Results 1,681-1,700 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: I am very proud to say that will not happen under my stewardship.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Broadcasting Charge Introduction (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Programme for Government commits to transform the TV Licence into a household based Public Service Broadcasting Charge, to be applied to all eligible households and applicable businesses regardless of the device used to access content or services. It is not my intention that this Charge would place any additional burden on those who are currently compliant and pay their €160 per...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Government climate change policy has been developed in line with the ambitious EU climate and energy targets set for 2020. These targets set three key objectives for 2020: a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels; raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%; and a 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency. The Government is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 17 and 28 together. On 8 October 2013,I obtained Government approval for the launch of a new national postcode system that will provide a unique seven character code to every letter-box in the State in 2015. The Government also approved, subject to contract, the appointment of a consortium headed by Capita Ireland as the company which will develop,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (24 Oct 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 to assess the financial health of the Scheme. The Actuarial Valuation to 31 December 2008 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Guidelines (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is undertaking a review of the Wind Energy Guidelines which will address the key issues of noise (including separation distance) and shadow flicker. Draft guidelines will be published for public consultation by end-November 2013 with a view to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the government Decision of 12 April 2011, I have, each year, on my Department's website, invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be considered for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Oct 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 participating...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A full cost benefit analysis is under way to determine if it is mutually beneficial for Ireland and the United Kingdom to enter an Inter-Governmental Agreement in early 2014 to facilitate trade in renewable energy. A key part of this analysis is the potential for job creation in Ireland. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis completed by NewERA ahead of the signing of a Memorandum of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Oil and Gas Exploration (24 Oct 2013)

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: Sale of State Assets (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Bord Gáis Éireann is in the process of selling its energy business, Bord Gáis Energy. BGÉ and its advisors, working with NewERA, who are advising the Government in relation to the sale, are currently 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 make any further...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Seirbhísí Leathanbhanda (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Tá margadh teileachumarsáide na hÉireann saortha go hiomlán ó 1999 de réir riachtanais Threoracha cheangailteacha ón AE. Is cúram don earnáil phríobháideach, a oibríonn sa mhargadh lánsaortha, faoi rialáil rialtóra neamhspleách, An Coimisiún um Rialáil Cumarsáíde (ComReg), é na...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field Issues (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: A representative for Environ, the independent consultants appointed by my Department to assist in the oversight and monitoring of the conditions of consent to construct the Corrib Gas pipeline, conducted a site visit during the 2nd and 3rd of July this year. The purpose of this brief visit to the Corrib Project, which did not require access to the tunnel, was to: a) Review the points raised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 45 and 46 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 34, and 36 together. I am aware of the concerns expressed by certain communities regarding wind energy development for export and I have spoken publicly on this matter on a number of occasions. Some of these concerns have been needlessly exacerbated by poor communications and misinformation and I have emphasised the need for developers to engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: On 8 October I announced that the Government has approved, subject to contract, the launch of a national postcode system in 2015. A postcode operator will design and run the postcode under license for an initial ten year period extendable at the discretion of the Minister for Communications by a further five years. The new postcode system will provide a unique code to every postal address in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure (July 2012) emphasised the importance of early transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholders by developers of large infrastructure projects. I am aware that EirGrid is committed to public consultation and that they have been engaging in a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (24 Oct 2013)

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 County...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (24 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government, in July 2011, considered the ownership of the Irish electricity transmission system and the appropriateness of transfer of transmission assets from ESB to EirGrid. This consideration was undertaken in the context of how best to implement the unbundling provisions of the "Third Energy Package" and the various options set out therein. The Government's July 2011 decision, on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (24 Oct 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,...