Results 1,801-1,820 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (15 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 373 of 24 September 2013 which dealt comprehensively with these matters.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (15 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 203 and 204 together. The Inland Fisheries Act 2010 established Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), outlined its functions and set out in some detail the provisions for appointing a person to the Board of IFI. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources appoints members as follows: 3, including the Chairperson, on his own nomination. 1...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Policy Review (15 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The Aarhus Convention was ratified by Ireland in June 2012 and entered into force on 18 September 2012. Th e three pillars of the Convention are access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Ireland has adopted the necessary legislation to implement the requirements of the Convention and ensure full compliance with it. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fisheries Protection (10 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 771 of 18 September 2013 and Question No. 373 of 24 September 2013 which dealt comprehensively with these issues, including the matter of compensation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Funding (10 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not provide any annual subvention to An Post.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There are no employees in my Department who are paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary or in excess of the Government's pay cap. In June 2011, the Government set pay rates for newly appointed CEOs to Commercial Semi State Companies. This information is available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website at . All directions issued by the Government in relation to...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I cannot accept this amendment for the reasons that we outlined at some length on Committee Stage. To summarise, detailed comprehensive information on the retail energy market, including the state of competition in that market, is already being reported on and published on an ongoing basis by the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER. As the Minister, I am regularly updated by the regulator...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I oppose the amendment because it seeks to fundamentally alter what we are trying to achieve with the Bill, namely, the sale of Bord Gáis Energy. The memorandum of understanding agreed in November 2010 between the then Government and the EU, IMF and ECB committed to setting appropriate targets for the possible privatisation of State-owned assets. Following lengthy and tough...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I gave that commitment to Deputy Moynihan on Committee Stage and I am happy to repeat it. There is no intention on the part of the Government to privatise Irish Water. Our water assets are critical national infrastructure. Irish Water has, therefore, been established as a fully State owned subsidiary of Bord Gáis Éireann and there is no intention either now or in the future to...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Naughten is being a bit unfair to me.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I did not say anything about what I would not do. We are confusing two things. We are confusing the cost of the installation of the network with the economic viability test applied by the regulator. They are two separate things. The negotiation with the troika has determined how the proceeds from the sale of Bord Gáis Energy will be used. When we first met the troika to discuss this...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Deputies for acknowledging that the amendment, hopefully, goes a long way to meet their arguments. To ensure there is accountability to the House, I assure Deputy Moynihan, who laid the original amendment, that the report will go to both Houses.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes, the usual procedure will be followed. The report will laid before both Houses and it is for the Whips to agree when to roster it. Deputy Naughten took the opportunity to set out again the arguments why it is important his region accesses the gas network and for industrial development in particular. I fully appreciate his arguments. I met the Western Development Commission following...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Order for Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I move:That Report Stage be taken now.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Report Stage (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: I move amendment No. 1:In page 7, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "Report by Minister 4. (1) The Minister shall, not later than one year after the commencement of this Part, lay before each House of the Oireachtas a report on the operation of this Act during that period. 2) Notwithstanding the generality of subsection (1), a report under this section shall include...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The primary support mechanisms for renewables, including wind farms, are the Alternative Energy Requirement schemes and 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 meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland’s telecommunications market has been fully liberalised since 1999 in accordance with the requirements of binding EU Directives. The provision of electronic communications services, including broadband services and the restoration of full services when faults occur are, in the first instance, matters for the service providers operating in Ireland’s fully liberalised...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within Ireland's competitive market is subject to a requirement to secure a wireless telegraphy licence to access the required radio spectrum. The award of such licenses, the imposition of terms and conditions to access that spectrum and the associated monitoring of compliance by licensed providers with those terms and conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Island Communities (9 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 the islands, can...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Staff Redundancies (9 Oct 2013)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no scheme for targeted redundancies in my Department. Application under the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme is a matter for individual staff members. My Department currently has no applications under this scheme and it is not possible to predict the extent of any future applications.