Results 30,861-30,880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: It should be a matter of course. The Government should undertake an RIA rather than expect it to be done through a process of people making submissions. It is necessary, but it is an expensive option. As a result, there is a need to at least look at alternatives or assess whether what is proposed is justified. There are physical constraints on what can be done in respect of these fuels....

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Committee Stage (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: Does the Government have a list of critical services already extant or is that something that continues to evolve?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Debt Collection (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: 81. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has undertaken an assessment of the impact the phasing out of tax warehousing will have on the rate of business failure; and if he is satisfied existing policy options are appropriate to manage this situation. [2756/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: 102. To ask the Minister for Finance the criteria his Department intends to use in deciding whether temporary tax concessions should be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2755/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: 289. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the need for more compact development of homes to meet population growth in a sustainable manner calls for a change in the way new public facilities are planned, as the planning and delivery of the NDP-type project in transport, health and education fall under the remit of his Department. [3273/23]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Housing Policy (24 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: 290. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the need for more compact development of homes to meet population growth in a sustainable manner calls for a change in the way new public facilities are planned. [2209/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: As we know, in this city and across the country, 90% of vehicles sit idle in driveways and when they are used, over 90% are used for single-passenger journeys. What are the Minister's plans for the new unit to promote sharing platforms? I know Deputy McAuliffe has a keen interest in this. It is a real opportunity for us to transform the way travel is thought of by people, if we can get the...

Forestry Strategy: Statements (26 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: I have been listening to this debate and I have to say to my colleague, Deputy Shanahan, that I think the reaction to this investment is hysterical and has not taken into account the genuine climate crisis that we are facing here. Our land use in forestry, instead of being a source of sequestration, is actually emitting 7 million tonnes, which is more than 10% of all of our emissions, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: This is a very difficult issue because we have a lot of underfunded defined benefit schemes in the country. How can the underfunding of such schemes be resolved by arbitration? How should that be done?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: Is Mr. Collins saying the employer has an obligation to make good any deficiency in a defined benefit scheme? Is that ultimately-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: I am just trying to understand this. As I understand it, what is happening is people are living much longer-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: -----than at the time the commitments were made. At the time, they probably said in good faith a contribution of X by the worker and Y by the employer will fund this. In many of these funds that is not proving sustainable. Is Mr. Collins saying arbitration in all cases means the employer has to make good the deficit?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: This issue is much wider.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: It seems employers have made promises they cannot fulfil in these commitments. Mr. Collins says the matter should be resolved by arbitration but it seems the only outcomes can be either the employers make bigger contributions or the workers make bigger contributions to top up a fund in deficit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: That is a fairly substantial change in policy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: However, this is what makes the issue so difficult; it is opening up this territory. On Waterford Crystal, a ruling was made that the Government had an obligation to have a compensation fund where the fund has run out. I want to get an understanding of the situation. The Waterford Crystal Pension Action Group is a group of workers who were excluded from getting the benefit because they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: What was the scale of the commitment the European Court of Justice ruled the State had? I think one of the witnesses mentioned a figure of 49%. Was the ruling of the court that the Government should pick up half the deficit? Does that court case set a precedent?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: General Scheme of the Industrial Relations (Provisions in Respect of Pension Entitlements of Retired Workers) Bill 2021: Discussion (25 Jan 2023)

Richard Bruton: That was funded by every employer. It was a global fund with a new PRSI levy or something.