Results 681-700 of 5,760 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Decentralisation Programme Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: All or part of the following Divisions of my Department have decentralised to Cavan town: Information Systems Division; Corporate Services Division; Finance and Corporate Affairs Division; Inland Fisheries; and Internal Audit Unit. The total number of staff in my Department is 245 of which 42 are based in Cavan. The annual cost incurred in 2012 and 2013 for staff travelling from Cavan to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In general, all civil servants are eligible for superannuation benefits on reaching minimum retirement age provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions outlined in the Superannuation Schemes. My Department is responsible for payment of these benefits in respect of civil servants who resigned from the former Department of Post and Telegraphs on or after 1 June 1973 and before 1 January 1984...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The transition to a sustainable, low carbon, energy system is central to Government energy policy. Implementation of this policy, as well as delivering substantial environmental benefits, is securing significant economic benefits for the State and our citizens. For example, the wind energy sector employs around 3,400 people in Ireland. In addition, the SEAI estimates that €255 million...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Mining Industry (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information set out below relates only to minerals within the meaning of the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999, for which I have statutory responsibility. The definition of minerals in those Acts specifically excludes stone, sand, gravel and clay, so I have no remit in relation to stone quarrying. Financial terms for State Mining Facilities are set in accordance with Section 26 of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Privatisation (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 to 363, inclusive, together. The Government has committed to retaining the electricity networks in State ownership and to retaining ESB as a vertically integrated utility as a strong strategic player in the all island energy market and in due course in the integrated European Market. In January 2009, a new legal entity charged with the operation and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulation of the electricity and gas markets is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 provided for the establishment of the CER as an independent statutory regulator. Competition in electricity generation has been facilitated by European legislation and transposed into Irish law. The EU adopted its first package...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The regulation of the electricity and gas market is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The Electricity Regulation Act 1999 provided for the establishment of the CER as an independent statutory regulator. On 1 November 2007 the Single Electricity Market (SEM) went live, commencing the trading of wholesale electricity in Ireland and Northern Ireland on an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), an independent statutory body, and is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no role of function. On 1 November 2007 the Single Electricity Market (SEM), the all-island arrangements for the trading of wholesale electricity, was implemented. The SEM is a gross...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid and the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI) have embarked on a multi-year programme "Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System" (DS3) which is designed to ensure that we can securely operate the power system with increasing amounts of variable non-synchronous renewable generation. Together with the on-going work on infrastructure development (Grid25 in Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: No proposals have been made to me to extend the powers of EirGrid in the manner outlined in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Grid Connection Fees (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The transmission grid provides a vital link between all generators and the users of electricity. It provides physical access for all generators to a central market and it enables all users to avail of electricity from the central market at the most economic rates. EirGrid's Grid 25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together. The Government established the statutory agency, EirGrid, to deliver a safe, secure and affordable electricity supply. EirGrid's Grid25 national programme is vital for future socioeconomic progress in Ireland. Grid25 represents an investment in the transmission system of €3.2 billion over approximately 15 to 20 years, and is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 375 together. My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external IT consultants in the years in question. The Information Systems Services Division of my Department does, however, have contracts with five IT companies for the provision of ICT personnel, who are classed as contractors rather than consultants. The amount spent under this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Legal Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Payments by my Department arising from legal action including third party costs in the period 2011 to date in 2013 was €480,613.28 broken down as follows: 2011 2012 2013 €326,596.51 Nil €154,016.77

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (17 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the policy that non-public sector board members may choose to voluntarily reduce or waive their fees as a matter of personal choice in recognition of the current difficult economic circumstances, that both of these policy initiatives have been...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Food Security (12 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 301 (53056/13) of 10 December 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (12 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has not provided funding to East Clare Community Co-Op Society Limited in the years referenced by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (12 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The market has since developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of commercial operators, providing services over a diverse range of technology platforms. Details of broadband services available in each County, including County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Industrial Disputes (12 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Irish industrial relations legislative and institutional industrial relations system is framed in the particular context of, on the one hand, maintaining industrial peace and providing the State machinery to help that happen while, on the other, recognising our citizen’s rights to freedom of association, trade union membership and, with the singular exceptions of those charged with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Industrial Relations Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Since taking office I have met with the Group Secretary and members of the ESB Group of Unions on two occasions. Officials in my Department have, together with officials from other Government Departments, met with representatives of the ESB pension forum, including the Group Secretary of the ESB Group of Unions, on two other occasions. My special adviser was present on each occasion.