Results 4,521-4,540 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), who administer the Better Energy programme on my behalf, are currently in the process of contract renewal with the network of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) with a view to concluding contract renewals at the earliest possible opportunity. In addition, an Invitation to Tender will shortly be published by the SEAI to establish a new...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: In line with the Government's Affordable Energy Strategy, more focussed eligibility criteria be implemented in 2012 in order to ensure that those most at risk of extreme fuel poverty are prioritised. Work will get underway shortly with the community-based organisations and other relevant parties to finalise new eligibility criteria which will ensure that Exchequer resources are directed...

Sustainable Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: This year, we are putting in €76 million. I am doing this for a number of reasons. The first is because the previous Government left no money after it when it went out of office. That is the big reason. There is no money. Second, prices are now more competitive than three years ago. One can get this work done in the market place at a discount and we have discounted some elements of...

Sustainable Energy Projects (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The outcome last year was €91 million.

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the NewERA proposals in the programme for Government, there is a commitment to co-invest with the private sector and commercial semi-State sector to provide next generation broadband access to every home and business in the State. The next generation broadband taskforce, which I convened last summer, has an important role to play in this regard. The taskforce, which I chair, comprises...

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: What does "shortly" mean? I do not know what it means in the public service, but in this case-----

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: -----in answer to this question, it means "before St. Patrick's Day". It is not two years, three years or anything like that. We will bless the report with the shamrock before St. Patrick's Day. The work of the task force, as is made very clear, is technology neutral. The merit of it is that it is a unique partnership between Government and the chief executives of the leading operators...

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is right in the sense that any of these private sector companies have a duty to their shareholders - there is no doubt about that. However, they also have a vested interest in serving the largest segment of market they can get in this marketplace and, in the process, encouraging a competitive dynamic that does exist, in all fairness, despite the small marketplace. I do not see...

Telecommunications Services (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: -----it would be stupid to say that and to proceed on that basis. We will avail of all the technologies that are there to make sure we roll out high-speed broadband to the optimum number of homes in Ireland.

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 13 together. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, administers the Better Energy programme on behalf of my Department. The SEAI was initially allocated €65 million for the programme in 2011. On taking office and in the context of the jobs initiative, I announced an increase of €30 million in funding for the programme, which brought the...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree that what the Deputy mentioned in regard to ring-fencing the carbon tax appears logical. The legal advice, however, is that we cannot have hypothecated taxes in the way we do business in this jurisdiction. I remember raising the same point in terms of the Criminal Assets Bureau, CAB, and the drugs barons, to the effect that where moneys are recouped from drug barons by the CAB they...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is a sensible suggestion. I would be glad to do that. I do not have the document with me but we have published the affordable energy strategy. If the Deputy has had the opportunity to read even the executive summary, in that we set out that kind of reorientation of policy in this area. It is not my business to speculate about the future of fuel allowance or how it may proceed. I will...

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: What has that to do with the issue?

Better Energy Programme (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Either I am a bit dim-witted or we are at cross purposes. I am not sure I understand what the Deputy means in respect of the pension levy. What does that have to do with retrofit? My predecessor provided for €65 million in the budget of 2011. My colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, acceded to my request that an additional €30 million be made available, bringing the...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 15 together. The current television licence system is such that, except for certain classes of social welfare recipients, if one owns a television set one is liable to pay a television licence. An Post is responsible for the collection of television licence fees and for identifying those persons who have unlicensed televisions sets. The programme for...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is correct the status quo is probably not feasible for two reasons, first, the phenomenon of technological convergence and, second, the extent of evasion. Notwithstanding the best efforts of An Post - I have not been given any credible argument as to why some other agency would do better than An Post - there is still a 15% evasion rate which costs RTE about €25 million a year.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, there is the exception of the statutory provision for TG4 and the fund. Up to €25 million in evasion is a significant factor. While Deputy Ó Cuív claimed 99.9% of the population would not watch television on platforms other than the conventional television set, I believe there is a digital divide in that younger viewers access television content on other platforms. The Ceann...

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: No, I think Deputy Ó Cuív has upscaled.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: The household charge envisaged in this question, a broadcasting charge, is not an additional charge. Such a charge would replace a television charge. I have no hesitation in co-operating with Deputy Ó Cuív and the Opposition in presenting before an Oireachtas committee on this matter.

Television Licence Fee (18 Jan 2012)

Pat Rabbitte: That is possible.