Results 221-240 of 5,768 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. Broadband services under the NBS are available since October 2010 from “3”, the NBS service provider, to persons with a fixed residence or fixed business in all of the designated 1,028 NBS Electoral...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licences Data (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: RTÉ is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit and obligations are set out in Section 114 of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day affairs, including in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 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 intervention...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 431 to 433, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Communications (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department does not have and has never had a system or policy in place to record incoming or outgoing telephone calls. The issue of storing or costs does not, therefore, arise. My Department in common with most business entities has a voice mail system which enables callers to record a message to leave on the voicemail system if an official or service is temporarily not contactable. This,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435, 440 and 441 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: Broadband Services Provision (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The provision of mobile telecommunications services networks within the wider competitive electronic communications 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 including the imposition of coverage requirements and the associated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Data (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in November 2012. In relation to my Department, the Ordnance Survey of Ireland (OSI) will be merged with the Property Registration Authority and the Valuation Office which will, this year, see it transfer to the Department of Justice and Equality, who are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Staff Data (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will provide the information sought in respect of Civil Servants. The information sought regarding staff in the Agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Ministerial Travel (13 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have set out the following tables details of all official foreign trips currently scheduled between now and the end of 2014, for both myself and Minister of State O'Dowd. Where the diary allows, our Offices liaise with the relevant Embassy/Consul General regarding our availability to undertake any trade or FDI promotion opportunities. Minister Rabbitte Date Location Duration Purpose 15...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The complaint in relation to the National Postcode procurement process was made under the EU pilot scheme which is managed in Ireland by the Department of the Taoiseach. Accordingly, my Department wrote to the Department of the Taoiseach on 19 March seeking the release of information from the European Commission in relation to the complaint. I understand that the request was forwarded to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 126 and 130 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: Broadband Services Provision (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 136 and 137 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: Energy Schemes Data (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme, which includes the following strands: Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area-based programme, which has been merged with the Better Energy Communities programme this year. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: State owned Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) sold the Whitegate refinery and Whiddy Island oil storage facilities to a private firm called Tosco Corporation in 2001. A key element in the transaction was Tosco Corporation’s undertaking to operate the two facilities (the Whitegate refinery and Bantry (Whiddy Island) storage terminal) for at least 15 years (until mid-2016) on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (8 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Responsibility for the regulation of the retail electricity market is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body. The overall aim of the CER’s economic role is to protect the interests of energy customers, maintain security of supply, and to promote competition in the generation and supply of electricity and supply of natural gas....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (7 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 to 136, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) published on 14 April last highlights access to and cost of high quality broadband as one of the most significant challenges faced by rural communities, particularly from a business perspective. It points to the need for significant State investment to ensure delivery of next generation broadband outside of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In January last 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 demonstrated our shared interest in developing the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. A key objective was to realise the potential for investment, jobs and growth. An agreed programme of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Regulation (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the statutory body responsible for the management of spectrum in Ireland. ComReg is independent in the exercise of its functions and is accountable directly to the Oireachtas in accordance with Section 34 of the Communications Regulation Act 2002. The investigation of any alleged unlicensed radio transmissions including any...