Results 1,041-1,060 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Report Stage (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand where Deputy Colreavy is coming from and I agree with much of what he has said but I honestly think there is a misunderstanding between us on this one. If we consider what is in the Bill in terms of what the board may do as a result of this legislation, it states it shall develop "electronic communications networks and electronic communication services... [or it enables that,...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It has happened and all we are doing today is tidying up the legislation to acknowledge the reality that the brand inevitably was part of what was for sale and was part of what attracted the new owners. The brand will hopefully grow and employ more people in Ireland. It certainly brings considerable resources behind this competitor in the marketplace. As a result we need to come up with a...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is very difficult to prove a negative. All I can tell the Deputy is that there is no intention to privatise Irish Water. I do not believe an bord imithe would be appropriate for Ervia. He asked why we did not give it an Irish name and asked if we brought in consultants to come up with the name. We did not; it came from the staff and board of Bord Gáis Éireann. It is intended...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not think so; I do not think there is a Spanish tinge to this at all. It is very much Irish and is similar to Telecom Éireann, Eircom, Ervia and so on. That is what is before the House and I am grateful to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for permitting it to be recommitted on Committee Stage.

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Report Stage (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, line 7, after "line" to insert ", to change the name of Bord Gáis Éireann".As we have just discussed, these amendments concern the change of name of Bord Gáis Éireann to Ervia. The Gas Regulation Act 2013, which was enacted late last year, provided for the sale of the energy business of Bord Gáis Éireann. As part of the sale...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I move:That, pursuant to Standing Order 177, Standing Order 131 is modified to permit an instruction to the Committee to which the ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013 may be recommitted in respect of certain amendments, for which it has power to make provision in the Bill in relation to the change of name of Bord Gáis Éireann. Accordingly, to change the title of the...

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Instruction to Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As Deputies Moynihan and Colreavy have said, we had this debate a long time ago. I can go back over the entire history of this initiative if colleagues would like me to do so. I do not think that is necessary because people understand what happened when this country had to seek outside assistance in 2010. They appreciate that it was a stipulation of the bailout programme that we should...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 220 of 3 December 2013. The position is unchanged. 2RN recommends that the individual concerned contact a competent local aerial installer who will be able to connect his home to either SAORVIEW or SAORSAT.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In common with all public service bodies and in accordance with section 31.1(iv) of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the BAI affirms on an annual basis that its Code of Business Conduct is in place and has been adhered to. A copy of the BAI's Code of Business Conduct is available on the BAI web-site: . The revised Code was approved by the Authority in November 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The BAI is an independent statutory body established by the Broadcasting Act 2009 to regulate content across all Irish broadcasting services. Section 23 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 obliges the Authority to draw up and adopt a Code of Conduct in respect of controls on interests and ethical behaviour to apply to each member of the Authority, statutory committee, advisory committee and members...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I published the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) on 7 February. The Plan, and the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment documentation, can be found on my Department's website. The OREDP identifies the opportunity for Ireland of realising the potential of our offshore energy resources for increasing indigenous production of renewable energy, thereby contributing to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (13 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation has no statutory function in the regulation of petrol and diesel prices. The Maximum Prices Order was removed in 1991 and the market was deregulated. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control in the oil sector and it is Government policy to encourage price...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department is 18, broken down...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Local Authority Functions (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation within the remit of my Department since June 2009.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector Issues (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 120, inclusive, together. On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I have appointed an independent panel of experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide terms of reference for comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both Grid...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Wind speeds and other business case variables for proposed wind farms are matters for project developers and not matters in which I, as Minister, have any role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As outlined in my reply to Question No. 476 of 15 January, the ownership of the telecommunications mast in this case and any legal issues therein are primarily matters for RTÉ and other parties to the case. Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that RTÉ shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity or gas prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of these markets. Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. While the CER still regulates the domestic tariff for Bord Gáis Energy, prices...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has one of the very best wind energy resources, both onshore and offshore, in Europe. Realising the potential of this abundant resource will allow Ireland to increase indigenous energy production, thereby reducing our dependence on expensive fossil fuel imports and improving our security of supply, while also contributing to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and creating jobs in...