Results 561-580 of 5,766 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Jan 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, including Counties...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Digital Television Service Provision (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Section 131(4) of the Broadcasting Act obliges the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to endeavour to arrange for the establishment, maintenance and operation of three national television multiplexes capable of being transmitted by digital terrestrial means to the whole community of the State. Following the unsuccessful process for licensing a commercial DTT operator in 2009/2010, the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Publication (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I will shortly be publishing an Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP). Informed by the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, the OREDP will identify how best to coordinate action across the environmental, energy and economic development policy areas in order to realise Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy potential, using both offshore wind, and emerging...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Regulation of the electronic communications market, including the gathering of market data and publication of national statistical reports, is the responsibility of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg, has established a callcosts website which provides information to the public on the alternative broadband services marketed by competing service providers on a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Regulation (30 Jan 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: National Digital Strategy Implementation (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government's National Digital Strategy was published in July 2013. Phase 1 of the Strategy focuses on actions in 3 key areas – citizen engagement, small business, and digital in learning and significant progress is being made in implementing actions in these areas: - The Government provided funding of €5m this year for the implementation of an Online Trading Voucher Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Post Office Network (30 Jan 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. Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are, of course, a matter for the management and Board of An Post and...

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

Pat Rabbitte: 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 come, progress is being made towards increasing the share...

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

Pat Rabbitte: As the Deputy will be aware from my reply to Parliamentary Question No 467 of 28 January last, the broadband service 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 with Hutchison 3G Ireland Ltd (trading as “3”), the NBS mobile wireless service...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department has in place a contract for the provision of taxi services at discounted, competitive rates. The provision of service is scheduled to be reviewed again in 2014 in line with public procurement guidelines. In that regard, it is intended to avail of central arrangements for transport services planned by the Office of Government Procurement following its establishment. My...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Inland Fisheries Issues (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the replies to Question No. 219 on 3 December 2013, No. 309 on 10December 2013, and Nos. 455 and 188 of 15 and16January 2014, respectively. These responses definitively addressed the issue raised by the Deputy, making it absolutely clear that a the issue does not arise. The legislative framework governing inland fisheries is extensive, but quite dated. While the principal...

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

Pat Rabbitte: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 30 of 30 January 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Corrib Gas Field Issues (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together. Completion of the Corrib gas field development works, by the developer, is the principal factor that will determine the date for first gas. It is estimated that construction of the onshore section of the pipeline, including the construction of a 5km tunnel, will be completed later this year, with first gas expected in the first half of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (30 Jan 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 Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published in...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Questions No 1, 3 and 11 of 30 January 2014, Question No 304 of 9 December 2013 and Question No 614 of 4 November 2013 which sets out the position in relation to public consultation and community engagement on wind energy and Grid 25.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (30 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I would refer the Deputy to the six-monthly report to the Oireachtas by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, compiled under the relevant provisions of the Minerals Development Acts 1940 to 1999. The latest report sets out, inter alia, details of the minerals prospecting licences granted and current during the period to 30th June 2013 compared to the previous...

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

Pat Rabbitte: Operational matters and the role of developing commercial strategies for the post office network are, of course, 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. Having invested...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme (29 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There are no capital building projects currently underway or planned for 2014 under the remit of my Department which would be subject to the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (29 Jan 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, including those in County Kilkenny. This will be achieved by providing: - a policy and regulatory framework that assists in accelerating and incentivising commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Electricity Transmission Network (29 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: EirGrid’s Grid25 Programme is a Government endorsed strategy to develop the transmission network to ensure nationwide safe, secure and affordable electricity supply supporting economic growth, renewable and sustainable energy. It represents the most important investment in Ireland’s transmission system for several generations and will position our energy system for decades to...