Results 1,601-1,620 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Energy Regulator for Great Britain, Ofgem, published its most recent annual Electricity Capacity Assessment on 27 June, 2013. The assessment analyses security of electricity supply in Great Britain over the forthcoming five winters. It shows that the buffer between peak electricity demand and supply could be lower than previously expected and proposed for consultation certain measures...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (6 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 628 [PQ 46801/13] of 5 November 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Service Obligation Levy Increase (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for peat generation, for certain conventional generation constructed for security of supply purposes, and for the development of renewable electricity. The levy is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland operates a model where the State provides the opportunity and private industry bears the risk associated with investing in exploration activity. In addition to offering regular and attractive licensing initiatives and actively promoting the opportunity to invest in exploration in the Irish offshore, my Department works with a range of other State bodies to support the conduct of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos 609 to 611, inclusive, together. The "Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure" (July 2012), made it clear that the Government does not seek to direct energy infrastructure developers to particular sites, routes or technologies. These are matters for the developers and for the forward planning...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Bord Gáis Éireann is in the process of selling its energy business, Bord Gáis Energy. Bord Gáis Éireann and its advisors, working with NewERa, who are advising the Government in relation to the sale, are curently assessing the latest bids received for Bord Gáis Energy. The Deputy will understand that, as the process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Incentives (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, are the main subsidies available for renewable energy. The Better Energy Programme, which principally provides funding for energy efficiency measures, also provides grants for the installation of solar panels. The Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (ReHeat), Greener Homes Scheme and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As part of our considerations of the mutual benefits from energy co-operation with the United Kingdom, an agreed programme of work, including a full technical and economic analysis, is underway with the aim of finalising an Inter-Governmental Agreement in early 2014. A key objective, from an Irish Government perspective, is to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. The amount...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Exports (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I launched an initial period of public consultation on the renewable energy export policy and development framework in October, inviting all interested parties, including members of the public, to make written submissions or observations on the framework and to assist in the preparation and scoping of the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and the Habitats...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Appointments (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested is set out in the following table: Name Position Current Salary / Salary Scale Simon Nugent Special Advisor to Minister €91,425 Finbarr O’Malley Special Advisor to Minister €75,647 - €87,258 Linda Brien Personal Assistant to Minister €43,715 - €56,060 Colm Lawless Personal Secretary to Minister €23,820 -...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In late 2008, the Trustees of the ESB Superannuation Scheme brought forward the tri-annual valuation of the Scheme by one year. That valuation showed an ongoing valuation deficit of €1.9 billion and a Minimum Funding Standard deficit of €1.8 billion. Consequently, the ESB and the ESB Group of Unions formed a working group to assess how best to address the reported deficit and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 618 and 620 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Lough Foyle is within the remit of the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission, which is a North-South Body established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.I am advised that under the Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) Regulations 2010, intoduced by the Loughs Agency, the Agency is required to “suspend netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 to 623, inclusive, together. The Better Energy Communities, Better Energy Areas, 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. Exchequer funding of €6 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Areas scheme in 2013....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pensions Levy Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that this is a matter for the Trustees of the Pension Scheme concerned and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Salmon Hardship Scheme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 together. I understand that the tragic events referred to by the Deputy are under independent investigation by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board and therefore comment or speculation, including in relation to the cause of the tragedy, from any party while that investigation is ongoing is not appropriate. I refer to my reply to Question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: In January of this year the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Mr. Ed Davey MP and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation. That Memorandum sent a strong signal of our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain and will result in completion of consideration of how Irish renewable energy resources,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Job Creation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A key contributor to attracting manufacturing or assembly facilities to Ireland is the proposed pipeline of wind generation projects. In that regard, conscious of the need to meet our 2020 targets, and recognising the need for policy certainty on the part of developers, I implemented a number of changes to support scheme flexibility this year providing developers who are due to build post...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 629 and 630 together. The Digital Agenda for Europe sets a broadband target of 30Mbps for all Europeans by 2020, with at least 50% of EU households subscribing to broadband above 100Mbps by 2020. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in August 2012, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (5 Nov 2013)

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...