Results 3,981-4,000 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am very aware that many families are experiencing financial hardship including the cost of heating their homes, due to the current economic difficulties. I have no statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation,...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary focus of the strategy is to improve thermal efficiency in homes that are at risk. It is not focused on bringing down the price of gas or oil. Gas and oil are imported into the country. We are price takers and there is very little we can do about that. We can, however, reduce our consumption and address the inefficient circumstances in which many people live. The Deputy is...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, administers the workplaces efficiency fund as part of the better energy programme. The better energy programme is in line with the key criteria governing the Government's investment priorities and is consistent with the programme for Government objectives. It is also consistent with the Government's Action Plan for Jobs which includes...

Energy Conservation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with the Deputy that the supplier companies have shown an understanding of current circumstances and, in the case of some small and medium enterprises, SMEs, energy costs are particularly onerous in terms of their running costs. In addition, I was happy to put in place the protocol for domestic users where there was an undertaking that there would not be disconnections during the...

Broadcasting Legislation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of premium rate telephone numbers and their advertising, including those referred to in the Deputy's question, is a matter for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI, and the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. The BAI and ComReg are independent statutory bodies and as such, I have no direct role in the matter. The enactment of the...

Broadcasting Legislation (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It has not yet been established that the BAI code is ineffective. The issue raised by the Deputy concerns whether so-called chat lines are, in fact, as he put it, a cover for prostitution. I find it difficult to think of anything positive that one could say about the advertisements in question. They are demeaning of women and, unfortunately, as the Deputy said, there is an issue affecting...

Sale of State Assets (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 10 and 12 together. The Government has decided that Bord Gáis Éireann's energy business will be part of the assets disposal programme. The Government has reiterated its commitment to retaining the gas networks and interconnectors in State ownership as strategic infrastructure which is fundamental to Ireland's security of energy supply and the economy. BGE is...

Sale of State Assets (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, wearing his hat in the other Department, is more competent in this area than I am. The fact remains that, as Deputy Niall Collins stated, this is no more than rumour and speculation. The Government has made no decision other than that there will be no privatisation of water, there will be a State water company whose name is not yet decided, and Bord...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 30 together. The programme for Government commits to examining the role and collection of the television licence fee in light of the existing and projected convergence of technologies and to transforming the television licence into a household-based public broadcasting charge to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses, regardless...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: We have enough problems.

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadcasting charge will be a replacement for the television licence fee, not a new charge. When the Deputy says it will amount to a new charge for some people, that is true in so far as it refers to those who are cheating. The extent of evasion is currently of the order of €25 million. On the question of whether I hope to raise more revenue under the new system, that depends on what...

Television Licence Fee (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Anybody already paying the television licence fee has nothing to fear. If we do manage to bring in additional revenue, we might even be able to decrease the charge. I am sure that would be applauded by Members on the benches opposite. I understand some 7.5% of licence fee revenue goes to the Sound and Vision fund and some €10 million to TG4. I acknowledge that some of the independent...

Energy Costs (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control on petroleum products. It has been the policy objective of successive Governments to promote price competition and consumer choice. Previous surveys have shown that prices charged by Irish retailers for oil products correlate with the refinery price rather...

Electricity Transmission Network (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no role in the planning and construction of the transmission network. These are operational matters for EirGrid, which is the independent statutory State body responsible for the development and maintenance of the national electricity transmission system. EirGrid is fully committed to public consultation with local communities and all stakeholders on its transmission network...

Media Mergers (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In July last year the Government approved the draft heads of a new consumer and competition Bill as submitted by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Part of that decision involved giving effect in legislation to the recommendations of the Report of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers and to transfer responsibility for public interest considerations relating to media mergers...

Media Mergers (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy knows, broadcasting is currently the responsibility of this Department. After the Bill to which he refers is enacted, this Department will be also responsible for print media. In terms of how early that is likely to happen, it has to await the enactment of the major revision of competition law that is in the new competition and consumer Bill. It is a major Bill. The Deputy...

Offshore Exploration (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy will be aware that neither I nor the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, has received the report on offshore oil and gas exploration from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture. I understand the committee has engaged with the subject matter of this report for more than six months and over that time has invited a range of parties to...

Offshore Exploration (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I acknowledge that it is an all-party report. I acknowledge also the seriousness with which the members of the committee went about their work. I am aware of some of the submissions made to the committee. I understand from the Chairman that it is a report of some merit and if Deputy Ferris says it will be published next Wednesday, I welcome that. I assure the Deputy that it will be taken...

Offshore Exploration (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am happy to commit to having a debate on the report in the House as soon as such may be organised. The Deputy will have to appreciate that I have not yet received the report.

Offshore Exploration (2 May 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The proposal to which the Deputy refers was made in a print media article that began with a statement that Ireland was about to sign away almost all of our resources on terms by far the worst in the developed world. In reply I pointed out that both claims were factually wrong and demonstrated that the fiscal terms applying to profits from oil and gas production in Ireland were pitched at a...