Results 3,861-3,880 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of funding for the past three years from my Department to agencies and regulatory bodies under its aegis are set out in the table that follows this reply. In addition, subscriptions are also paid to a number of organisations operating in the sectoral areas for which my Department has responsibility. The annual total of these subscriptions is also set out in the table. A list of the...

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Get Willie to hold your jacket.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a Second Stage speech.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy has done a fair bit of it herself.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes solar grant for domestic water heating amounts to €800 for every eligible home where the installation meets the performance requirements set out in the Better Energy Homes Code of Practice and the homeowner's Solar Buyers Guide. There are currently no plans to introduce grants...

Written Answers — Mayo Earthquake: Mayo Earthquake (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland is situated on a tectonically benign part of the world, unlike for example Japan, California, New Zealand or parts of the Mediterranean and is therefore not at risk from high magnitude earthquakes. The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that occurred 60 km off the north Mayo coast at 08:58 local time on 6th June was located on a geological fault system that drops the Slyne-Rockall basins down...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government appointed Mr. Finbarr O'Malley and Mr. Simon Nugent as my Special Advisers with effect from 28 March 2011 and 11 April 2011 respectively. My Department requested sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to appoint my Special Advisers at salary rates commensurate with their previous remuneration. Sanction was granted to appoint Mr. O'Malley at a salary rate...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband services, is, in the first instance, a matter for competing service providers using one of the available technology platforms i.e. DSL, fixed or mobile wireless, cable or satellite and operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market which is regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 406 and 407 together. I received a copy of the Grant Thornton report when I met with the Irish Postmasters' Union (IPU) recently. I welcome the IPU's ambition to identify opportunities for more business to be delivered through the Post Office network. An Post has many strengths and has the largest retail presence in the country. I have impressed on the...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Seismic surveys are a normal part of petroleum exploration activities and are subject to approval from my Department. Applications to conduct seismic surveys must include a risk assessment of the proposed activity in relation to the sensitivities of marine mammals in the area and outline specific impact mitigation and monitoring practices that will be applied. On 20 April 2012, my Department...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As my Department is primarily engaged in policy and regulatory functions, the breakdown of staff numbers is as follows: Administrative 24%; Management 75.25% and Elected Representatives 0.75%. The breakdown in terms of salaries for each of these categories is: €2 million paid to Administrative staff (12.5% of salaries expenditure); €13.8 million to Management staff (86.9%) and; €0.1...

Energy Regulation (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for raising this issue. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, is a statutorily independent body established under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and has responsibility for overseeing the regulation of Ireland's electricity and gas sectors. The regulator promotes competition in the electricity and natural gas markets so that customers can ultimately...

Energy Regulation (12 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with Deputy Ó Ríordáin that this is a distressing case. We were fortunate to have had a milder winter than was the experience in the previous two years. However, the fact of the matter remains that gas prices globally have been on a constantly upward trend. The weakening euro also makes it more expensive because of imports. The weakening euro is probably helpful for many of our...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutorily independent body charged with all aspects of the regulation of the natural gas market. A key responsibility of the CER is to promote the safety of natural gas for customers and the public generally. The CER's remit now also includes specific responsibility for natural gas safety. The Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under Section 124 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is required to undertake an annual review in regard to the extent to which RTÉ and TG4 have met their public service commitments in the previous year. I am currently considering this report for 2010 in the context of the provisions of the 2009 Act which require the Minister to publish a response to...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's energy policy priorities are framed in the context of the European Union. Policy is based on pursuing the objective of a sustainable, competitive and secure supply of energy. Natural gas is the predominant fuel for power generation in Ireland accounting for over 60 per cent of electricity generation. Overall, it continues to be an important fuel for power generation, and remains...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Metropolitan Area Networks (MANS) including the MAN in Waterford City are managed, maintained and operated by the Managed Service Entity (e|net) on behalf of the State under a Concession Agreement. While there are no specific plans to extend existing MANS, including the MAN in Waterford City, the Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Legislation: Broadcasting Legislation (6 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, the responsibility for control of merger and acquisitions including those relating to the media in the State, lies with my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. At present I have no function with regard to media, outside of my broadcasting remit. However, legislation is in train in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (6 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The statement I made to the House is supported by a recent scientific study entitled "Evidence for sea lice-induced marine mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in western Ireland from experimental releases of ranched smolts treated with emamectin benzoate", P Gargan, P.G., Forde, G., Hazon, N., Russell, D.J.F. & Todd. The study cites a number of internationally respected papers on...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (6 Jun 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I did not call in any newspaper editor on any date.