Results 5,361-5,380 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Report Stage (19 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 2: In page 7, line 40, after "INSTRUMENTS," to insert "TO AMEND THE BROADCASTING ACT 2009". Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 are consequential amendments to the Long Title and to section 1 of the Bill. They arise from the inclusion in the Bill of a number of amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009. Amendment No. 35 is of a technical nature. Its purpose is to define the term...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Of the companies listed, KPMG is currently employed by my Department for the provision of a professional accountant, on a full time secondment basis, to provide financial advice across a range of issues.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The following appointments have been made at my Department since I took up office: Name Position Appointed By Date of Appointment Mr Finbarr O'Malley Special Adviser to Minister Rabbitte Government 28 March 2011 Mr Simon Nugent Special Adviser to Minister Rabbitte Government 11 April 2011 Mr Stephen Nolan Personal Assistant Minister Rabbitte 10 March 2011 Ms Linda Brien Personal...

Written Answers — Exploration Licences: Exploration Licences (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The principal authorisations required from my Department for a petroleum production project would be a Petroleum Lease and an approval for the developer's plan of development. The plan of development would set out the basis for the project and the rationale for the selection of the appropriate development option. The Plan of Development would be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment...

Written Answers — Remediation Works: Remediation Works (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: By decision dated 28 June 2005 the then Government agreed that the State would undertake rehabilitation of the former mine sites at Silvermines County Tipperary, and in 2008 the Minister advised Government of the updated cost estimate of €24 million, which would be incurred over a number of years. By end 2011, expenditure on the project will have amounted to approximately €11.3m. In the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The total amount of money paid to PWC by my Department since the formation of the Department in June 2007 is €242,600. This expenditure was incurred in respect of financial and economic advice received in the following areas: Project Amount Communications €15,125 Broadcasting € 114,043 Natural Resources € 103,532 Administration €9,900

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As my Department was established in its present form in 2007, the identification of records prior to January 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. The total amount paid to external public relation companies from 2007 to date, by my...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The total amount of money paid to KPMG by my Department since the formation of the Department in June 2007 is €516,671. This expenditure was incurred in respect of financial and economic advice received in the following areas: Project Amount Communications €56,621 Natural Resources €181,500 Administration €278,550 The expenditure on Administration in the table above relates to...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As my Department was established in its present form in 2007, the identification of records prior to January 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. Since its establishment my Department has not provided monies to fund trade unions,...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (13 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: In 2007 following the alignment of the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice ending the mixed stock fishery at sea, a Salmon Hardship Scheme was established to address any hardship experienced by affected commercial salmon licence holders. I understand that a Community Support Scheme was also provided, directed primarily on those communities where commercial salmon...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (13 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no function in the matter of disconnections of electricity customers regardless of the supply company involved. In addition, responsibility for the regulation of reconnection fees is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body, with no Ministerial role or function in this matter. It is nevertheless the case that the increase in...

Written Answers — Postal Services: Postal Services (13 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The postal market has been open to competition since 1 January 2011 under the Third Postal Services Directive. The Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill seeks to put in place a robust and appropriate regulatory framework to reflect the key provisions of this Directive and offer certainty and protection to An Post, its competitors, and postal service users. While reputation and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Two members of staff in my Department are currently seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs on assignment to the Permanent Representation in Brussels. Among the key duties of their posts they monitor EU developments generally and developments internationally, and in other international institutions relevant to the EU, in the fields of Energy, Telecommunications and the Knowledge...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department entered into a contract with "3", a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) in late December 2008. In line with contractual obligations, services have been available in all of the 1,028 designated Electoral Divisions (ED) covered under the Scheme since October 2010. My Department has put in place robust monitoring arrangements to...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can inform the Deputy that my Department has not licensed hydraulic fracturing in the Upper Shannon catchment area. In February of this year, following an open competition, my Department awarded two year onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to two companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous or Lough Allen Basin. The Licensing Options are designed to allow the companies assess the...

Written Answers — Prospecting Licences: Prospecting Licences (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's fiscal and non fiscal licensing terms for oil and gas exploration and production were last reviewed in 2007. The review, which was underpinned by independent economic analysis, considered the appropriateness of Ireland's licensing terms in comparison to other European countries that Ireland competes with for exploration investment. The outcome of that review was the introduction...

Written Answers — Natural Gas Grid: Natural Gas Grid (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The negotiation of gas contracts is a day to day operational matter for Bord Gáis Éireann and not one in which I have a function. Bord Gáis Éireann has advised me that, as set out in its annual report, it has entered into Gas Supply Contracts with the Corrib partners with the aim of securing competitive supplies for Irish customers. The terms and conditions of commercially negotiated...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 286, inclusive, together. RTÉ is responsible for the rollout and operation of the Saorview TV network. Part 8 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, sets out RTÉ's powers and responsibilities in this regard. The Act provides that RTÉ must roll out a national digital TV network to the same extent as its existing analogue network. In this regard, I...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 to 290, inclusive, together. The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) has been open for applications since 9th May last and will remain open until 29th July next. An official notice regarding the launch of the Scheme was placed in the Government Notices section of the Irish Independent on the morning of the launch. In addition, a Press Release was issued to all...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Jul 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy programme 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. An additional €10 million was provided for low-income housing retrofits in the recent Jobs Initiative....