Results 4,441-4,460 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: It is not quite that long ago.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the publication of the Government's affordable energy strategy in November. It is available in the Oireachtas Library for anybody who wants to pursue it. I agree with Senator Byrne that energy efficiency is the most effective way of spending money to address the issue of fuel poverty. I commend the work in this regard of my predecessor, Mr. Eamon Ryan, and I hope notwithstanding...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the opportunity to respond to the debate on this considered motion on renewable energy. We all agree that energy is a basic component of modern society and that its availability and cost play a critical role in the quality of our lives and in facilitating our economic development. Our energy policy is based on ensuring a secure, clean and affordable energy supply for Ireland....

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is a matter beyond which we have control. Other key energy policy drivers include the fundamental changes in the global gas supply market, pressures on the availability and cost of capital for the capital intensive energy sector, whether State owned or private sector and changes in energy technology. As a country that imports almost 90% of our energy requirements, we are acutely aware...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This requires the ongoing roll out of the Grid 25 investment programme, together with delivery of the essential North-South transmission reinforcements and completion of the east-west interconnector. Senator Byrne expressed concern about the North-South transmission. I agree with him that it is an essential reinforcement of the all-Ireland electricity system. The Government's commitment to...

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am not making a political point.

Seanad: Renewable Energy: Motion (1 Feb 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I am merely highlighting the fact that what happened has left us at our current pass. There is a lesson here which we must take on board. The only decision the Government has taken in this regard is to the effect that it would agree to the disposal of a minority stake in a vertically integrated ESB Electric Ireland, subject to due diligence. I have accepted possession of the relevant...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Sky is a commercial company and is not regulated in Ireland. I have no role in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The allowances and salary payable in respect of private secretary posts in my Department are as set out in Circular 28/2009: Revision of pay of Civil Servants (Application of pay adjustments in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act, 2009). The salary scale of my Private Secretary is €46,081 to 58,294 (HEO, PPC Scale). The allowance payable to...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that there are 18 State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Of these there are 15 whose boards are appointed in whole in or in part by the Minister and/or the Government. On 3 June 2011, I publicly sought Expressions of Interest from anyone wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies which were to arise on State Boards, under the aegis of my Department,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: One retired public servant has been hired by my Department since I assumed office as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on 9 March last. Information in respect of staffing of agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those organisations and my Department does not have the information sought in respect of State agencies, by the Deputy. My...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The procurement of maintenance and safety works by ESB is an operational matter for the Board and management of ESB and are not matters in which I have a direct role or statutory function.

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under EU Directives on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the threshold is €5 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by most public bodies the threshold is €200,000. The threshold...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Part 7 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for matters relating to the appointment of the Boards of each of the public service broadcasting corporations, RTÉ and TG4. Each Board consists of twelve members and a chairperson and, in the case of RTÉ, the next vacancies arise on 1st September 2014 and will be appointed by Government upon my nomination. A further four vacancies, due to arise...

Written Answers — Public Procurement: Public Procurement (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Following a public procurement process the tender for the concession to operate the Emergency Call Answering Service was awarded to BT Communications Ireland Limited. The concession agreement was signed on the 12 February 2009. The concession agreement provides that BT Communications Ireland Limited will build the technical platform and operate the service for a period of five years which...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to the post office network, including the development of commercial strategies, are an operational matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The policies of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy are dealt with under one Council formation – Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE). Councils are normally held in spring (February/March), June, October and December. There are usually four meetings of Transport Ministers (March, June, October and December), three meetings of Energy Ministers (spring, June and...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: ESB is an independent commercial State body and the matters referred to by the Deputy arise from ESB operational matters regarding which I have no function. Responsibility for the regulation of reconnection fees is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have no role or function in this regard.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (31 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The operation of the Bord na Móna General Employees Superannuation Scheme (GESS) is a matter for the Trustees of the GESS and the Board of Bord na Móna, and not one in which I have a direct function. I have been advised by Bord na Móna that the Trustees of the GESS are in consultation with Bord na Móna, the Bord na Móna Group of Unions and GESS members regarding a framework for...

Written Answers — Television Licence Fee: Television Licence Fee (26 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy may be aware, the current TV licence system is such that, except for certain classes of social welfare recipients, if you own a television set in Ireland you are liable to pay a television licence. An Post is currently responsible for the collection of television licence fees and for identifying those persons who have unlicensed televisions sets. The Programme for Government...