Results 5,001-5,020 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Senator O'Brien is correct. I share his concern about the manner in which this issue is being addressed. However, Vodafone's position is that it is dealing with a competitive situation. For example, O2 moved to e-billing without asking permission. Vodafone finds itself disadvantaged as a result. We have talked to ComReg about this issue. It is issuing a consultation paper on it. We...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: That is true. I will try to address matters I have forgotten by way of questions.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I accept what the Senator said. There is concern in certain areas. However, I feel it is being stoked in some quarters. I have to take very seriously what the fears have given rise to. The first is the independent assessment by the EPA to which I referred. I accept what Senator MacSharry said, that there are people who are very fearful about the implications of this. The process that...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: With the permission of the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I will respond to some of the points because otherwise I will forget many of them.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I will deal with some of the major points raised. It is encouraging to note that the pall of economic gloom that hangs over Europe does not intrude consistently in this beautiful Chamber, and many colleagues seem to think it is life as normal.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish that was the case but it is not. Senator Daly raised the question of broadband and the inadequate speeds in certain parts of the country. That is true; however, after years of being disadvantaged by the manner of the privatisation of Telecom Éireann and the subsequent rip-offs at different stages, a great deal of progress has been made in recent years. By comparison to other...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Senator Daly raised the question of salaries at RTE. I do not agree with Senator Crown's contention that this Department is the most important, but there are one or two things within it that are important. However, whenever I try to address these, somebody will ask me, "What about Pat Kenny's salary?" or "How much is Marian Finucane being paid?". What am I supposed to say? The fact is...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Right. I will, of course, be delighted to talk to them. The point is-----

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The point I want to make is that the profligate years are over. Senators Daly and Barrett raised a point about the cost base in the energy companies, and Senator Daly raised explicitly the issue of pensions. I must say that the cost base is an issue. There are negotiations currently under way between the management of the ESB and the group of unions, the purpose of which is to get 20% off...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I am trying to communicate the point that it does not matter whether the tax rate is 25% or 65% if the yield is zero. That is the problem.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The question the Senator must answer is that if the tax take for the last 30 years at 25% has been too low, why have exploration companies not queued up around the coast and why are the gushers not coming onshore all over the country? My predecessor, Mr. Eamon Ryan, increased the tax rate on a sliding-scale basis from 25% to 40%. Now the Senator wants me to increase it further while...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: In terms of the arguments the Senator raised regarding security of supply-----

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: -----we must increase the rate of exploration activity off our coast. Senator Crown makes a fair point in pointing to peak oil and to the folly of relying on hydrocarbons and so on. However, I am sure he will agree on reflection that it is not an argument, while we are moving to increase our renewable capacity, not to avail of resources if they are out there. There are some who claim that...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: What I am trying to do in Corrib is to get the gas ashore. In Norway, of which the Senator is so fond, it takes four years on average to bring gas ashore. It has taken 17 years to attempt to do so at Corrib. That is not exactly a great signal for this country to send out.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, there are reasons and some of them are fairly daft.

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: It is not a scandalous remark. When the dispute began, the issue was local jobs. It then became an issue of safety, as if it is safer to carry out the process in turbulent waters than on land. Extraordinary measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the process, the most recent being An Bord Pleanála's decision to build a tunnel under Sruwaddacon Bay, an absolutely extraordinary...

Seanad: Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Statements, Questions and Answers (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the House for the invitation to outline my policy priorities. Given the span of the brief in my portfolio and the relatively limited time at my disposal, I will use this address to focus on what I see as the key priorities. I look forward to elaborating on these in the question and answer session. I have responsibility for policy in the areas of communications, broadcasting, energy...

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: He has a PhD in it.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy's party signed away the country and not just the State assets.

Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: They signed away the country and the Deputy is no position to lecture anyone on economics.