Results 4,361-4,380 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Energy Tariffs: Energy Tariffs (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The tariffs under the REFIT scheme for biomass technology (REFIT3), including those for anaerobic digestion, were calculated following detailed analysis by my Department working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Teagasc. The consensus is that the tariffs are appropriate to the circumstances pertaining in the Irish sector....

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been liberalised since 1999 and thus the delivery of broadband services is a matter, in the first instance, for private sector commercial operators which are licensed and regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The Government has undertaken a number of initiatives to bring broadband to those parts...

Written Answers — Intellectual Property Rights: Intellectual Property Rights (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has primary responsibility for national legislation governing copyright and related rights such as intellectual property rights and patents.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The booking of photographers is managed by my Press Office in each case. Photography Costs - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - February 2011-February 2012 Inclusive Pay Date Company Event Date Occasions Cost € 15/07/2011 Maxwell Photography 13/06/2011 Government convenes Next Generation...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government decided on 15 March 2011, inter alia, that with the exception of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, who retained their State car and Garda drivers, that the travel arrangements that were in place for Ministers of State would apply to all Ministers with regard to their official travel. Under these new arrangements, Ministers could appoint two...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS), which was launched in 2008, was to provide access to affordable, scalable broadband services to rural areas, where operators had been unable to offer services on a commercial basis. The NBS, which was approved by the European Commission, sought to strike a balance between reaching as many un-served premises in Ireland as possible while...

Written Answers — Electricity Grid: Electricity Grid (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is statutorily responsible for grid connections, in conjunction with EirGrid and ESB Networks. The 'Gate' process which deals with renewable generators seeking grid connections was put in place by the CER following public consultation. The process takes a grouped approach to determination and issuance of grid connections offers to renewable...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (21 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: A review of Inland Fisheries legislation, including the 1959 Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, has recently commenced in my Department and this process will require detailed examination of and legal views on a large number of provisions. It is not possible to say at this early stage what revisions and amendments will emerge from the process. However, a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The yearly allocation of public licences for commercial draft nets is governed by the provisions of the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order. The Order for 2012 is currently under consideration in my Department and it is expected that it will be finalised shortly. Any person over the age of 18 is entitled to apply for a public draft net licence unless they have previously availed of...

Written Answers — Inland Fisheries: Inland Fisheries (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The fisheries management of the Gweebarra River is a matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and in common with other Rivers consultation with stakeholders is a key element of that management. I am advised that the Gweebarra Fishing Club is the local club resident within the Gweebarra catchment. The Gweebarra club is a rejuvenated version of the Gweebarra Fisherman's Association which...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table. Salary Band €,000 Number of Staff 0-10 0 10-20 12 20-30 34 30-40 51 40-50 49 50-60 44 60-70 20 70-80 24 80-90 12 90-100 12 100-115 7 115-125 0 125-150 3 >150 2 The staff number includes persons on atypical working arrangements, for example, staff working and being paid for less than a full week. Information in...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Senator is right. We dealt with this amendment in the other House on both Committee and Report Stages. His colleague, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, withdrew it for the straightforward simple reason that being this prescriptive about energy efficiency in terms of improvements in insulation was not a matter to be considered in primary legislation. As technology changes, we can see the changes...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Senator Daly raises a reasonable point about the extent of legislation that goes through the House by way of statutory instrument as compared to primary legislation. I did not know, to be honest, that the ratio was 75:25, but if the Senator says that is the case, I accept it. In fairness, the Office of the Attorney General and the Parliamentary Counsel keep a close eye on what a Minister...

Seanad: Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Members of the House for their co-operation. Although this is an important Bill, it is not a controversial one. We had a reasonable debate on it on Second Stage. It is important that the measures outlined in the Bill are put in place. I do not think any great issue of dispute arose with regard to the merits of the legislation. I am glad we have been able to finalise it....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 188, inclusive, together. Better Energy Homes is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). It is a rules-based scheme with each application subject to a number of checks and reviews to ensure that the terms and conditions of the scheme are fully met by homeowners and contractors in the disbursement of public funds. I have...

Written Answers — Mobile Telephony: Mobile Telephony (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In accordance with Part 2 of the Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services and Electronic Communications Infrastructure) Act 2010, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of premium rates services. Complaints regarding such services are therefore a matter for ComReg. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Directive 2009/28/EC on renewable energy requires all EU Member States that they have a plan in place which sets out the planned trajectory towards the achievement of their legally binding target under the Renewable Energy Directive. The Directive also sets indicative interim targets so that the European Commission can monitor whether the actions being taken by Member States are sufficiently...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Application Phase of the Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) closed on 29 July 2011. The Department received 5,000 applications and of these, approximately 3700 qualified under the terms of the scheme. The Verification Phase of the Scheme has now commenced. In this phase of the Scheme, the details of applicants have been passed to Internet service providers to assess whether a service can be...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Preparations for the Irish Presidency of the EU Council are underway in my Department. While there has been no specific expenditure on Presidency related activities to date provision has been made for such activities in 2012 including any additional staff costs that may arise. Presidency resource requirements for 2013 will be determined as part of the overall resource allocation within my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The following table sets out the total cost of external legal advice and legal services provided to my Department in the years 2007 to 2011: Cost 2007 Cost 2008 Cost 2009 Cost 2010 Cost 2011 €723,496.57 €2,159,273.5 6 €494,683.64 €567,194.98 €335,335.74