Results 4,701-4,720 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Petroleum Exploration: Petroleum Exploration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that Wood MacKenzie is a commercial service provider for the energy, mining and metals industry, that it evaluates economic indicators as well as market supply and demand price trends, and that it publishes its findings annually which are available to its subscribers for a fee. As neither I nor my Department subscribe to this service, I do not have a copy of the report referenced...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011, the Government agreed the introduction of general pay ceilings for future appointments to senior posts across the public service and for CEO posts in Commercial State Companies. A general pay ceiling of €250,000 was agreed for future CEO appointments to Commercial State Companies. In capping the pay of new appointees, the Government's view was...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

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 customer access to every home and business in the State. The Next Generation Broadband Taskforce which I convened earlier this year, has an important role to play in this regard. The Taskforce, which I...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has taken no decision to merge the Commission for Communication Regulation and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It has however, directed that the proposal be critically reviewed and reported and reported on before mid 2012. In this context I intend to set up a Group to examine the feasibility or otherwise of this proposed merger. The Group will be mandated to address...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Standards: Broadcasting Standards (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am responding to the Deputy's Question in so far as my own Department is concerned. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is established as an independent statutory body under the Broadcasting Act 2009. The Act also outlines the codes governing standards and practice to be observed by broadcasters. The Compliance Committee of the BAI is charged under the Act with ensuring that all...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. Ireland is critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas to meet its energy needs. The Government is fully committed to enhancing energy security and to delivering national energy efficiency and renewable energy objectives, which are aimed at moving the economy away from reliance on imported, carbon...

Written Answers — Petroleum Exploration: Petroleum Exploration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that my Department has had informal contact with the Northern Ireland Authorities in relation to onshore petroleum authorisations in the North West Carboniferous Basin. The petroleum authorisations granted in both jurisdictions are at a very early stage and the engagement between the respective authorities will continue should these authorisations proceed to the drilling stage.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The electronic communications market is, and has been since its liberalisation, a commercial competitive market. Thus, the provision of services, including broadband, is a matter for those private sector service providers, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The Government only intervenes in cases of market failure. Between the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The telecommunications market in Ireland has been fully liberalised since 1999 and, since then, has seen the steady growth and development of strong well-regulated competition in the provision of the full range of telecommunications products and services which are broadly capable of meeting the current needs of telecommunications customers. Under the NewERA proposals in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Petroleum Extraction: Petroleum Extraction (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is currently funding preliminary background research in the form of a study being carried out by Aberdeen University and a report in respect of this study is expected early...

Written Answers — Energy Market Regulation: Energy Market Regulation (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's energy policy, including the regulatory framework, seeks to deliver a secure, sustainable and competitive energy supply. In achieving this objective, the regulatory framework must meet evolving energy policy challenges and also ensure compliance with the requirements of both EU and national legislation. The regulation of the electricity and gas market is the responsibility...

Written Answers — Disposal of State Assets: Disposal of State Assets (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: No decision has been taken to partly privatise Bord Gáis. The latest text of the Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the Troika of the European Union (EU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) commits the State to an ambitious programme of state asset disposal. The Programme for Government includes an intention to finance investment from the...

Written Answers — Petroleum Exploration: Petroleum Exploration (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department's goal is to maximise the benefits to Ireland from exploration for and production of our indigenous oil and gas resources, while ensuring that activities are conducted safely and with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users. Exploration for oil and gas in Ireland, in common with most other jurisdictions, is carried out under licence from the State....

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The policy approach in regard to the imposition of programming obligations on broadcasters is set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In the case of commercial radio broadcasters, in submitting their initial licensing applications to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), they put forward commitments in regard to how they will deal with a range of broadcast issues including public...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not have a statutory function in the setting of energy prices, whether in the regulated or unregulated market. Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. Prices in the retail electricity market are now fully deregulated since 4 April 2011. Prices in the...

Written Answers — Energy Conservation Schemes: Energy Conservation Schemes (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Better Energy: Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households which 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. The measures installed include attic and cavity wall insulation, draught...

Written Answers — Electric Vehicles: Electric Vehicles (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 324 together. The ESB has, to date, installed 160 home charge points and 132 public charge points, 9 of which are fast chargers. Its target is to have 201 public charge points, of which 14 will be fast charge points, rolled out by the end of 2011. The overall target of 1,500 public charge points related to progress on sales of electric vehicles,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that the number of staff employed in my Department for the years requested is shown on the following table: 2008 2009 2010 2011 (to date) Staff Number 298 271 263 262

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: REFIT 3 is designed to support a range of technologies including Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Anaerobic Digestion as well as for co-firing of biomass in the peat power plants. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that earlier this month my Department received the State Aid clearance decision from DG Competition for the REFIT 3 biomass technologies application. Government approval is...

Written Answers — Helpline Numbers: Helpline Numbers (29 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The European Commission published a decision in February 2007 reserving the number range beginning "116" for harmonised services of social value. The concept of "same number – same service" envisages a specific socially important service accessible through the same 116 number regardless of which Member State the caller is in. The number 116123 has been designated for use for emotional...