Results 601-620 of 5,765 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Services Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The objective of the national mapping exercise under the National Broadband Plan is to identify and map current and planned broadband services, both basic and next generation access (NGA). The process for participating in the mapping exercise has been published on my Department’s website () and notified to all undertakings authorised by ComReg. Information has been sought from...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Energy Policy Review (28 Jan 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. Competitiveness, security of supply, and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Climate Change Policy (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Primary responsibility for Climate Change policy rests with my colleague the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government. However, the achievement of climate change objectives requires contributions from a range of sectors, including energy. The period between 2020 and 2030 is the next critical phase for the EU in its transition to a low carbon economy. The EU...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Services Provision (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Any consents and permissions required for the landing of this cable are a matter for the Company, the Department of Environment Community and Local Government and the Local Authority. I have no function in that regard. The choice of landing point and terrestrial route of the cable is a matter for the Company and I understand that these matters are currently under consideration. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Energy Conservation (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department ran a national energy efficiency promotion and behavioural change programme called the “Power of One” from 2006 to 2008. The core objective of this programme was to effect behavioural change among consumers with respect to the energy they use in their daily lives, particularly in their homes and as they drive. In January 2009 responsibility for the programme was...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There has been no pro bono work provided by any such firms in the period under review. The information sought by the Deputy relating to the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each body. I will, therefore, request the relevant body to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The table following outlines details of the top twenty consulting firms engaged by my Department during the period January 2012 – December 2013. Given the technical complexity of the sectors which my Department oversees and, in some instances regulates, there is a requirement to procure services to address specific issues as they arise. In procuring these services my Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Data (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department's expenditure on consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews in 2013 was €1.325m. This represents a saving of €0.576m on the overall 2013 allocation. In procuring these specialised services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and the keeping of expenditure to the minimum necessary. Details of expenditure on consultancy services...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The broadband service contracted under the 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 (trading as "3"), the NBS mobile wireless service currently offers minimum download and upload speeds of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Community Radio Stations Funding (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the reply to Question No. 446 of 15 January 2014. The position is unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Climate Change Policy (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: While primary responsibility for Climate Change mitigation policy rests with the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, the achievement of climate change objectives requires contributions from a range of sectors including energy. Increasing Ireland's levels of renewable energy and energy efficiency is critical for reducing our heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Irish Water Expenditure (23 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has the role of driving the overall water sector reform process which includes developing the policy and legislation and ensuring delivery of the Government's water sector reform implementation strategy, which was published in December 2012. The establishment of Irish Water is an integral component of this strategy and involves...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Public Sector Management Appointments (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: All senior appointments to public bodies under the aegis of my Department are publically advertised in accordance with Government Policy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Outsourcing of Public Services (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: My Department operates a number of shared or outsourced services including: - an ICT Shared service agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) which has been in place prior to March 2012; - a payroll service outsourced to the Department of Finance which has also been in place prior to March 2012; - the Head of Internal Audit Unit which is currently outsourced to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Bodies Establishment (22 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: There have been no new State bodies established under the aegis of my Department since March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Details of the external reports commissioned by my Department are set out in tabular form below. The bulk of the studies referred to below are technical and specialist in nature and were necessary to enable the Department to discharge its policy and project responsibilities in the areas concerned. Payments from Ministerial allowances are not a charge on my Department’s Vote and are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 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: Departmental Agencies Staff Remuneration (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: It is important that the boards of Irish Commercial Semi State Companies are led by persons with the requisite knowledge, skills, expertise, competence and leadership ability required to ensure such companies perform optimally. The position of Chairperson of EirGrid does not carry an entitlement to a salary. However, the Chairperson is offered an annual fee. Currently the fee offered to the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: Payments made by my Department to Oracle since March 2011 are set out in the following table. There have been no payments made to Accenture in that period. Year Amount Paid 2011 € 72,634 2012 € 76,049 2013 €213,777

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Pat Rabbitte: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 409 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...