Results 2,661-2,680 of 4,676 for speaker:Dessie Ellis

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: While I understand what the Minister is saying, what protections has a third party who may be affected? An Bord Pleanála is going to engage with the NRA on whatever project it is. The Minister is saying that An Bord Pleanála will have to record all this and note it carefully. There is a danger that An Bord Pleanála would be accused of interference. We need to be very...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (10 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: Cappagh hospital is a fantastic facility, with the best of staff, including nurses and surgeons. People who have availed of its services have nothing but praise for it, although there has been a 40% increase in the number of patients, coupled with a reduction in funding because of recent budgets, as well as a cessation of the funding from the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Increased...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (10 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: Cappagh hospital is located not far from where I live and it has been an iconic facility for many years. Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need to address these waiting lists, as well as the under-staffing. Although the Minister of State said the staffing levels did not change much, there was a 40% increase in demand last year. In addition, a number of people are due to retire in the coming...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing Assistance Payments (10 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: 585. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that the current rates of housing assistance payment are below market rent in many areas, the action he is taking to ensure that those on the housing assistance payment are not forced to top-up the payment to meet their housing need. [5909/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Project Funding (10 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: 631. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is funding available, this year, for communities to attract tourism from the Irish diaspora; if so, the amount which will be available; the way it will be allocated; and the criteria required by applicants. [5836/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Pyrite Remediation Programme: Pyrite Resolution Board (10 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. O'Connor and his staff for their presentations. As Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing I have been monitoring and working with the PRB since its establishment. Why do we accept only certain areas or counties are affected? There are issues also in Louth and Donegal but we have specified certain areas. I find that unusual and the Minister has included other areas in Rathdown...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: She has not said a single word about the people who were arrested.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I know all about your harassment.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: The question was not even answered.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: We could have done it today.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: The tenant house purchase scheme was suspended some time ago. Many council tenants are paying high prices for rent because they are means tested. They are anxiously awaiting the introduction of a new scheme. Recently, the Central Bank announced new lending rules for first-time buyers which should make it more attractive to tenants who are first-time buyers who wish to buy their homes from...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to amend the Road Traffic Act 2004 to provide for an additional speed limit, an additional special speed limit and related matters.This Bill, to amend the Road Traffic Act 2004, is to deal with the standardisation of speed limits throughout the country. In the past number of years, significant strides have been made in road...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I thank Mr. Walsh and Mr. Griffin for attending. The committee invited the various stakeholders to come before it and members heard all of their views. We were aware that the Government's shareholding of 25.1% in Aer Lingus was not going to be a game changer and that support was going to be required from elsewhere. I do not believe the committee created an impression in that regard and I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: Mr. Walsh is quoted as saying so in the interview to which I refer. He was also reported by RTE as arguing that "it would be crazy to extend a guarantee that Aer Lingus's Heathrow rights would only be used to service Irish routes beyond the proposed five years, as this would affect its bargaining power with suppliers and airports." In other words, IAG would guarantee the slots for five...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) IAG (12 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: Mr. Walsh said AIG would retain the Aer Lingus brand. That would be important because it is an iconic brand through which the country is recognised throughout the world. However, I still worry about engaging with the unions. There has been mention of approximately 1,200 job losses. I do not know how accurate that is but that is one of the figures that has been given to us. The airline is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (17 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: 446. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the Ballymun initiative for third level education. [6804/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) Aer Lingus and Stobart Air (17 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and congratulate Mr. Kavanagh on his appointment. We have heard various opinions from the different groups that have attended this committee, but the overall opinion of people on the street is that Aer Lingus is doing well, passenger numbers are increasing, it is a modern airline and the hotel side and tourism are thriving and steadily and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Proposed Sale of Aer Lingus: (Resumed) Aer Lingus and Stobart Air (17 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: We have not mentioned the State's shareholding thus far, which is 25.1%. That is significant in terms of the taxpayer because it has a value of approximately €300 million. It is our job to protect that and to put forward our own opinions on the proposal, having listened to all sides. I see an airline that is growing steadily and delivering. That is the way forward. Some people are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Regulation of Gas Industry: Discussion (18 Feb 2015)

Dessie Ellis: I thank the CER and AHPCI for their presentations. There appears to be a dispute between the two groups about the scale of the problem. It has been stated approximately 30,000 boilers are being sold on a yearly basis, of which only approximately 12,000 are being certified, and that up to 100,000 have been been fitted illegally. If there are 600,000 gas customers, this means that one in six...