Results 501-520 of 5,767 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

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

Pat Rabbitte: The Commission for Energy Regulation has no statutory function in the regulation of petrol and diesel prices. The Maximum Prices Order was removed in 1991 and the market was deregulated. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is free entry to the market. There is no price control in the oil sector and it is Government policy to encourage price...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department is 18, broken down...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Local Authority Functions (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation within the remit of my Department since June 2009.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: North-South Interconnector Issues (12 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 to 120, inclusive, together. On 28 January last, in response to EirGrid’s recent public consultation process, I announced that I have appointed an independent panel of experts, to be chaired by Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, to decide terms of reference for comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both Grid...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Wind speeds and other business case variables for proposed wind farms are matters for project developers and not matters in which I, as Minister, have any role or function.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Telecommunications Infrastructure (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As outlined in my reply to Question No. 476 of 15 January, the ownership of the telecommunications mast in this case and any legal issues therein are primarily matters for RTÉ and other parties to the case. Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that RTÉ shall be independent in the pursuance of its objects and as such, I, as Minister, have no function in this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have no statutory function in the setting of electricity or gas prices, whether in the regulated or non-regulated parts of these markets. 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. While the CER still regulates the domestic tariff for Bord Gáis Energy, prices...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Ireland has one of the very best wind energy resources, both onshore and offshore, in Europe. Realising the potential of this abundant resource will allow Ireland to increase indigenous energy production, thereby reducing our dependence on expensive fossil fuel imports and improving our security of supply, while also contributing to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and creating jobs in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Renewable Energy Exports (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Memorandum of Understanding on energy co-operation is not a legally binding document. It is, however, a statement of both Ireland's and the UK's shared interest in exploring the opportunity to export green electricity from Ireland to Britain. It has led to detailed consideration, which is continuing, of how Irish renewable energy resources, onshore and offshore, might be developed to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Generation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no legal requirement for companies supplying electricity or heat to Irish consumers to source some of that energy from renewable sources. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 as the primary means for Ireland to meet the target of at least 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020, which was mandated by the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive. The scheme works by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (11 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. Details of broadband services available in each County can be found on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Speeds (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The delivery of specific broadband speeds to end users is dependent on a number of variables including the equipment used by the consumer, distance from the consumer to the access point in the network, core network traffic and the capacity of the server being accessed in the case of the internet. Speed may also be affected by the use of a wireless router or “wifi” in the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts Data (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: As with all areas of public expenditure, spending on advertising is carefully controlled and limited to that necessary for the effective discharge of my Department’s functions. The principal reason for such expenditure is statutory notices that I am required to publish in the case of certain proposed authorisations, which require publication in a local newspaper circulating in the area...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Social Media Monitoring (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department constantly monitors various media outlets through its Press Office. This includes monitoring of television and radio broadcasting, print media, and online activities. The Department has a website and a Twitter account, both of which are updated regularly. The Department has a Twitter policy which is displayed prominently on both the Department's Twitter account, as well as on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Pension Provisions (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department together with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform recently met An Post with regard to their intention to amend their superannuation scheme. I expect to receive a formal proposal on the matter in the near future.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Postcode Implementation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited has been approved by Government as the company which will develop, roll-out and operate the National Postcode System.That selection was made following the conclusion of a public procurement process. All proposals received as part of the procurement process were fully evaluated.Three parties qualified for the final phase of the procurement....

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Social Media Regulation (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I have noted Facebook's position on compliance in respect of its own editorial guidelines. There is no doubt but 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 Group which I formed in December, to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Since taking office I have attended eight official engagements in Northern Ireland, details of which are set out in the following table. Date Purpose of engagement Location 04/07/2011 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 18/11/2011 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 04/07/2012 North South Ministerial Council Meeting Armagh 12/12/2012 North South Ministerial Council...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Power Outages (6 Feb 2014)

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