Results 1,661-1,680 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: -----and it is for that purpose that EirGrid has set up an expensive consultation process, along the line of the approximate route yet to be fixed on, where it can hear local representative organisations, local representatives, councillors and citizens make their feed in, as appropriate, to the process.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Electronic Payments (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The introduction of electronic payments for the social welfare system is primarily the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, as part of the payments strategy for her Department. In that regard, I have acknowledged that a move to e-payments will help to underpin national competitiveness. Indeed, the switch to electronic payments for social welfare transactions...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I must state that I was curious about that. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, and Deputy Moynihan will be aware, there was a time when Question Time was sacrosanct in this House. It started at 2.30 p.m. and it did not matter if the sky fell, as it went on at that time but it now appears to have become a moveable feast.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Is that what it is called?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Hydraulic Fracturing Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: That is my view.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Development of the high voltage electricity grid as planned in the EirGrid Grid25 strategy is critical to Ireland's economic and social development. Ensuring secure, reliable and safe supplies of electricity is critical to Ireland’s ability to attract inward investment and retain and create jobs. While the case for proceeding urgently with energy infrastructure in line with overall...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The main cause is that rising international gas prices have resulted in knock-on increases in both gas and electricity prices, the latter because of the role gas plays in the Irish power generation portfolio. Given our reliance on imported gas, increases in gas and electricity prices are, in turn, caused by increases in international gas prices as well as increased transport charges and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I hope Deputy Moynihan is wrong, but if he is right I would be concerned about the point he has made about pay-as-you-go meters. The protocol we have in place prevents disconnections where a pay-as-you-go meter is installed. I would be very concerned if his information is correct in that regard and I undertake to act as he says. If he can give me any more precise information on it I would...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Energy Prices (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a major issue and I too have had discussions with the regulator. The regulator points out that significant investment is needed to maintain the system and security of supply. Investments in energy projects are singularly expensive. Electricity and gas costs in Ireland are influenced by various drivers, including global gas and oil prices, the cost of capital, exchange rate...

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I am grateful to Deputy Cowen for allowing me to answer this question. The credibility of the Government is very high in his constituency. I have just returned from there having announced measures to bring additional employment to various parts of the midlands, including in the Deputy's constituency. When he talks about the commitments given to Lanesborough and Shannonbridge in 2005 and...

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is a while since I have seen anyone in the House with the bullish attitude of Deputy Cowen without having any-----

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: -----facts to back him up. I can start with his last question on Bord na Móna. Bord na Móna is a commercial State company and if it wants to bid for these assets it is free to do so. However, given that the whole purpose of what we have been forced into is disposal of State assets, it would be very odd to have another State company buy the assets.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As recently as in the debate on the Gas Regulation Bill, I took the opportunity to put on the record of the House the origins of this issue, which are in the 2010 bailout agreement when the then Fianna Fáil-led Government agreed to the sale of State assets.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: At the first meeting the incoming Government had with the troika when it advised us of the €5 billion commitment, we started negotiations. They continued for six months and instead of €5 billion, we agreed a figure of €3 billion.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Instead of the €5 billion being used to write down debt, we got a commitment that 50% of whatever proceeds were realised would go towards the creation of employment and reinvestment for productive purposes. That, unfortunately, is the history and Deputy Cowen is now trying to rewrite history.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I will deal with the Minister, Deputy Howlin, also. What is being discussed this evening is nothing new. I have mentioned it in this House and outside it time out of number - not in naming the two stations, but naming the Government decision to dispose of the energy business of Bord Gáis Éireann and some power generation plants in the ESB. That is as old as the lifetime of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: As I said in my original answer, we are required to produce up to €400 million in special dividends from the ESB before the end of 2014.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Deputy has quoted a letter of the Minister, Deputy Noonan, completely out of context. On whose behalf does Deputy Cowen think the Minister, Deputy Noonan, could write other than on behalf of the Government, of which he is a member? The reason he was writing was the agreement entered into in 2010.

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is very fortunate-----

Topical Issue Debate: Semi-State Bodies Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: It is very fortunate that I happen by accident to hold the job I do. If I did not, Fianna Fáil would have privatised the ESB.