Results 1,161-1,180 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I shall respond to the second question first. There is no question of the health issue not being included in the panel. Rather it is a matter that relates to the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Responsibility for any concerns in respect of electromagnetic fields or non-ionising radiation is a matter for him also. As I said in my formal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I entirely accept - as I have on dozens of occasions - that it is imperative that EirGrid is sensitive to the concerns raised by community groups and citizens. I have gone to great pains to ensure that the views and concerns, not just of groups that I have met but citizens generally, are taken into account and assessed in terms of how EirGrid and the Government ought to respond. I also...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 3 together. EirGrid’s Grid25 national transmission grid development programme is vital for future socio-economic progress in Ireland, for regional development throughout Ireland, and to ensure that current and future generations of consumers have access to more reliable, sustainable and affordable energy. Grid25 represents an investment in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2014 Budget provided for a €2.5 billion adjustment in the Government's fiscal position. Expenditure cuts of €1.6 billion were central to this adjustment and difficult decisions were required across all Departmental budgets. As the Deputy is aware, a decision was taken by Government as part of this process, on the proposal of the Department of Social Protection, to reduce by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is estimated that the energy sector overall employs in the region of 30,000 people in Ireland. Renewable energy, in particular, and the use of our indigenous resources is widely seen as having the potential to support the Green Economy and sustainable employment opportunities. In terms of achieving our 2020 targets, to date wind energy has been the largest driver of growth in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Renewable Energy Action Plan Publication (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. The Directive requires that Member States set out in a National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) their trajectories towards meeting these targets and the measures to be taken to achieve these targets. Ireland's NREAP assumes Ireland's 16%...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 26 together. The Government’s overriding energy policy objective is to ensure competitive, secure and sustainable energy for the economy and for society. Renewable energy has a critical role to play with regard to each element of this objective. Prior to the publication of the Commission's 2030 proposals, I supported, along with seven other...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I established the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group late last year with a view to providing expert advice on a number of issues relating to online content and commentary. This Group met for the first time on 18th December 2013, and has met on two subsequent occasions since. At it's first meeting the Group agreed to an ambitious and detailed Terms of Reference which requires them...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013, if enacted, will provide an explicit legal basis to enable the ESB to engage, now or in the future, in the installation and operation of electronic communications networks and services, either alone or by agreement with one or more other companies, and to provide for consequential matters. Prior to formally entering the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Usage (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There is currently no international ranking of countries in terms of an energy efficiency league table published by either the European Union or International Energy Agency. The National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) is the overarching policy framework for energy efficiency in Ireland and contains Ireland’s commitment to a 20% energy savings target across the economy by 2020...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Retail Sector (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: According to the most recent CSO statistics available, some 75% of businesses in Ireland have a website. However, only around 1 in 5 Irish small businesses employing between 10 and 49 employees are currently selling online. A recent international study by McKinsey indicated that businesses that use the internet to operate their business and sell to their customers can grow up to twice as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland's Eel Management Plan (EMP) was accepted by the EU in 2009 under the 2007 EU Eel regulation (1100/2007). The plan outlined the following main management actions aimed at reducing eel mortality and increasing silver eel escapement to the sea: - a cessation of the commercial eel fishery and closure of the market; - mitigation of the impact of hydropower installations; - ensure upstream...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed broadband is available to all citizens and businesses. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial investment, and - a State-led...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Jan 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, including Counties...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Provision (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Section 131(4) of the Broadcasting Act obliges the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to endeavour to arrange for the establishment, maintenance and operation of three national television multiplexes capable of being transmitted by digital terrestrial means to the whole community of the State. Following the unsuccessful process for licensing a commercial DTT operator in 2009/2010, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Publication (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I will shortly be publishing an Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). Informed by the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, the OREDP will identify how best to coordinate action across the environmental, energy and economic development policy areas in order to realise Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy potential, using both offshore wind, and emerging...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Regulation of the electronic communications market, including the gathering of market data and publication of national statistical reports, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg, has established a callcosts website which provides information to the public on the alternative broadband services marketed by competing service providers on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: On 9 May 2012 the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture published its Report on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The Report contained a number of recommendations in respect of the fiscal and regulatory framework applying to oil and gas exploration in Ireland. At my request the Report was debated in Seanad Éireann on 27 June 2012 and in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Implementation (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's National Digital Strategy was published in July 2013. Phase 1 of the Strategy focuses on actions in 3 key areas – citizen engagement, small business, and digital in learning and significant progress is being made in implementing actions in these areas: - The Government provided funding of €5m this year for the implementation of an Online Trading Voucher Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: 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 focussed network of post offices in the community. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are, of course, a matter for the management and Board of An Post and...