Results 1,061-1,080 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Memorandum of Understanding on energy co-operation is not a legally binding document. It is, however, a statement of both Ireland's and the UK's shared interest in exploring the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. It has led to detailed consideration, which is continuing, of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: There is no legal requirement for companies supplying electricity or heat to Irish consumers to source some of that energy from renewable sources. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means for Ireland to meet the target of at least 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020, which was mandated by the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive. The scheme works by...

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

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 can be found on a...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The delivery of specific broadband speeds to end users is dependent on a number of variables including the equipment used by the consumer, distance from the consumer to the access point in the network, core network traffic and the capacity of the server being accessed in the case of the internet. Speed may also be affected by the use of a wireless router or “wifi” in the...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

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

Pat Rabbitte: As with all areas of public expenditure, spending on advertising is carefully controlled and limited to that necessary for the effective discharge of my Department’s functions. The principal reason for such expenditure is statutory notices that I am required to publish in the case of certain proposed authorisations, which require publication in a local newspaper circulating in the area...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Social Media Monitoring (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department constantly monitors various media outlets through its Press Office. This includes monitoring of television and radio broadcasting, print media, and online activities. The Department has a website and a Twitter account, both of which are updated regularly. The Department has a Twitter policy which is displayed prominently on both the Department's Twitter account, as well as on...

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

Pat Rabbitte: My Department together with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently met An Post with regard to their intention to amend their superannuation scheme. I expect to receive a formal proposal on the matter in the near future.

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

Pat Rabbitte: Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited has been approved by Government as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System.That selection was made following the conclusion of a public procurement process. All proposals received as part of the procurement process were fully evaluated.Three parties qualified for the final phase of the procurement....

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

Pat Rabbitte: I have noted Facebook's position on compliance in respect of its own editorial guidelines. There is no doubt but 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 Internet Content Governance Advisory Group which I formed in December, to...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Since taking office I have attended eight official engagements in Northern Ireland, details of which are set out in the following table. Date Purpose of engagement Location 04/07/2011 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 18/11/2011 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 04/07/2012 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 12/12/2012 North South Ministerial Council...

Energy Regulation (Code of Practice) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this discussion on Deputy Moynihan's Bill. I very much welcome the debate because the Deputy is addressing a real issue. It is scarcely surprising that if one has had six years of economic recession that the number of people finding difficulty in discharging their energy bills has been rising. Given the scale of unemployment, notwithstanding the...

Energy Regulation (Code of Practice) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (7 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the opportunity to discuss Deputy Moynihan's Bill. Although the Government will be unable to accept it for reasons I will explain, I would like to thank him for bringing it forward because it provides us with an opportunity to discuss what is one of the more important issues facing the energy industry at this time, namely, the disconnection of vulnerable customers. It is also an...

Topical Issue Debate: RTE Compensation Payment (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: First, let us get the conspiracy theories out of the way. The coincidence regarding the code of conduct has nothing to do with this. I did not see the programme at the time, but I have made it my business to see it since. The first I heard about the issue was when I was advised of the resignation of a member of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. I presume he resigned because he...

Topical Issue Debate: RTE Compensation Payment (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: First, I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and I welcome the opportunity to discuss it in the House. Moreover, I acknowledge the range of Deputies across the parties, as well as Independent Members, who have expressed in the Chamber this evening a broadly similar view. I stated recently that personally, I would not use the term "homophobe" to describe those who disagree with me on...

Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Exports (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I apologise for being late into the House. I am grateful to Deputy Wall for giving me the opportunity to comment in the House on the possibility of a wind export project between this country and Britain. Because of the controversy surrounding the necessary build-out of the grid to meet our own domestic energy goals, the entirely separate wind export project is frequently misrepresented. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Renewable Energy Exports (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I hope I can clarify the position. I do not agree that it would be premature if an agreement is concluded. Its purpose is to facilitate the initiation of a traded sector in green energy. Causing it to happen is a different matter. The law would then exist to permit it happening if X and Y fell into place. I agree with Deputy Wall that it would be premature to conclude an agreement before...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: May I use the opportunity-----

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: -----to say that I too will be tabling an amendment on Report Stage which relates to a slightly different matter, the renaming of Bord Gáis Éireann. I have an amendment ready that I would like to introduce on Report Stage. We will probably have to resubmit it to Committee Stage during the process of the discussion. I just want to give notice of it.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: BGE.