Results 141-160 of 5,769 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (24 Jun 2014)

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: Postal Services (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Staffing matters at An Post are an operational matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335, 340, 342 and 343 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: Offshore Exploration (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: A company called Gulf Oil Corporation originally built the oil terminal on Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay to use for international oil transport purposes. In addition to onshore oil storage tanks, the facility had a berth (known as a jetty) capable of accommodating large oil tankers. In 1979 a major accident occurred as oil was being unloaded from a tanker called the Betelgeuse. Fifty persons in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Safety (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I established the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group in December 2013 to provide me with expert, independent advice in forming legislative, policy and regulatory recommendations to Government on a range of internet content governance issues for which responsibility is spread across a number of Government Departments. The Group conducted a public consultation on the emerging issues...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to the post office network and An Post's commercial products are an operational matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. I will request An Post to issue a direct reply to the Deputy regarding the correspondence referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (24 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to the post office network, including post office closures, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. I will request An Post to issue a direct reply to the Deputy regarding the matter referred to in the Question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (19 Jun 2014)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Remuneration (19 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information sought regarding payments to staff by Semi-State Companies is an operational matter for each Company. All directions issued by the Government in relation to remuneration of staff in Semi State Companies have been brought to the attention of the relevant State Companies.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to advise the Deputy that there were no settlements made by my Department during the period in question which had confidentiality agreements or clauses included.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement, seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates, for appointment to these Boards/bodies. In accordance with this Government Decision, I have, since 2011, on my Department's website, invited Expressions of Interest from persons wishing to be...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Since 2002, the regulation of the gas market has been the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is independent in the performance of its functions. I have no direct statutory function in relation to liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, including specific projects like the Shannon LNG project. I and Government colleagues have consistently been supportive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 416 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. [24726] of 12 June, 2014. In addition, the scale of the technology to be deployed for specific renewable electricity generation projects is a matter for the individual developer and the relevant planning authority.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Issues (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The total amount of renewable electricity generation capacity currently connected to the national grid is over 2,300 MW. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has oversight of the process for connecting generators, both renewable and non-renewable, to the national grid.This is generally referred to as the Group Process Approach, which has been implemented to date through a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos 411 and 412 together. According to the An Post Annual Report 2013, which is available on the company's website at , there are 57 company post offices and 1,090 sub-post offices in the post office network. Insofar as the issue of expanding the range of services that could be delivered through the post office network is concerned, I refer to the reply to Question...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the replies to Question Nos. 124 and 125 on 30 January 2014 and Question No. 326 on 11 March 2014 in which I indicated that first gas from the Corrib gas field cannot be expected sooner than the first half of 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 414, 419 and 424 together. Since market liberalisation in 1999, the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services are delivered in the first instance through private sector operators who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The market has...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I presume the Deputy is referring to EirGrid's Grid25 programme. I have appointed an independent panel of experts, chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The Independent Expert Panel has held five meetings between 10 February 2014 and 10 June 2014. At its meeting on 2 May 2014, the Panel finalised and approved the terms of reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) does not compare Irish and European fuel prices, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) analyses electricity and natural gas prices published by Eurostat, collected for Ireland and other European countries under the methodology for the EU Gas and Electricity Price Transparency Directive 90/377/EEC as amended by Council Decision...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Capital Programme Expenditure (17 Jun 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The total capital budget for my Department in 2014 is €118.5 million which includes carryover of €8.5 million and stimulus funding of €30 million. Capital funding of just over €58 million has been allocated to the Better Energy programme in 2014. Virtually all of this expenditure will be on energy efficiency measures which generate substantial economic activity and...