Results 5,641-5,660 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Energy Prices (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: We need to be able to pin it down because the extent of our reliance on a gas pipeline from elsewhere is not the ideal situation to be in. If we could get the liquified natural gas project under way down in the Deputy's neck of the woods in Tarbert this would be a contribution and bringing the Corrib gas on stream would also make a contribution. However, unfortunately, at the moment,...

Energy Prices (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy has made a fair point. He is right to say that those who are in distress are in more acute distress now than they were in 2008. I do not advance the fact that gas prices have decreased by 27% since then as any kind of excuse for them to increase. I do not know how much it is intended they will rise by as no figure has been set. The companies have put figures out there in broad...

Communications Masts (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy is aware, the remit and obligations of RTE, as an independent national public service broadcaster, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 of that Act sets out the principal objects and associated powers of RTE. Section 98 provides that it "shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects", subject to the requirements of the Act. Therefore, as Minister I...

Communications Masts (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is right to suggest that these are valuable State assets. There are crainn cumarsáide at 149 locations, but just 51 locations are needed to transmit digital terrestrial television. That does not mean it is as simple as subtracting one from the other. Quite a few of these facilities are used for other purposes. I assure the Deputy there is no question of interfering with other...

Communications Masts (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy knows, quality new spectrum will become available after the switch-off. It may well be the case that some of these masts will be used to improve the quality of broadband, for example.

Communications Masts (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I can give the Deputy a commitment that I will bring the views he has just expressed to the attention of the RTE authorities, which are putting a great deal of work and thought into getting the switch-off right. As Minister, I could not contemplate the implications of a significant number of the constituents of Deputy Ó Cuív and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle being left without "Coronation...

Electricity Generation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 7 and 23 together. The programme for Government commits to the provision of a feed-in tariff for microgenerators producing electricity for their own homes, farms and businesses and selling surplus electricity to the grid. The programme also states that the tariff will not be significantly above the single energy market price for electricity. In line with the...

Electricity Generation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not know enough about the issue but I am trying to find out and learn about it. I do not entirely agree that the Deputy is entitled to put on the beal bocht for Galway West as compared to Galway East given that farms in the east of the county tend to be small and the area does not have many milking parlours.

Electricity Generation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes. While stimulating the micro-generation sector is probably a positive thing to do, one has to consider the economics of the issue. I set out the figures on the cost of the current feed in tariff and the minuscule amount of electricity going back into the grid. I do not know whether economies of scale apply, as the Deputy suggests, although I am open to examining that proposition. It...

Electricity Generation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I will undertake to examine the issue raised by the Deputy. I do not know whether the position here is exactly analogous to the position in other EU member states. While I support the idea of micro-generation in principle, we must examine the economics of the case. If it is the Deputy's case that the level at which the tariff threshold means inherent failure is likely and that a higher...

Telecommunications Services (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 10 together. The metropolitan area networks, MANs, were built by the State throughout the country to deliver telecommunications infrastructure where the commercial telecommunications operators had not invested and market failure had therefore been identified. The MANs are fibre optic networks mainly built in a ring formation around towns with...

NewERA Programme (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: No one would sell assets in this climate.

Alternative Energy Projects (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 27 together. The tragic events in Japan and the geopolitical events in North Africa and the Middle East underline the imperative for Ireland and the European Union as a whole to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. Radical improvements in energy efficiency and the continued development and deployment of renewable energy are key priorities for...

Alternative Energy Projects (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy is correct, in that the quality of wind supply along the west coast is the best in the country. There are those who would argue it is the best in Europe. Deputy Ó Cuív fully understands how the Government is constrained in terms of sourcing investment for this type of project. None the less, the commercial sector in this area is growing and it is our task to facilitate such...

Alternative Energy Projects (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As one can infer from the Deputy's question, he knows that feedback to the grid is an expensive part of the process. He will also be aware of EirGrid's ambitious investment plans for its development programme. Notwithstanding recently published reports to the effect that, due to the dramatic step down in economic activity, we could afford to pull back on some of these plans, we are not...

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

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ, including the power to build and operate digital multiplexes under section 114 (1)(j). Under Section 130, RTÉ is required to build and operate digital...

Written Answers — Television Licence: Television Licence (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the current TV licence system is that, except for certain classes of social welfare recipients, if you own a television set in Ireland you are liable to pay a television licence. An Post is currently responsible for the collection of television licence fees and for identifying those persons who have unlicensed televisions sets. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Television Licence: Television Licence (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 114 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 states the principal objects and associated powers of RTÉ and Section 98 provides that it shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: Mobile telecommunications are an electronic communications service under the terms of European legislation. The relevant national regulations in respect of mobile service provision have been updated over time to reflect developments in the EU and market developments generally. In 2003, national regulations were introduced to transpose the liberalised EU telecommunications market, as...

Written Answers — Electricity Generation: Electricity Generation (12 May 2011)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 32 together. The planning, development and routing of transmission line infrastructure is a matter for EirGrid, which is the State owned body responsible for the electricity transmission system. I have no statutory function regarding the planning and construction of energy networks. The Government fully endorses the strategic national importance of...