Results 1,441-1,460 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: He does not want me to sell the energy business of Bord Gáis, yet when I do not sell it he is also unhappy. I am sorry about that, but I think it was the right decision because we did not get value in so far as we regard the energy business of Bord Gáis as a very good business. We made plain from the beginning that unless we got value we would not sell. It would appear that some...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Digital Strategy Implementation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: One in five adults in Ireland has never used the Internet. Many if not most of these are older people. That is why older people are a key focus in the Government's national digital strategy, which I launched earlier this year. I awarded grants in July under my Department's benefit programme to 17 community and voluntary organisations to deliver basic digital skills training to people who...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Digital Strategy Implementation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with Deputy Moynihan that we have to be very careful to ensure a new digital divide does not develop in this country. Many older people did not have access to this technology when they were being educated or during their working lives. The Deputy is right to suggest that they can suddenly become isolated. The merit of the benefit programme is that it assists such people. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The transition to a sustainable, low carbon, energy system is central to Government energy policy. Implementation of this policy, as well as delivering substantial environmental benefits, is securing significant economic benefits for the State and our citizens. For example, the wind energy sector employs around 3,400 people in Ireland. In addition, the SEAI estimates that €255 million...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Sale of State Assets (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. As I announced on 27 November, I have confirmed to Bord Gáis Éireann that none of the final bids received for the Bord Gáis Energy business are at an acceptable value at the present time. This decision was based on the advice I received that the current bids are not a fair reflection of the strength and potential of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 22 together. In the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure of July 2012, the imperative for the State companies, and all developers of energy projects, of early, transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholder was emphasised. It is expected by Government...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to come, progress is being made towards increasing the share...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Grid Connection Fees (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the electricity and gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity tariffs, whether in the regulated or non-regulated market. Prices in the electricity retail market are now fully deregulated. Price setting by electricity suppliers is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25 together. I share the Deputy’s concern in relation the possibility that the proliferation of internet connectivity may well result in age inappropriate viewing of material by children, or expose them to bullying and harassment online. However in the first instance, it is critical to draw a distinction between matters that, while...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: ESB Accounts (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 24 together. I propose to answers Questions Nos 17 and 24 together.The manner in which the ESB accounts for the company’s Pensions Scheme is a matter for the company, bearing in mind the company’s legal obligations to the scheme and the applicable international accounting standards. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Data (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes Schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The number of homes that have received grants under these programmes in 2012 and to date in 2013 are set out in the following table: - Better Energy Homes Number of Homes Delivered with Energy Efficiency Measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary support mechanisms for the domestic support of renewables are the Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff (REFIT) schemes. These schemes were introduced to incentivise the development of renewable electricity generation capacity necessary to allow Ireland to meet its target of 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by 2020. REFIT operates by providing a guaranteed minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Digital Agenda for Europe set out specific targets for the achievement of high speed broadband services across all Member States. Ireland’s National Broadband Plan which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services are available to all of our citizens and businesses. The Plan aims to deliver high speed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (4 Dec 2013)

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 Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Exploration Licences (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Environmental Protection Agency invited tenders on 22 November for a two-year research programme to further the understanding of the potential impacts on the environment and human health from Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction projects and operations, including construction, operation and aftercare. My Department will be contributing towards the cost of the research. The...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Oil Specifications (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The testing of diesel is a matter in which I, as Minister, have no role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Irish Planning Institute has made a submission to the initial consultation held on the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework which, in conjunction with all submissions received, will be taken into account in the development of the framework and in the first instance the scoping report which will be published in early 2014.Ireland has the capability to achieve its...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with “3”, the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3Mbps and 1.4Mbps...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland is the only country in the OECD that does not have a national post code system. On the 8th October 2013, I announced that the Government had approved, subject to contract, the rollout of a new national postcode system that will provide a unique seven character code to every letter-box in the State by 2015.The Government also approved, subject to contract, the appointment of Capita...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Schemes Issues (4 Dec 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes on behalf of my Department. Better Energy Warmer Homes delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to homeowners that are vulnerable to energy poverty. Better Energy Homes provides fixed grants to homeowners who wish to improve the energy...