Results 5,501-5,520 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The 1975 terms were introduced at a time of great optimism that Ireland had significant, undiscovered, reserves of oil and gas and would be the next North Sea. The terms reflected this optimism and provided for State participation, royalties, production bonuses and the then prevailing corporation tax rate of 50%. Unfortunately, with only four commercial finds of natural gas in Irish waters...

Written Answers — Offshore Exploration: Offshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary role of Bord Gáis Energy and ESB Electric Ireland is in electricity generation and in the supply of energy to end users. ESB and Bord Gáis Éireann also own the electricity and gas transmission and distribution networks. The Energy State Companies do not have nor is it envisaged that they would have any role in the exploration of Ireland's onshore and offshore mineral resources.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: State Aid clearance for the proposed REFIT support scheme for biomass technologies was submitted to DG Competition in the EU Commission in November 2010. This scheme, which is aimed at supporting the use of biomass in electricity generation and heat production, incorporates a proposed range of tariffs for different technologies and requires State Aid clearance before it can open for...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has ambitious plans to increase the deployment of renewable energy technologies over the next decade with targets set to achieve 40% of our electricity, 12% of our heating and cooling requirements, and 10% of our transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020. These targets are commensurate with Ireland's binding EU target of 16% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Comptroller and Auditor General fulfils its statutory role in auditing my Department annually. In addition, the Department has an Internal Audit Unit, and an Internal Audit Committee. Their efforts support that of the Comptroller and Auditor General in providing independent assurance that public money is properly managed and spent to good effect and in contributing to improvements in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff scheme known as REFIT was introduced in 2006 for certain categories of renewable energy, including onshore wind. Since then the tariffs have been increasing, where applicable, by the annual consumer price index. REFIT is based around 15 year Power Purchase Agreements between generators and suppliers which provide developers with the necessary certainty...

Written Answers — Onshore Exploration: Onshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Earlier this year, following an open competition, my Department granted onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous Basin and the Clare Basin. The Licensing Options are designed to allow the companies assess the natural gas potential of the acreage largely based on desktop studies of existing data from previous petroleum exploration...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Energy security is currently high on the international and EU agenda as the global energy market becomes subject to volatility and high prices as a result of geo-political events and natural disasters. While Ireland is a peripheral energy market, we remained largely insulated from the shocks of the Russia/Ukraine gas crisis of 2009 and have not experienced supply disruption as a result of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not have an office in my constituency. In line with normal practice for Ministers, constituency staff working on constituency matters share office space with other staff in my Department's building on Adelaide Road. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for elements such as telephone, IT services, energy, maintenance, furniture and lease of the building. These costs are invoiced...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: All official travel undertaken by staff in my Department is in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines. This requires staff to use the shortest practicable route and to travel by the cheapest mode of conveyance. Only essential travel is undertaken and public transport is regularly used by staff when travelling. A number of staff in my Department also avail of the Travel Pass Scheme...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Utility Regulator in Belfast. It has been operational since November 2007, when the trading of wholesale electricity in Ireland and Northern Ireland on an All-Island basis commenced, underpinned by parallel legislation in Ireland...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The oversight and operation of the Single Electricity Market is the statutory responsibility of the Single Electricity Market Committee (which comprises the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator as well as an independent Member) and the Single Market Operator EirGrid and SONI. I would refer the Deputy to a selection of data in the public domain in...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff scheme known as REFIT was introduced in 2006 for certain categories of renewable energy, including onshore wind. REFIT is based around 15 year Power Purchase Agreements between generators and suppliers which provide developers with the necessary certainty required to finance their projects. The scheme is funded through a Public Service Obligation (PSO)...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland remains critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas. This dependency underlines the immediate and long term imperatives of enhancing energy security, mitigation of price volatility and increasing energy sustainability. National energy policy objectives are in line with overall EU policy objectives and are informed by the ongoing analytical work of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. I receive a report from the ESB under Section 10 of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 1961 (No 2 of 1961) on an annual basis, which advises me on the management of fisheries under its jurisdiction, including the Ballyshannon Hatchery. As is the case with all ESB Fisheries, the Ballyshannon Hatchery is managed in consultation with...

Written Answers — Onshore Exploration: Onshore Exploration (15 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: In February of this year, following a detailed evaluation of applications received in the 2010 onshore licensing competition, my Department offered onshore Petroleum Licensing Options to three companies over parts of the North West Carboniferous Basin and the Clare Basin. The Licensing Options are designed to allow the companies assess the natural gas potential of their acreage largely based...

Written Answers — Electricity Transmission Network: Electricity Transmission Network (9 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The EU Energy Third Package, which sets out a complex range of measures relating to the further liberalisation of the Electricity and Gas Markets came into force in September 2009. The range of measures was due to be transposed by 3 March last but very few States have actually fully transposed the Directive. Directive 2009/72/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: A revised EU regulatory framework for telecommunications was adopted by the European Council and Parliament in December 2009. Following detailed consultations with the national regulatory authorities, the industry and other stakeholders, draft regulations transposing the revised regulatory framework into Irish law are currently being finalised by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. I...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The provision of broadband services over fixed lines, including cable, is subject to a notification to ComReg by the...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (9 Jun 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of broadband services is, in the first instance, a matter for private sector service providers operating in Ireland's fully liberalised telecommunications market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Broadband services are provided by a number of private service providers over various platforms including DSL (i.e. over...