Results 721-740 of 5,760 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Language Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On foot of the Government’s response to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Five Year Review of Public Service Broadcasting earlier this year, the Board of TG4 was requested, with the assistance of my Department and the Authority, to review its 5-year Strategic Plan on the basis of present revenue allocations. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Board continually strives to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Charities Regulation (10 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The funding of Irish Charities is not a direct function of my Department. However there are a number of bodies that engage in research or support social and community initiatives in areas such as e-inclusion which have qualified for charitable tax exemption under Section 207, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 and such organisations have provided services or carried out research work for my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Conservation (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland. Reducing energy consumption remains the most cost-effective means of reducing Green House Gases and one of the primary means of achieving Ireland’s climate change objectives. The NEEAP acts to underpin and extend the energy-related actions contained within the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Parks and Wildlife Service Investigations (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Corrib Partners submitted Environmental Impact Statements in support of their applications to construct the Corrib Gas Field Development. The Deputy will appreciate that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a statutory consultee under this process and has therefore been consulted on a number of occasions by my Department with respect to potential environmental impacts of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am pleased to confirm that my Department's Annual Report for 2012 is published and is available on the websites of both the Houses of the Oireachtas and my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The planning, development and routing of 400 kV transmission line infrastructure, including any necessary consultancy services, are matters for EirGrid and not matters in which I, as Minister, have a statutory function.In 2008 my Department commissioned an independent study on Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables. The analysis was undertaken...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together. I welcomed the decision made by EirGrid last week to extend the deadline for the consultation process on the GridLink project to 7 January 2014. The period between now and the close of the extended deadline will, no doubt, be useful in providing EirGrid with an opportunity to reflect further on the valid concerns raised in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within the competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In May of this year, a process was initiated to sell the Bord Gáis Energy business. This process was led by Bord Gáís Éireann and overseen by a Government Steering Group which included officials from my Department, the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Finance and the NewERA unit of the NTMA.I am advised that the process was conducted in a professional, open...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: No additional resources, either internal or external were retained by my Department for the purpose of the Bord Gáis Energy sale process. My Department did not directly engage or incur any expenses in respect of third party services relating to the process as this was undertaken by the NewERA unit of the NTMA. The NTMA is under the aegis of the Minister for Finance. The final details on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The dispatch of wind generation is carried out within the regulatory framework for market and grid operational requirements. Under Statutory Instrument No. 445 of 2000 Eirgrid, the Transmission System Operator (TSO), is obliged to operate and ensure the maintenance and development of a safe, secure, reliable, economical and efficient electricity transmission system. As the TSO, EirGrid is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 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: Sale of State Assets (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. As I announced on 27 November, I have confirmed to Bord Gáis Éireann that none of the final bids received for the Bord Gáis Energy business are at an acceptable value at the present time. This decision was based on the advice I received that the current bids are not a fair reflection of the strength and potential of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 22 together. In the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure of July 2012, the imperative for the State companies, and all developers of energy projects, of early, transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholder was emphasised. It is expected by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Grid Connection Fees (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity tariffs, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Prices in the electricity retail market are now fully deregulated. Price setting by electricity suppliers is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25 together. I share the Deputy’s concern in relation the possibility that the proliferation of internet connectivity may well result in age inappropriate viewing of material by children, or expose them to bullying and harassment online. However in the first instance, it is critical to draw a distinction between matters that, while...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Accounts (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 24 together. I propose to answers Questions Nos 17 and 24 together.The manner in which the ESB accounts for the company’s Pensions Scheme is a matter for the company, bearing in mind the company’s legal obligations to the scheme and the applicable international accounting standards. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes Schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The number of homes that have received grants under these programmes in 2012 and to date in 2013 are set out in the following table: - Better Energy Homes Number of Homes Delivered with Energy Efficiency Measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary support mechanisms for the domestic support of renewables are the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes were introduced to incentivise the development of renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to allow Ireland to meet its target of 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by 2020. REFIT operates by providing a guaranteed minimum...