Results 461-480 of 5,768 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Issues (26 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There are three Commercial Semi State companies under the aegis of my Department which have employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) in operation, namely Bord na Mona (BnaM) , Bord Gáis Éireann (BGE) and the ESB. The (ESOPs) in all three companies were established in return for specific, substantial, verifiable changes to be delivered by employees which give value to the company and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Exports (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There are three stages in the development of the Renewable Energy Export Policy and Development Framework. I have stated on a number of occasions that transparency in the development of the framework is crucial and that the views of local communities must be at the heart of the transition to renewable energy. The Stage 1 consultation, which involved the publication of Stage 1 information...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Resources (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Under EU and International Energy Agency (IEA) obligations, Ireland is required to hold 90 days of oil stocks that can be used in the event of an oil supply disruption. The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for acquiring and managing the bulk of Ireland’s emergency oil stocks. Since 2007, in line with IEA and Government policy, NORA has been pursuing a policy of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Domestic Gas Leaks (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The protection of the safety of gas customers, of the public generally and of public property by minimising incidents involving gas is a matter of highest priority for Government. Legislation in place reflects this policy objective and provides the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) with responsibility for regulating the activities of natural gas undertakings and gas installers (both...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In accordance with the Broadcasting Act 2009, RTÉ, through its subsidiary company 2RN, is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of the SAORVIEW digital terrestrial television (DTT) network and I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. Specifically, the Act requires RTÉ to provide digital coverage to the same extent as provided over the previous analogue...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the management and Board of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. As shareholder, however, I have a strong concern in relation to the ongoing commercial position of the Company and I regularly liaise with the Company in this regard. Information in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The timing of the re-submission of the planning application for the North South Transmission Line project to An Bord Pleanála is a matter for Eirgrid and one in which I have no function. Eirgrid will, of course, have due regard for all national and EU legislation, including Regulation (EU) No. 347 of 2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, when submitting its planning...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Services Provision (25 Feb 2014)

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. The regulation of the industry is a matter for ComReg which is independent...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: All wind energy projects are subject to the consent of a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála under the Planning Acts and compliance with the relevant national planning policies and guidelines. Any projects of a significant scale specifically for export would, in addition, have to await the signing of an Inter-Governmental Agreement with the UK and the completion of a Renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Consumption (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information sought by the Deputy is published annually by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in the Energy in Ireland reports, which are available on the SEAI website at:

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I had appointed an Independent Panel of Experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide the terms of reference for, and to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on, comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The remuneration of CEOs in Commercial State Bodies, had historically come within the remit of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector (established in 1969). A major feature of the Review Body’s Report No. 37 (December 1996) was their recommendations for the introduction of new remuneration arrangements and the introduction of a fundamental change in the nature of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Data Protection (20 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In accordance with the Data Protection Acts, my Department has registered as a Data Controllor with the Office of the Data Protection Commission and has accordingly fulfilled the obligations required under the Data Protection Registration process.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (20 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: This is a day to day operational matter for the company concerned and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Data Protection (20 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: This matter falls under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Social Media Regulation (20 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no doubt that the pervasive use of social media has challenged a wide number of previously accepted norms, both in terms of media governance and in more general societal terms. To that end, I have asked the Internet Content Governance Advisory (ICGA) Group which I formed in December, to evaluate the full range of content issues that now arise online. The Group will report in May...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (20 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 220 of 4 December 2013. The position is unchanged. RTÉ's network company 2RN is responsible for the roll-out, coverage and operation of the SAORVIEW digital terrestrial television (DTT) network. The individual concerned has been in contact with my Department directly and officials have subsequently made contact with 2RN in relation to his...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (19 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together. I refer to the reply to Question No. 29 of 30 January 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (19 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 to 133, inclusive, together. On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid's recent public consultation process, I announced that I had appointed an Independent Panel of Experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide the terms of reference for, and to oversee the integrity of a process to be undertaken by EirGrid to report on,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (19 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 18 February 2014.