Results 4,821-4,840 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: 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. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity supply contracts in the business or domestic sectors. The setting of supply contracts is a day to day operational matter for electricity supply companies. These...

Written Answers — Television Reception: Television Reception (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to television coverage and the levels of availability in specific areas of the country are an operational matter for RTE as is the building and maintaining of television broadcast masts. The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for RTE to build, roll-out and maintain a digital TV network. RTE has informed my Department that the current analogue TV network covers 98% of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that State bodies and companies under the remit of my Department have been cut by 9 through merger or abolition since the formation of my Department in 2007 as set out in the table below. Proposals for further restructuring of bodies under my remit are being considered by Government in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Restructuring since...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy: Warmer Homes on behalf of my Department, which is delivered through a range of Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors. The energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to the provision of telecommunications services are, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant service provider operating in a fully liberalised market. The service provider retains the primary responsibility for complaint resolution. Statutory responsibility for the regulation of the electronic communication sector including issues surrounding the quality of services...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the following table, which outlines all appointment dates for current members of RTE, ESB and BGÉ. Board Member First Appointed Term Reappointed Term-End Date RTE Mr Tom Savage 24/02/2009 2 01/09/2009 31/08/2014 RTE Mr Alan Gilsenan 24/02/2009 2 01/09/2009 31/08/2014 RTE Mr Fergus Armstrong 24/02/2009 2...

Written Answers — National Inland Fisheries Forum: National Inland Fisheries Forum (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Inland Fisheries Forum was established by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in accordance with section 7(4)(a) of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010, (No 10, 2010). The Forum consists of 60 members who were appointed, in accordance with the terms of reference agreed with IFI as provided for in section 7(4)(b) of the statute, following an open selection process conducted by the Public...

Written Answers — Fishing Licences: Fishing Licences (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am advised that details of the sale of all rod licences are appended to the annual report published by Inland Fisheries Ireland (and previously the Central and regional fisheries boards), which is available on its website. The following table provides the number of rod licences sold from 2005 to 2010 and the revenue raised from those sales. Year Licences Sold Revenue Raised 2005 28,738...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have had the records of my Department examined in relation to appointments to boards of state bodies under the aegis of my Department. I can inform the Deputy that there are no former Government office holders currently in any position on a board under the aegis of my Department who have been appointed by me or by former Governments.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have had the records of my Department examined in relation to appointments to boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. I can inform the Deputy that I have not appointed any former Government office holder to any position on a board under the aegis of my Department.

Access to Central Treasury Funds (Commission for Energy Regulation) Bill 2011 [Seanad] : Second Stage (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move:"That the Bill be now read a Second Time." While this is a short Bill, it is nevertheless important to ensure the delivery of a stronger overall regulatory framework governing exploration and production of oil and gas. It is also important in the interests of ensuring that the cost of such regulation on industry is kept to a minimum. I am pleased, therefore to introduce the Access to...

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy has a good track record of banks paying attention to him.

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: And end up like Greece.

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Does the Deputy have a plan?

Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Which way is the wind blowing? ^ Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) ^

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Article 7 of the EIA directive (85/337/EEC) provides for a trans-boundary consultation regime where a project in one Member State is likely to have significant effect on the environment in another Member State. The directive also requires Member States to agree on a reasonable time frame for the duration of the consultation period. I can inform the Deputy that details of the Petroleum...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The payroll function for my Department is carried out by the Department of Finance under a shared service agreement. Accordingly, there are no costs to my Department that relate to the issuing of hard copy payslips.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Nov 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that the day to day running of the payroll function in the State agencies under my aegis is a matter for each individual agency and you should contact them directly with regard to the information sought.

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The potential of the Irish offshore as a petroleum producing region is largely unproven and this is likely to remain the case unless there is a relatively significant increase in the level of exploration activity, in particular exploration drilling. Over the past decade on average only two exploration wells have been drilled per year. The principal aim of the recently completed 2011 Atlantic...

Written Answers — Onshore Exploration: Onshore Exploration (26 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 73 to 75, inclusive, together. I indicated recently that I had 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...