Results 27,421-27,440 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Quality (12 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies for raising this very important issue. Undoubtedly Ireland faces challenges regarding ambient air pollution, which is pollution at particular places at particular times in respect of particular substances. The most serious problem we have is with particulate matter, particularly in smaller towns such as Enniscorthy, as adverted to by Deputy Browne. Both my...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Air Quality (12 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I explained in my earlier comments the precise source of the problem. It is not just smoky coal because it is also peat and wood. I fully acknowledge that scientific evidence has strengthened concern over air pollution from particulate matter, in particular. The House would not thank me if I came forward with regulations that collapsed and were not robust. The Deputies would regard it as...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Electric Vehicles (12 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: Matters related to road safety, vehicle standards and vehicle testing come under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. My Department works closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport as part of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce. Where issues such as those highlighted are raised, my Department communicates these to the Department of Transport, Tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (12 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, was first introduced in Dublin in 1990, and subsequently extended to our major cities and towns. Following a public consultation process, it was further extended in 2012, and now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. The ban has proved very effective in reducing...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Broadband Plan (12 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: KPMG Ireland was one of a number of advisors appointed by my Department to provide specialist advice and services in relation to the National Broadband Plan (NBP), following a competitive tender process in 2015. KPMG continues to provide advice and services to my Department in relation to the NBP. This include specialist commercial and financial advice; review of commercial operator...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for the question and give him absolute assurance that the Government is acutely aware of the importance of home help services. Every month, more than 1,500 new people are provided with home help services. In the period to the end of April, a total of 6,000 new people were provided with home help services. That brought the number of people receiving home help support to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: To reiterate, every element of the health service is providing a hugely important service from the Government's point of view. The Deputy seems to suggest that we can easily divert resources. Some 1.7 million procedures will be carried out this year, for example. People will be waiting for those procedures and we have to meet those needs. Similarly, other people need home help hours....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: This is not an area of neglect, and only a tiny number of discharges are delayed because of this. I have the figures from the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and they show that fewer than 4% of delayed discharges are due to a lack of home help. It is not the case that this is the area.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: We recognise that there is huge growing need in this area and we are making provision not only to expand the-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: -----provision every year but we are looking at a statutory scheme, which is being developed by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. When the Oireachtas gets a chance to consider that, it will provide us with a long-term approach.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: First, the new head of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Mr. Fred Barry, appeared before the Joint Committee on Health yesterday and he answered the questions in full. There was no effort to spin this in any way. This is an honest answer. The position we have is that we know mistakes were made in the early development of this project. The Government has been very open on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The provision for private care will be at a low level. There are type B consultant contracts in place that allow for on-site private practice of up to 20%. The new building had to include some outpatient department, OPD, consulting facilities in the form of a private clinic, comprising eight outpatient consulting rooms.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is not a major element in what is a major public project to provide care to children who are in need. The Deputy continues to pretend that the contract does not make provision. There are conditions whereby, if the contractor can show that certain events have happened and been duly audited, there is an exposure to the State. That is contained within the contract and it is not going to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: Work is progressing on that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I cannot comment on Sinn Féin’s Bill. I will have to refer that to the Minister, as I have not had a chance to read its content.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: I regret that I have not seen a copy of the Bill that Solidarity is proposing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: It has not been presented to the Government yet. However, I assure the Deputy that, when it is presented to us, it will get the proper attention that it deserves. Obviously, the Deputy feels strongly about this issue. There has been a great effort to tighten up the regulations on animal cruelty in respect of farming and other activities. The Government will undoubtedly assess Solidarity's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: The House has set up procedures to deal with ideas proposed by Members. It is about taking the opportunity to have serious consideration. An issue such as this would have to be considered by the Cabinet so that we could take a collective view. That is only reasonable. With every other Bill, be it accepted or rejected, this is the approach that we take. Without giving any notice on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: It will be assessed on its merits. That is all I can assure the Deputy about.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jun 2019)

Richard Bruton: Prospecting licences are controlled by a strict regulatory regime. As the Deputy said, when an application is made there is an opportunity for objections to be lodged. There are clear rules regarding protected areas where prospecting licences cannot be considered. If a licence moves beyond taking samples and investigating the opportunities to drill, there is a requirement for an...