Results 961-980 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Regulation (4 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The current by-law prohibiting the killing of sea trout covering the three Fishery Districts Galway, Connemara and Ballinakill and part of the Bangor district was introduced following the collapse of the sea trout stocks in the area in the early 1990’s and the failure of these stocks to recover to pre-1990 levels. I have forwarded to the Deputy a graphic illustration of the stock...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (4 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I can confirm that a request for tenders issued from my Department on the 23 December 2013 for technical advice and support services to assist the Department in the implementation of the National Postcode System. The nature of the services being procured is available on the etenders procurement website at . The closing date for tender proposals was 13 February 2014 and the evaluation process...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (4 Mar 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: All bodies funded by my Department are in compliance with public sector pay scales as set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The provisions of the FEMPI legislation are being implemented by all the relevant bodies. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of CEOs in Commercial State Companies are brought to the attention of the relevant...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: When I started the sentence I was very proud that I was going somewhere but I have now forgotten. Several colleagues in the Lower House had all kinds of figures on where we rank on broadband provision and connectivity today. Most of it was wrong. I know we could never level such a charge against a Member of this House but in the Lower House Members are poorly informed on some matters and...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: This changes nothing as regards the supply system. The supply system is owned by the ESB. The ESB will come forward with this shareholder agreement, which I have not yet seen, in respect of the creation of the joint venture. The ESB is free to make what arrangements it thinks appropriate. That will come to me in due course in respect of the shareholder agreement but in terms of the...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: These amendments have been drafted following consultation with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and are required to improve the legal certainty of the Bill. They do not represent a change in policy in respect of the sections affected. These are drafting amendments.

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ar an gcéad dul síos I welcome Senator Ó Clochartaigh’s general support for the Bill and the general support of the House for it. As regards the amendment before the House, the purpose of this Bill is to provide an explicit legal basis to enable the ESB to engage, now or in the future, in the installation and operation of an electronic communications network attached to...

Seanad: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: All Members of the House have supported the motivation behind the Bill. The idea is to use the existing infrastructure of the ESB to roll out future-proofed fibre optic cable to parts of Ireland that would not have a realistic prospect of that happening. It is a very innovative use of infrastructure in the ownership of a commercial State company. It proposes to do it by way of a joint...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the gas market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. The CER continues to regulate the supply tariff for Bord Gáis Energy’s (BGE) domestic customers. All other segments of the gas market have been deregulated and price setting by the other four gas suppliers operating in the domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 408 of 19 November 2013. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My department operates a range of programmes and policies in the energy arena and most are under ongoing review. The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland and reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to a 20% energy savings target across the economy by 2020. Oversight of the NEEAP is provided by the NEEAP...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. Information in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I share the Deputy’s concern in relation the possibility that the proliferation of internet connectivity may well expose children to bullying and harassment online. There is no doubt that the pervasive use of social media has challenged a wide number of previously accepted norms, both in terms of media governance and in more general societal terms. To that end, I have asked the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (27 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I met with the company detailed once since taking office. I, along with the then Secretary General and my special advisor, met with Denis O'Brien, Communicorp on the 27th April 2012. The meeting was requested by Communicorp to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill.

Topical Issue Debate: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I would welcome a debate on this matter. Many colleagues in the House regard it as somewhat arcane and that should not be the approach to our marine wealth or to the possibilities offered by offshore wind, wave and tidal energy for the future. The report may have taken longer to be published than one would have liked. It is, however, inconsistent to state that publication of the report is...

Topical Issue Debate: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: If that is the case, I will conclude.

Topical Issue Debate: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Implementation (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter. As the House will be aware, Ireland has a landmass of around 90,000 sq. km but it also has a sea area of around ten times that size with one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world. The development of this offshore renewable energy resource is central to overall energy policy in Ireland. It can enable the generation of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 141 and 142 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 443 of 25 February 2014. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Air Quality (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ambient air quality is not a matter in which I, as Minister, have a statutory role of function. I understand that the Environmental Protection Agency manages a national ambient air quality monitoring network as the Competent Authority in Ireland for EU Air Quality legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The importance of maintaining a network of post offices around the country is recognised in the Programme for Government. 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. That said, the Deputy should be aware that...