Results 261-280 of 5,767 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (1 May 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide customer focussed network of post offices in the community. The professionalism of the postmasters and An Post has served the network well down through the years and I do not see any reason why this should not continue to be so...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 110, 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Warmer Homes Scheme Eligibility (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the Better Energy Homes Scheme under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 319 [12182/14] of 11 March 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Since market liberalisation in 1999, the provision of telecommunications services, including broadband services, is primarily a matter for the service providers concerned who operate in a fully liberalised market, regulated by the independent regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). The market has developed into a well-regulated market, supporting a multiplicity of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Payments (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: A Television Licence is granted under section 143 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to a person to keep and have possession of a television set in a premises or specified place in the State. In accordance with the television licence regulations made under Section 144 of the 2009 Act, every television licence issued is valid for a full 12 month period. While the timing of the commencement of this...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Communications Mast (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As outlined in my reply to Question No. 613 of 25 March, the ownership of the telecommunications mast in this case and any legal issues therein are primarily matters for RTE and other parties to the case. Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that RTE shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. However, as the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 427, 429, 433 and 437 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: Petroleum and Gas Exploration (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: To date the only commercial discoveries of petroleum made in the Irish offshore since exploration began are the three producing gas fields in the Kinsale area, along with the Corrib gas field. To date, there have been no commercial discoveries of oil in the Irish offshore. The Government’s strategy for the exploitation of the State’s hydrocarbon resources aims to maximize the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 to 432, inclusive, together. The process undertaken by Bord na Móna to explore the possibility of collaborating with market participants in relation to wind energy export from Ireland to Great Britain was an operational matter for the company and not one in which I, as Minister, had or have a function. Bord na Móna has extensive landholdings...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Radio Broadcasting Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for the development of digital radio in Ireland. This Act gives RTÉ the power to establish and operate a multiplex for the purposes of providing a digital sound broadcasting service and gives the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) responsibility for licensing spectrum in respect of digital sound broadcasting services. In addition, it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Internet Pornography (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The protection of children in so far as this issue is concerned is paramount and there are a number of initiatives already in place in this respect, notably through the Department of Education’s resources and support for parents and children as well as the various initiatives carried out by the Office for Internet Safety. It is also essential that children, young people and parents...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Television Licence Fee Collection (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The current TV licensing system is underpinned by Part 9 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, which sets out inter aliathe requirement to have a television licence and the penalties for not having a valid licence. In accordance with Section 142 of the Act, any premises at which a television is located requires a TV Licence regardless of its use. Currently, only one class of licence and one level of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (30 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The issue of post office closures is an operational matter for the board and management of An Post and one in which I have no statutory function. I understand An Post will be communicating with the Deputy shortly in relation to the case in question.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: An Post have been actively involved in the design process for the national postcode system and are committed to using the new postcode. The postcode will be fully integrated with An Post mails sortation systems and any integration costs will be part of An Post’s overall capital expenditure costs. An Post mails integration costs are not included in the predicted €26m Exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has approved a national postcode system that will use a 7 character code in an alpha numeric format A65 B2CD. The first three characters will relate to the postal district in which the address is located. The design phase of the project is currently being finalised. The cost to the Exchequer of the national postcode system over the 10 year cycle of the contract is expected to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postal Services (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Matters relating to the printing of stamps, including costs, 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: Broadband Services Provision (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160, 162 and 163 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: Single Electricity Market (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Single Electricity Market (SEM) is the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated jointly by the Commission for Energy Regulation (the CER) and its counterpart in Belfast, the Utility Regulator. By combining what were two separate jurisdictional electricity markets, the SEM became one of the first of its kind in Europe when it went live on 1st November 2007. The SEM...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Apr 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It should be noted that statutory responsibility for development consents lies with my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. Also, as is the case with all energy developments currently, each offshore renewable energy project must complete an Environmental Impact Assessment. As Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I am charged with...