Results 1,201-1,220 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Semi-State Bodies Expenditure (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Payments by Bord Gáis Éireann to third parties are operational matters for the company and not matters in which I, as Minister, have a role or function. However, I have requested Bord Gáis Éireann to contact the Deputy directly on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the Better Energy Programme. The energy efficiency upgrades provided by this scheme are delivered free of charge to the customer and the scheme is in very high demand, supported by a limited Exchequer budget that must be allocated where the need is greatest. Homes constructed after...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service under the National Broadband Scheme, NBS, is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State aid clearance for the scheme in September 2007. Under the terms of the contract with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”), which is overseen by my Department, the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Research and Development Funding (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Tidal and wave energy technologies are commonly referred to under the term ocean energy. Through its Ocean Energy Programme the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has conducted wave and tidal resource studies to examine the energy yield from these technologies at their current stage of development. The largest accessible tidal resource occurs around the Antrim coast while the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Electricity Network Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Gate process has been designed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) specifically to meet Ireland’s national renewable target of 40% of electricity supplied from renewable sources by 2020. The Gate 3 offer and acceptance process concluded late last year, except for a small number of offers which remain live. The CER is currently commencing the process of reviewing the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The work of the ESRI in 2011 informed the design of REFIT 2, which was launched in 2012. REFIT 2 is designed to accommodate new renewable generation built from the start of 2010 to the end of 2017 and its aim is to ensure sufficient new renewable electricity is built to make a significant contribution to our legally binding EU renewable target for 2020. The maximum capacity that can be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Television Licence Fee Collection (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The sale of TV licences and the associated inspection process is an operational matter for An Post as the Minister's statutorily-appointed agent under the Broadcasting Act 2009. There is no provision for the type of review suggested by the Deputy and, as such, I do not consider it appropriate for me to intervene in this matter. That said, however, I have asked my officials to bring the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information sought by the Deputy regarding payments to staff by commercial semi-State companies is an operational matter for each company. My Department works within the guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to remuneration levels of Chief Executive Officers in the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. However, the structure of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information sought on the Department's audit committee is set out in the following table. Name Date of Appointment Fees paid in 2013 Walter Johnston 24th August 2011 Nil Ciaran O hObain 17th August 2011 Nil Shauna Greely 26th November 2012 €1,697 Brian Carroll 12th December 2012 Nil While members are not required to hold professional qualifications, they are appointed based...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Regulations (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In its role as manager of the national radio frequency spectrum, the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, has not to date requested the invocation of regulation 17 (6) of the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Framework) Regulations 2011 nor have I had cause myself to define general interest objectives as specified in the provision.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Broadband Scheme (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Rural Broadband Scheme, RBS, was launched in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive broadband provision. This Scheme was aimed at making a basic broadband service available to un-served premises in rural areas, not already covered by the National Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Broadband Plan Implementation (28 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 Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Services Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The objective of the national mapping exercise under the National Broadband Plan is to identify and map current and planned broadband services, both basic and next generation access (NGA). The process for participating in the mapping exercise has been published on my Department’s website () and notified to all undertakings authorised by ComReg. Information has been sought from...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Energy Policy Review (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The energy policy landscape has undergone considerable change since the Energy Policy White Paper was published in 2007. Having regard to this, my Department is currently preparing an Energy Green Paper identifying issues that need to be considered in the development of Ireland’s energy policy to meet current and future challenges. Competitiveness, security of supply, and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Climate Change Policy (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Primary responsibility for Climate Change policy rests with my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. However, the achievement of climate change objectives requires contributions from a range of sectors, including energy. The period between 2020 and 2030 is the next critical phase for the EU in its transition to a low carbon economy. The EU...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Services Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Any consents and permissions required for the landing of this cable are a matter for the Company, the Department of Environment Community and Local Government and the Local Authority. I have no function in that regard. The choice of landing point and terrestrial route of the cable is a matter for the Company and I understand that these matters are currently under consideration. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Energy Conservation (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department ran a national energy efficiency promotion and behavioural change programme called the “Power of One” from 2006 to 2008. The core objective of this programme was to effect behavioural change among consumers with respect to the energy they use in their daily lives, particularly in their homes and as they drive. In January 2009 responsibility for the programme was...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There has been no pro bono work provided by any such firms in the period under review. The information sought by the Deputy relating to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. I will, therefore, request the relevant body to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The table following outlines details of the top twenty consulting firms engaged by my Department during the period January 2012 – December 2013. Given the technical complexity of the sectors which my Department oversees and, in some instances regulates, there is a requirement to procure services to address specific issues as they arise. In procuring these services my Departments...