Results 241-260 of 5,766 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Green Paper on Energy Publication (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is finalising an Energy Policy Green Paper which identifies issues that need to be considered in the development of Ireland’s energy policy to meet current and future challenges. Competitiveness, security of supply, and sustainability, as well as energy policy’s potential to support economic growth and job creation, will be the key pillars of the Green Paper which...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I wish to acknowledge at the outset the contribution of the independent radio sector in bringing diversity to the airwaves, and serving the needs of communities, often at a very local level. That said, however, it needs to be borne in mind that these stations were established as commercial entities. Station owners sought and accepted licences on clear terms; terms which included a limited...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Distribution System (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware from my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions raised by him on this issue, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the statutory, independent body, charged with the assessment and licensing of prospective operators seeking to develop and operate a gas distribution system within the State. I have no direct statutory function in relation to the connection...

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

Pat Rabbitte: My Department is responsible for co-ordinating the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) which commits all organisations in the public sector to achieving a 33% energy savings target by 2020. Performance against this target is regularly monitored by my Department and I will be publishing an update to the NEEAP in the coming months. To achieve this target, my Department works with the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Cyber Security Policy (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I understand that the Deputy is referring to a recently discovered software vulnerability commonly used in open source software for secure on-line communications. The disclosure of this software vulnerability has had global implications. After this vulnerability became publicly known on 8 April last, the National Cyber Security Centre located in my Department prepared an advisory doucument...

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

Pat Rabbitte: On 9 May 2012 the former Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture published its Report on Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration. The Report contained a number of recommendations in respect of the fiscal and regulatory framework applying to oil and gas exploration in Ireland. At my request the Report was debated in Seanad Éireann on 27 June 2012 and in...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Realising the abundant potential of our renewable energy resources provides an important, and sustainable, economic opportunity for Ireland, both in terms of developing a secure, indigenous energy resource, and creating jobs in the green economy. There is ongoing consultation between my Department and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation to ensure policy coordination across...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Mobile service providers, operating within the EU internal market, are free to set their national call charges at a level they judge the market will accept. ComReg operates a website to assist mobile telephone users in Ireland to identify the most competitively priced mobile telephone plans suitable to their needs. The ComReg site also offers advice on additional checks customers should...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Issues relating to the post office network, including the opening or closing of post offices, 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 future of the post office at Lettermacaward.

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 277 and 284 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: Post Office Network (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to the post office network, including the location of post offices, are an operational matter for the Board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. However, I have referred the matter to the company for direct reply to the Deputy.

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

Pat Rabbitte: Grant schemes, administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, are the main source of funding available to the public for adopting renewable energy. The Better Energy Programme, which principally provides funding for energy efficiency measures, also provides grants for the installation of solar panels. The Renewable Heat Deployment Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Better Energy Homes Scheme Administration (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Programme. This includes the Better Energy Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme, the Better Energy Warmer Homes Area based programme and the Better Energy Communities programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of...

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) publishes quarterly data reports on developments in the electronic communications market on a national basis. Its report to the end of 2013 states that 35% of customers had contracted for marketed fixed broadband services of 30 Mbps or higher compared to 20% a year earlier, 18% of customers had contracted for broadband speeds between 10...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Both my Department and I are in regular contact with An Post, including in relation to the future of the post office network. I have been supportive of An Post's attempts to diversify its income streams. In that regard, An Post has made much progress including the transfer of Aviva Ireland’s branch office personal business insurance business book to One Direct as well as an extended...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 286 together. The overarching objective of the Government's energy policy is to ensure secure and sustainable supplies of competitively priced energy to all consumers. Ireland is currently heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. While it is acknowledged that fossil fuels will remain part of the energy mix for some time to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field (6 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. Pending such completion, it is not possible to state a date for when gas from the Corrib gas field will become available. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, including the construction of a 5km tunnel, will be...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together. Ireland is critically dependent on imported fossil fuels, particularly oil and natural gas to meet its energy needs. This dependency underlines the immediate and long term imperatives of enhancing energy security, reducing price volatility and ensuring energy sustainability. National energy policy objectives are in line with overall EU...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (1 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is a basic, affordable service in keeping with EU State Aid clearance for the Scheme. Under the terms of the contract which my Department has in place with "3", the NBS service provider, the NBS mobile wireless service is required to offer minimum download and upload speeds of 2.3 Mbps and 1.4 Mbps, respectively, subject...