Results 4,861-4,880 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department paid €23,343 ex VAT in annual licensing costs of Corepay system in 2010. Earlier this year however, my Department entered into a shared services agreement with the Department of Finance which now hosts payroll facilities on the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resource's behalf.

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The area referred to in the Deputy's Question is covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Full broadband services have been available to all premises throughout the NBS target areas, including St. Johnston in County Donegal, since October 2010. Information on the NBS is also available at http://three.ie/nbs/ .

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy correctly points out the error in the email address given in respect of the dedicated National Broadband Scheme mailbox operated by my Department. The correct information, as appears on my Department's website, should have read: nationalbroadbandscheme@dcenr.gov.ie . I wish to apologise to the House for this inadvertent typographical error and wish to correct the record where...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The low income housing / energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing such measures. 'Better Energy: Warmer Homes' delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that the number of commercial semi-State bodies under the aegis of my Department is seven, as follows: An Post Bord Gáis Éireann Bord na Móna EirGrid Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Raidió Teilifís Éireann Teilifís na Gaeilge

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy may be aware, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the British and Irish Governments on 1 February 2010. The Memorandum deals with broadcast services and related radio spectrum issues in the context of the provision of digital terrestrial services on the island of Ireland and provides for cooperation between the authorities in both jurisdictions on this issue. One...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and/or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection of towns to the...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (or LNG) projects, including specific projects like the Shannon LNG project. I understand that Shannon LNG – a wholly owned...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department ensures that all public procurement procedures as outlined by the Department of Finance are adhered to during the procurement process. As part of these processes every effort is being undertaken to ensure value for money and achieve cost reductions. Notably, my Department earlier this year, as part of the Croke Park Agreement, has implemented an agreement with the Department of...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Firstly, I should clarify that Enniskeane, County Cork is not covered by the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). Outside of the NBS Area, "3" the NBS service provider, operates as a private telecommunications service provider and I have no role in resolving customer dissatisfaction with the service provided. Where broadband subscribers have complaints or issues relating to the quality and/or...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Finian will support the children.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that no new agencies have been established or abolished by my Department since February 2011.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (20 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers Better Energy: Warmer Homes on behalf of my Department. The energy poverty strand of Better Energy aims to provide energy efficiency improvements to low-income homes unable to afford the cost of implementing such measures. This will enable over 20,000 low-income homes to benefit from energy efficiency retrofit measures this...

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Order for Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011: Second Stage (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have an opportunity to present and commend for consideration by the Dáil the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011. The Bill has been designed to revise, consolidate and expand energy legislation in areas such as the theft of electricity and gas and the safety of liquefied petroleum gas in order to reflect the...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: There are 387 customers on the ESB microgeneration tariff to date, representing a total connected generation capacity of just over 2 megawatts. The technologies being deployed are wind turbines, solar installations and small scale hydro turbines. ESB Networks agreed in 2009 to provide the necessary import/export metering free of charge to the first four thousand domestic microgeneration...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The telecommunications market in Ireland, including the provision of next generation broadband networks and services, has been fully liberalised since 1999 and, since then, has seen the steady growth and development of significant well-regulated competition in the provision of the full range of telecommunications products and services. The provision of broadband services, including next...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: There were 25 petroleum exploration licences granted since 2001; of these, 16 are still active. Oil and gas discoveries have been made in respect of four of these licences to date. Three of the discoveries were in the North Celtic Sea Basin and one in the Slyne Basin. None of the discoveries have been declared commercial to date. Applications for lease undertakings in respect of two of...

Written Answers — Fishing Licences: Fishing Licences (19 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Many bays and estuaries in Ireland are Special Areas of Conservation or Natura Scheme Areas. As a result, appropriate assessments have to be carried out before licences can be issued. My understanding is that IFI then proceeded to issue annual licences in accordance with the statute. I am not aware of any significant delays in the licensing process. The purpose of restricting the number of...