Results 4,221-4,240 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to Parliamentary Questions on this matter. The decision on the regulatory treatment of the gas interconnectors is statutorily a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no function in the matter. The CER, as the independent energy regulator has a remit to protect energy consumers,...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Salmon poaching on the River Laune is an ongoing concern. Efforts at illegal netting are attempted by poachers throughout the year. On average Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) confiscates in excess of 20 nets per year. Illegal netting is predominantly attempted in the lower reaches of the River Laune, an area where access by IFI staff is extremely difficult. Currently patrolling on the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: All post-primary schools will have a 100Mbps broadband connection installed by the end of 2014 in a project jointly funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and the Department of Education and Skills (DES). The selection of schools for connection during 2012 was undertaken by a Steering Committee, established to oversee the implementation of the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Completion of the 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. Following receipt of the relevant statutory permits by the developer, works on the construction of the onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 140 and 149 together. The numbers of Mineral Prospecting Licences and Petroleum Exploration Licences granted in each year between 2000 and 2012 are set out in the table. Licences Granted during period 2000 – 2012 Year Prospecting Licences (Minerals) Petroleum Exploration Licences 2000 98 0 2001 44 0 2002 37 0 2003 22 0 2004 26 3 2005 51 7 2006...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 148 together. There has been significant growth in the take up of broadband services and contracted speeds in Ireland in recent years. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has reported that between Q3 2007 and Q3 2011 the number of broadband subscribers has more than doubled from 793,000 to more than 1.6 million. It is also the case...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The latest figures from EirGrid which cover the period to end December 2011 show that there is now 1630MW of wind connected to the electricity grid along with 237MW of hydro electricity and 46MW of other renewable generation – in total just over 1900MW. The latest official figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are that at the end of 2010, 14.8% of electricity...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that Vodafone, Telefonica, Eircom/Meteor and Hutchison are the main providers of mobile infrastructure in this jurisdiction. Other Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MCNOs) also provide mobile services. I understand that the Commission for Communications Regulation in its end of year review reported that there was an estimated 5.5 million mobile phone subscriptions registered...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Generators are regulated through the Commission for Energy Regulation's (CER) regulatory regime, in the main through their licences, and by the mandatory requirements placed on their participation in the Single Electricity Market (SEM). The regulatory regime and the wholesale market rules apply to generators regardless of the ownership of electricity generation. Such a framework ensures...

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

Pat Rabbitte: While the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Privacy and Electronic Communications) Regulations 2011 address unsolicited communications for direct market purposes, electronic communications resulting in stalking or bullying is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality. Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 141. Question No. 149 answered...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Better Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage. The SEAI has recently renewed the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can advise the Deputy that the table beneath details the CEOs appointed to State Bodies under the aegis of my Department since 1 January 2009 who serve as ex officio members of their board. Body Appointee An Post Mr Donal Connell Bord Gáis Eireann Mr John Mullins Inland Fisheries Ireland Dr Ciaran Byrne RTE Mr Noel Curran Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Prof. Owen Lewis

Sale of State Assets (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have not made any analysis of the impact on jobs and in advance of decisions being made I am not sure how one would do so. I have talked to management in the ESB and Bord Gáis and I am happy as a result of those discussions that part-privatisation of, say, Bord Gáis down the line, far from being likely to lead to job reductions, could lead to additional employment as additional...

Public Service Contracts (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I have received two reports on the safety aspects of Bord Gáis's award of a contract to the Balfour Beatty-CLG joint venture. As I have no direct role or responsibility in a tender process or contract award by a commercial semi-State company, the focus of my scrutiny in this instance is to ensure both BGE and the Commission for Energy Regulation have carried out their duties appropriately...

Public Service Contracts (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: We are talking about the serious issue of safety in the gas system. I have set out for the House the statutory responsibilities in that regard. I take the allegations made by the Deputy very seriously and acted on them after he had brought them to my attention when I last answered questions at Question Time. I have since received the two reports to which I referred, one from Bord Gáis and...

Public Service Contracts (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not know about the allegation of false accounting, but if the matter is still before the courts, we should let it make its decision. I repeat this is a transnational company which has 163 subsidiaries. I do not know if any of the persons involved in the false accounting alleged has anything to do with the company involved in the joint venture in the provision of services here, but on...

Public Service Contracts (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I will pursue the question of false accounting.

Telecommunications Services (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: All post-primary schools will have a 100 MB broadband connection installed by the end of 2014 in a project jointly funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Education and Skills. This follows on from the successful pilot project which has been running in some second level schools for the past two years. The national roll-out will be...

Telecommunications Services (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: My own county, I hope.

Telecommunications Services (7 Mar 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: To be honest, I have not got that far yet. The reason I selected the 12 counties mentioned is because broadband is weakest in most of them. They have basic broadband, but they do not have high speed broadband. I visited a school in Claremorris, with which I have some familiarity, where the first year students have been using tablets since the beginning of the academic year, but due to the...