Results 3,861-3,880 of 15,836 for speaker:Robert Troy

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: They are children who are going to bed cold and hungry. We also know that the number of people living in deprivation has increased from 13.7% in 2008 to 30.5% in 2014. That is clear evidence that this Government's policies are not working and that it does not have a joined-up approach. Last year, the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, launched a report recommending that maternity benefit be...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Does Willie Walsh speak for the Labour Party?

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Not quite as good, Deputy Durkan, not quite as good. As the Tánaiste is aware, the mobility allowance scheme was discontinued in respect of new applicants. Granted, existing participants were allowed to retain their allowance. The scheme was discontinued a number of years ago on the promise by the Government that legislation would be introduced to deal with this matter. No new...

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: It is a pity the Government did not show some concern and has not resolved it at this stage.

Order of Business (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: It was included for 2014 also.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this extremely important debate, which goes to the very core of supporting small businesses, particularly those in the retail sector. It deals with a very important component of our economy that has not in recent years received the attention it warrants. This Bill was published in August 2012, yet we are only discussing it in the Dáil two and...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I acknowledge the positive job creation measures on which the Government has embarked, particularly the work of IDA Ireland on foreign direct investment, for which it is to be congratulated. My colleague, the previous speaker, Deputy McGuinness, talks about how each IDA Ireland job costs in the region of €13,000 to bring about. Such investment is welcome and we need those jobs. The...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: It did not escape my attention that they were towns which had serious political players in situ.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I hope that it is not done on political interference. Certainly, that is not the way we should look at significant investment. It should be done based on regional development and strategic importance. Returning to the Bill, I admire Deputy Spring. He and previous generations of his family did the State much service, but it worried me to hear a Government Deputy state he hopes the civil...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Then I hope Deputy Spring will follow it up with amendments and that the Government will take them on board because, in fairness, many of his suggestions were valid. This debate is about listening to all sides of the House to see how we can improve this Bill. While I acknowledge what has been done in the area of foreign direct investment by IDA Ireland, that is not being done to support...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Let us be real. Let us see what we can do to support these people. The town of Longford is on its knees. There is a meeting tonight in Longford about what we can do to support businesses. With the current format, there is no way that we can do anything. If the members on each of the local authorities want to give a rate reduction, it is of no benefit to the majority of independent...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: The suggestion is to abolish it, start afresh and make it based on profitability. At the end of the day, it is a tax on business. Why should a business pay the exact same commercial rates today as it was paying ten years ago when it was doing much better? For example, a shop in Mullingar that was connected to the construction sector and needed a large floor area to display large bulky...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: Yes, but it is not free to the people who provide the service. They still have to hire staff and light the facility. It is contributing to the overall costs. The Minister of State must ensure that a condition of any further exemption in the area of child care, which are educational facilities in the very same way that schools are, would be that any reduction would be passed on to parents...

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: I did not. The Deputy should be fair.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: And replace it with a fairer tax.

Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: The Deputy is taking it out of context.

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Losses (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 24. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the supports available to persons when a large-scale redundancy takes places, specifically those supports available to people in the midlands region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Cafés Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 170. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding funding for a youth café (details supplied) in County Longford. [6447/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 177. To ask the Minister for Health if he will prioritise foot surgery in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford. [6370/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Feb 2015)

Robert Troy: 208. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide permission for the passport office to release a copy of a birth certificate in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath to this Deputy. [6481/15]