retirements No. of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of high-speed broadband to all secondary schools in Ireland is being undertaken by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills (DES), in conjunction with our network partners, HEAnet, following the successful completion of a pilot project that ran from 2009 to 2011. The 2012 phase of the national roll-out plan aims to connect all remaining post-primary schools in...

Written Answers — Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In July 2011, the Government approved the heads of the Consumer and Competition Bill. The Bill will reconfigure the existing measures governing media mergers in this State and will include the transfer of these powers to my Department. There has been ongoing contact at Ministerial and Official levels between the two Departments on this matter. My Department has in particular provided the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Jun 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 — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (26 Jun 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 — Renewable Energy: Renewable Energy (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under Directive 2009/28/EC, Ireland has been set a legally binding target of 16% of all energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 2020. This target has to be achieved across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. To achieve this, we have set goals of 40% for the electricity sector, 10% for the transport sector and 12% for the heat sector, which together amount to 16% of...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 356 together. Exploration licences are valid from the date of issue and are granted on the basis of the performance of a work programme by the licence holders. Exploration activity related to the agreed work programmes for each of the exploration licences issued in the last three years is ongoing. In the event of a commercial discovery arising from...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's core policy goal for the postal sector is to ensure that Irish customers, both business and residential, enjoy competitively priced, high quality postal services. The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011, which was enacted in August 2011, has put in place a robust and appropriate regulatory framework for the postal services market. While I have overall...

Written Answers — Gas Exploration: Gas Exploration (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works by the developer is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Pending such completion, it is not possible to state a date for when gas from the Corrib gas field will become available. The developer is in receipt of all statutory permits relevant to the construction of the Corrib gas pipeline. Works commenced in July...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in relation to energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated energy markets. 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 efficiency and greater competition....

Written Answers — Radio Broadcasting: Radio Broadcasting (26 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Act 2009 Act provides the statutory framework for the licensing and regulation of broadcasting and multiplex services in Ireland. The 2009 Act also established the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to regulate content across all Irish broadcasting services and it sets out a range of general and specific objectives for the BAI including ensuring the provision of open...