Results 27,581-27,600 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: They may sign up as a precondition for the opportunity to gain the advantages of a trade agreement but they must comply with these arrangements.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: If they do not comply, there is, as the Deputy is aware, a six-year phasing period at any stage during which there can be interventions to block the progress of the agreement.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: In addition, human rights and environmental groups have access to the documents that will be produced through this agreement. This is an open and transparent agreement under which people who are third parties can represent their views and bring to the attention of the parties any failures in the context of compliance with the agreement. It provides for action if that happens. This is the...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----for health and safety standards, for environmental standards and for food standards.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I would make the same point to Deputy McDonald as I did to Deputy Martin. This is a trade deal where, over a very long period, Irish Government Ministers have stridently sought to reduce the originally sought 300,000 tonnes of beef from entering the European market. We have made that case consistently and we continue to be of the view that the 99,000 tonnes is a threat to our industry....
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I have listened to Deputy Mary Lou McDonald in this House for some time and I have seen her consistently oppose the Canadian agreement, the Japanese agreement, the Korean agreement, all of which we have had significant benefits from. The reality is that these trade agreements have helped Ireland, particularly at a time of very real difficulty, to be able to diversify away from reliance on...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: This is an agreement that will put pressure on these countries to comply with their obligations.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: They are part of a multilateral strategy-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----to try to deliver the climate protections that we all crave.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this because the protection of rent pressure zones has been extended today to 19 new areas, including Athlone, Dundalk, Trim, Waterford, Limerick, Gorey, Arklow and several other places. This provides protection for people in those areas. The record of the rent pressure zones is that they have helped to contain the growth of rents.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: The legislation that we have just passed, which has had broad support in the House, captures large institutions in the rent pressure zones. It provides new powers to ensure that these are respected, such as criminal sanctions against those who fail to respect them and stronger powers for the Residential Tenancies Board to sanction and investigate landlords. The legislation has helped to...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: No. I do not agree with the Deputy. He rightly recognises that supply is the key. We are not seeing an increase in supply of landlords coming into the market; we are seeing the opposite. We are seeing landlords leaving the market. That is a real problem. If we want more affordable rents, we must have a model that sees more people entering the market to provide tenancies to people, as...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, 6,000 affordable homes will be rolled out under a programme that is starting this month. In my area, one of the first contracts for affordable homes will be signed later this year.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We must have a balanced response of supply right across all the various areas, from private and public tenancies to the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and affordable supply. That is the only way we will get to grips with the situation. We are seeing progress in those areas. Contrary to what Deputy Howlin says, in the rental area we are not seeing a new supply of tenancies. We are...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----many landlords leave the market.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We must find a model that will support that. In this agreed legislation, we are taking action to make it much tougher for landlords to abuse the provision. We are making it a criminal offence and giving greater powers to the RTB and allowing it to initiate cases without any third-party complaint.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We are pursuing those issues and trying to increase the supply which, as the Deputy acknowledges, is the only cure.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I have consistently acknowledged, and the Taoiseach acknowledges, that the key Irish concern was associated with beef. Under the original proposal, 300,000 tonnes of beef would have come in from the Mercosur countries. The proposal that has emerged is based on 99,000 tonnes. Some 45,000 tonnes of that are frozen. One of the main concerns of...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: It is worth repeating that when the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, with Canada was introduced, the reaction in the House was exactly the same.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: The same comments to the effect that the Canadian agreement was a sell-out were a feature of the reaction to it.