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

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I would like to think the website does give that information. I have explained the process we must go through. There is no easy telephone solution for a small business in Dromahair that may have poor quality broadband. Without the network being available, there is no short-term solution. There are some parts of Ireland where, for topographical reasons, it is very difficult to deal with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Broadband Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with the Deputy that it is unacceptable that in urban Ireland quality broadband connectivity competes with anything available in any city in Europe but large tracts of rural Ireland have access to a very basic service. The Government’s national broadband plan which I published in August aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring high speed...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The problem is that An Post's mandate is that of a commercial State company. It is not always possible to reconcile that with a mandate to shore up the post office network. The post office network is a combination of private enterprises which are subject to EU competition and procurement law. Deputy Moynihan is correct that there is a dilemma here. The dilemma is best highlighted in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In fairness to An Post and postmasters, they have grown their businesses in recent years and continue to do so. If one looks at the withdrawal of banking services from many villages and towns, it appears that retail banking has gone out of fashion as far as the senior management and boards of banks are concerned. Post offices have stepped in. One of the things I have put to the Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Post Office Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer-focused network of post offices in the community. The professionalism of the postmasters and An Post has served the network well down through the years and I do not see any reason this should not continue to be the case...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: At the outset the Deputy said reasonably that he was in favour of renewables to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and accelerate the departure from a reliance on fossil fuels to renewables. He cannot say this, on the one hand, and, on the other, say he wants a moratorium on development of renewables. The planning system is immensely rigorous. Everybody has known for a number of years...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Last year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Ed Davey, MP, and I signed a memorandum of understanding on energy co-operation. The memorandum demonstrated our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. An agreed programme of work was put in place, with work-streams across several areas. A key objective was to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Wind Energy Generation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The contemplated wind export project in the midlands was a discrete and ring-fenced project that had nothing at all to do with our capacity to meet our domestic needs. We are on track to have 40% of our electricity generated from renewables by 2020. By any European standard, that is considered to be at the leading edge in terms of what any transmission system can accommodate. We remain...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand the panel met as recently as last Friday. According to what I hear, I for one will be surprised if it does not issue its report on the terms of reference before next Friday. That is my expectation but I do not speak for the panel. With regard to health, the Deputy is correct that this matter has been a concern among residents and others during the recent public consultation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I can certainly assure the Deputy that the integrity of the process is being maintained by the expert panel under the chairmanship of the retired Honourable Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness and that it is taking its responsibilities very seriously. Otherwise, it would have opined before now. I take the point that there must be optimum co-operation between my Department and the Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid’s Grid25 national transmission grid development programme is vital for future socioeconomic progress in Ireland, regional development and to ensure consumers have access to reliable, sustainable and affordable energy. During the course of engagement by EirGrid in its recent public consultation processes a number of key concerns emerged. I have put in place a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) published on 14 April last highlights access to and cost of high quality broadband as one of the most significant challenges faced by rural communities, particularly from a business perspective. It points to the need for significant State investment to ensure delivery of next generation broadband outside of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In January last year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum demonstrated our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. A key objective was to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. An agreed programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Regulation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for the management of spectrum in Ireland. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions and is accountable directly to the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 34 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002. The investigation of any alleged unlicensed radio transmissions including any...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Green Paper on Energy Publication (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is finalising an Energy Policy Green Paper which identifies issues that need to be considered in the development of Ireland’s energy policy to meet current and future challenges. Competitiveness, security of supply, and sustainability, as well as energy policy’s potential to support economic growth and job creation, will be the key pillars of the Green Paper which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to acknowledge at the outset the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. That said, however, it needs to be borne in mind that these stations were established as commercial entities. Station owners sought and accepted licences on clear terms; terms which included a limited...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Distribution System (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions raised by him on this issue, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory, independent body, charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is responsible for co-ordinating the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) which commits all organisations in the public sector to achieving a 33% energy savings target by 2020. Performance against this target is regularly monitored by my Department and I will be publishing an update to the NEEAP in the coming months. To achieve this target, my Department works with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Security Policy (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that the Deputy is referring to a recently discovered software vulnerability commonly used in open source software for secure on-line communications. The disclosure of this software vulnerability has had global implications. After this vulnerability became publicly known on 8 April last, the National Cyber Security Centre located in my Department prepared an advisory doucument...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Exploration (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: On 9 May 2012 the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture published its Report on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The Report contained a number of recommendations in respect of the fiscal and regulatory framework applying to oil and gas exploration in Ireland. At my request the Report was debated in Seanad Éireann on 27 June 2012 and in...