Results 741-760 of 34,618 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Seanad: Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee Stage (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank Members for their co-operation in ensuring the prompt progression of this Bill through the House. As noted in the previous debate here, the provisions of this legislation are targeted at core issues. Hopefully they will allow the credit union sector to provide a wider set of products to all members, as well as aiding greater investment, confidence and collaboration while supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (13 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: 609. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that specific medicines for Addison’s disease used for hydrocortone and fludrocortisone be included and made available in the general medical scheme to people who require this and who have serious medical issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62010/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for highlighting the situation in north Kildare. I believe Deputy Lawless fully understands the position. As I mentioned earlier, the Department uses 314 planning areas around the country to plan for the future development of schools. The planning areas in Kildare North are Maynooth, Kilcock, Leixlip, Celbridge and Prosperous. I will make a practical suggestion to the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I am taking this Topical Issue debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who is otherwise engaged. I thank Deputy Lawless for raising this matter. As he pointed out, the population of Kildare, and north Kildare in particular, has been growing for a number of years. He has been a strong advocate for the provision of services for the increasing...

Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022: Second Stage (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." On behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, I am happy to have the opportunity to introduce the Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to set out a system of controls on the abstraction and impoundment of water to protect our water environment and to ensure compliance with Ireland's...

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Motion (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for his contribution, to which I have carefully listened, particularly his comments on the motion, the broader issue and the historical context. I am one of those people who understands where we have come from in the past 100 years but I am equally as interested in the future generation. Any time I speak about these issues, I like to talk about where we are and how we...

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Motion (8 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I understand the sentiments behind the statement by Senator Maria Byrne. As she is aware, we discussed this a little while ago. There is an EU directive under which the price is set. The price is set by the manufacturer and importer and the retailer has the flexibility to increase the price. However, the day the Senator said it I thought it was a good idea and that there should be scope...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: Recommendation No. 24 relates to VAT rates applied to e-books and audio books. The current position is that the second reduced rate of VAT applies to e-books and audio books supplied in an electronic format, that is, 9%. Where an audio book is provided electronically, it is considered an electronic publication and, therefore, liable at the reduced rate, assuming it meets the criteria laid...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: No, only to recommendation No. 24.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: Section 96 provides for the new vacant homes tax through the insertion of the new section into the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The objective is to increase the supply of homes for rent or purchase by encouraging the owners of vacant habitable residential properties to bring those properties back into use. The tax will apply to residential properties that are within the scope of the local...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: Correct. Owners of vacant properties will be required to self-assess liability to the tax and file a return on 7 November 2023. Payment in respect of this chargeable period will fall due on 1 January 2024.

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: The measure specifically relates to zoned land, so it is not an issue of the provision of services, whether they be water, electricity or wastewater services. That is not the relevant issue. It is an issue of zoning. No doubt there can be zoned land that does not have the services either, so that is another issue. I apologise; I just want make a correction. Land has to be zoned and...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: The zoning is the straightforward bit. It is the vote of the local authority in relation to zoned land. On services, I am having the matter clarified. I assume it is based on the definition in the Finance Act 2021. I will give the Senator a commitment to make that information available. It is actually services already covered in legislation. I assume that covers water services as one of...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator and I have listened carefully to what she said. As was indicated, addressing vacancy and maximising the use of the existing housing stock is a priority objective for this Government and for everybody with an interest in the housing situation. In Housing for All, the Government has set out a suite of incentives available to encourage the reuse of properties and increase...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2022: Committee Stage (7 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: As well as opposing section 99, the Senator and her colleagues in this House are, in recommendation No. 27, calling for a report to be prepared on the impact of the levy within six months of the passing of the Act. The Minister has previously stated it is intended that the revenue from this new levy will contribute towards offsetting the significant costs arising from the comprehensive...

Seanad: Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I am pleased to be in Seanad Éireann to present the Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022. In accordance with Standing Order No. 149(2)(i), I confirm that the reason pre-legislative scrutiny did not take place under Seanad Standing Order No. 143 is to meet a programme for Government commitment to review the policy framework for credit unions. Credit unions are the most trusted brand in...

Seanad: Credit Union (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank all of the Senators who have contributed to the debate. It is very clear that everybody who spoke has a deep personal knowledge of and connection with the credit union movement through their own local credit unions. We accept that, in itself, this Bill will not solve all of the issues in the credit union movement, many of which are issues that will have to be sorted out by the...

Drugs Policy: Motion [Private Members] (30 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank Deputies for their contributions to this debate on drugs policy and acknowledge their interest in and commitment to the issue. In particular, I thank the Labour Party for providing time for the debate. The Government is fully committed to a health-led approach to the drugs issue and believes that people with problematic drug and alcohol use issues should be treated with...

Committee on Public Petitions: Consideration of Public Petition on Reform of Insurance for Thatched Heritage Buildings: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Nov 2022)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Chairman and members for the opportunity to address the committee. This is my first time doing so. I am pleased to be here. I thank the committee for the opportunity to address it today. The specific question of insurance for thatched roof properties is linked to the condition of the wider insurance market in Ireland. For years the Irish market has suffered a series of...