Results 3,921-3,940 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Departmental Strategy Statements. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: May I ask a brief supplementary question?

Departmental Strategy Statements. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Acting Chair did not limit the Minister, who went well over time.

Departmental Strategy Statements. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Minister could put Sir Humphrey of "Yes, Minister" to shame in his capacity to defend the status quo in long, rambling replies without seeking to reform anything that might make his Department more transparent or accountable to this House.

Departmental Strategy Statements. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: If the Minister had not used all the time we might have had a reasonable debate.

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 77: To ask the Minister for Finance if the national development plan will be delivered in full, on time and within budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22280/08]

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister committed to the multi-annual Exchequer contribution set at €9.1 billion for 2009 and also for 2010?

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: People will be disappointed the Minister is unable to commit to the multi-annual framework, which contained these figures and was set out and published after the last budget. Does the Minister agree that one of the preconditions set out on page 16 of the national development plan was that the Government would maintain the growth in day-to-day spending in line with economic growth? The...

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: That is something the Government has failed to do in the past two years, despite it having been set as a precondition for the delivery of the NDP.

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Why did the Government set out in its manifesto that it would deliver the NDP in full and on time when the Minister now tells us it is subject to review and the fact the Government has failed to maintain current spending in line with economic growth means it is now vulnerable to revision? Why did the Government say something in its manifesto that it has failed to provide the capacity to deliver?

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The manifesto made a commitment but the Government has undermined its ability to deliver it through its actions in expanding current spending. The Government did not make the NDP its priority; winning the last election was its priority. The Government spent money it did not have and that the economy could not provide and now delivery of the NDP has been compromised.

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: It is a priority the Government can no longer deliver.

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: That is not clear to me.

National Development Plan. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Minister does not sound sure and has left quite a bit of doubt around the matter.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Minister has not answered the question he was asked, which was whether he intended to set any preconditions before the Government would agree to give up the pay increases. Will the Minister set any preconditions? Does he share the Taoiseach's view that the increases should be surrendered if a satisfactory outcome is forthcoming from the national pay talks? What does he regard as a...

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: To clarify, will the Government surrender the pay increase regardless of the outcome or only if the outcome is within some range? Perhaps the Minister would clarify Government policy in this regard.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, IBEC and so on do not normally negotiate Ministers' pay, so it is up to the Minister to decide what is to be done. With whom will the Government sit down and negotiate? Will representatives of the Government sit down with David Begg? Will they negotiate will all three pillars within the social partnership? Will the Minister clarify what the policy is?

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Why not just surrender them?

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Who will the Minister discuss it with?

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Hear, hear.

Government Pay Awards. (4 Jun 2008)

Richard Bruton: Is it the Government's position that, in future, the setting of ministerial pay will be a matter for the social partners or will it continue to be a decision by the Government and an order of the House? If the latter remains to be the case, it is up to the Ministers to decide not to take it. It is not up to Mr. David Begg, Mr. Turlough O'Sullivan or anyone else sitting around the table, as...