Results 521-540 of 5,767 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are a matter for the Board and management of An Post and not one in which I have a 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. The Irish Postmasters'...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Sector Regulation (6 Feb 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 of the Act provides that the company shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in the management of RTÉ’s day to day...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (6 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. Arising from examination of the concerns expressed during EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I have proposed a number of measures to deal with the immediate concerns on the Grid West and Grid Link projects, while also addressing the generality of commentary on the need to improve stakeholder and community engagement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Usage (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. The 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive set Ireland a legally binding target of 16% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. In order to meet this target, Ireland is committed to meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable sources of generation by 2020. Figures for 2012 show that 19.6% of electricity demand was met by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Green Paper on Energy Publication (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The energy policy landscape has undergone considerable change since the Energy Policy White Paper was published in 2007. Having regard to this, my Department is currently preparing an Energy Green Paper identifying issues that need to be considered in the development of Ireland’s energy policy to meet current and future challenges. Those issues include: - EU legislative and policy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Data (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As I previously advised the Deputy in reply to Question No.457 of the 28 January 2014, the tender notices which the Deputy is requesting are in the public domain and available on the following websites and . I have no function in relation to tender processes or contracts awarded by a commercial semi-State company.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Expenditure (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Better Energy Homes scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. The table below details the number of homes that have received energy efficiency upgrades and the amount of Exchequer funding disbursed under the scheme, since February 2011. The table also outlines the number of jobs supported across all the Better Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Provision (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 22 of 30 January 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 107 together. TG4 is an independent national public service broadcaster whose remit, obligations, principal objects and associated powers are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. Section 98 of that Act provides that TG4 shall be independent in the pursuance of these objects, subject to the requirements of the Act. As such I, as Minister, have no...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadcasting Service Provision (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 408 of 19 November 2013. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Charges (5 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable, scalable product in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme in September 2007. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (H3GI), the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 384 together. As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the technical details of individual wind farms. The SEAI wind atlas was developed as an information tool for Local Authorities to identify areas suitable for renewable energy in their County Development Plans and for developing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Question Nos. 379 and 405 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Bord Gáis Privatisation (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Under the Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) Voluntary Severance/Early Retirement Scheme, which closed for applications in September 2013, 43 applications have been accepted, with employees exiting between 2014 and 2017. This is part of an ongoing drive for operational efficiencies within the company. It is not anticipated that there will be job losses following the proposed sale of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Appointments to State Boards (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. This Government has made changes in relation to appointments to State Boards and bodies with new arrangements involving advertisement of vacancies for applications from suitably qualified candidates and, in accordance with the government Decision of 12 April 2011, I have, each year, on my Department's website, invited Expressions of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While this is an operational matter for EirGrid and not one in which I, as Minister, have a role, I have asked EirGrid to set up a telephone “hotline" to allow deputies to contact the company with queries relating to Grid25. That telephone line has now been established and the number is 01 2370419. This telephone line is available 5 days a week, Monday to Friday, between 08.30 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Projects (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together. I will shortly be publishing an Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). Informed by the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, the OREDP will set out how best to coordinate action across the environmental, energy and economic development policy areas in order to realise Ireland's abundant offshore renewable...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Generation Targets (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 397 together. The Government’s overriding energy policy objective is to ensure competitive, secure and sustainable energy for society and for the economy. Renewable energy has a critical role to play in regard to each element of this objective. I welcome the recognition in the European Commission’s proposals for a 2030 Climate and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 to 394, inclusive, together. On the 8th October 2013, the Government approved the appointment of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System following the conclusion of the public procurement process. This company will operate the postcode under licence for an...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (4 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: In the Government Policy Statement on the Strategic Importance of Transmission and Other Energy Infrastructure of July 2012, the imperative for the State Companies, and all developers of energy projects, of early, transparent engagement and consultation with local communities and stakeholder was emphasised. The Government also affirmed that EirGrid is obligated to adhere to all relevant...