Results 381-400 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I am glad, however, to see Deputy Joe Higgins replacing him. The least one can say about Deputy Higgins is that he is not afraid of a bit of work.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I do not accept that this is the lesson at all. The lesson is that Sinn Féin considers cronyism all right in Northern Ireland but not in the Republic of Ireland.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: From the little I know of the sector, I agree with the Deputy that it is a tough industry. There is no doubt about that. In regard to the issues raised here, the Taoiseach undertook to ask NERA to intervene in terms of assessing some of the claims made in the House. I do not know the outcome of that but if they are as the Deputy said, it is a serious matter. It is a matter that I would...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank Deputy Calleary for his kind remarks. I always realised that I had bipartisan support in this House.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Regardless of Deputy Calleary's morningtime reading, the position on the local property tax has not changed. The situation is as announced, in terms of the 80:20 divide and the variability clause that allows individual authorities to make their own decisions. I happened to be in the House when my colleagues on the Labour Party benched raised this as a Topical Issue. They stated no more...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Deputy Calleary's difficulty is his propensity to believe gossip, speculation and mischief-making.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The fact of the matter is that there is no change in the 80:20 division.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The arrangements in the solidarity fund, which we put in place and fully support as a Government, continue to obtain. The story about the Economic Management Council is completely misleading. A meeting of the council did not take place purely because the personnel comprising the council were not able to attend the meeting. There is no squabble in the Government about this issue.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The purpose of the local property tax is to broaden the tax base in this country and to give local authorities an element of autonomy and sovereignty they did not have heretofore. This was supported by Deputy Calleary's party at the time. If Deputies from any particular local authority are asserting their understanding of that policy, that does not constitute a squabble. There is no...

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: -----to give guidelines to local authorities by September-----

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: -----so that they are clear about their remit.

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The question of how the variability clause that has been built into the law should be operated will be a matter for the councillors of the future.

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: We do not have the money. At €100 million per-----

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The 5% upfront is an important provision.

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I am pleased to have the opportunity to open this debate on the Wood Mackenzie report on Ireland’s oil and gas fiscal system. In the mid-1970s, when Ireland’s first oil and gas fiscal terms were introduced, there was an expectation that the Irish offshore would be the next North Sea, particularly after the initial success of the Kinsale gas find in 1971. Those terms were set...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tables below: Total Sick Days Taken - 2011 2012 2013 2014 (Q1) Sick Days Taken 2,383 2,365 1,948 465 Total Uncertified Sick Days Taken - 2011 2012 2013 2014 (Q1) Uncertified Sick Days Taken 274 184 147 48 Total Certified Sick Days Taken - 2011 2012 2013 2014 (Q1) Certified Sick Days Taken 2,109 2,181 1,801 417 Long Term Sick...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Data (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form below. The bulk of the studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned. Consultancy Name Purpose of Consultancy Cost € Date of commission Date or expected...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme on behalf of my Department. This includes the Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme and the Better Energy Communities scheme. Through these schemes grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (2 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: That is a very confidential matter and I could not possibly comment. The fact the school attracts pupils from the mainland who come across on the ferry in the morning and back in the evening is evidence of how this technology can revolutionise the teaching environment. We are examining with the Minister for Education and Skills how we can address the undoubted growing demand from the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan: Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (2 Jul 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: We have been examining this. This year there has been a change in the franchise for the operation of the MANs, which has prompted this type of examination. I do not want to commit myself at this stage, because the other side of it is that competition in the sector is very important. The ESB and Vodafone would take offence at their venture being characterised as the State intervening. The...