Results 441-460 of 1,974 for speaker:Arthur Spring

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Service Staff (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the difficulty of retaining Irish-trained doctors and attracting doctors who have gone abroad to return to Ireland; his plans to improve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48100/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Research and Training (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recent accusations that the Health Service Executive does not understand or care about education and research in the medical field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48101/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Screening Programme (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent report by a person (details supplied) regarding breast health and the need for further promotion and breast awareness; his plans to continue raising awareness on this important issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48103/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Rare Disease Strategy (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on a specific national approach to improve the health and well-being of persons with rare diseases, as recommended by the European Council action group in the field of rare diseases; the current status of a national rare disease strategy for the State in view of the number of persons estimated to suffer from a rare disease in this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way the Atlantic Corridor will be marketed and promoted and to whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48673/12]

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: It is clear that some of the signatories to this Private Members' motion have brought it forward with the best of intentions. I do not doubt their sincerity. We have an issue with pensions. I share the sentiments of colleagues in the Labour Party that we need to get this right. Our colleagues in the Technical Group have had plenty of time to mull over this and should have done better. ...

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: They are all over the place and way off the mark in terms of coming in here to have a go at Government. As regards the payment of various allowances etc., what are those in receipt of the Leader's allowance of €40,000 per annum doing with it? I have yet to see one poster erected by any of the signatories to this motion which indicates they will vote "Yes" in the children's...

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: All allowances which the Labour Party receives are audited and spent on political campaigns and the betterment and development of the country.

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: The Technical Group is way off the mark. Its members take home twice as much money as the rest of us and need to account for it.

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: People want leaders to lead and want politicians to make decisions. It is important we focus on addressing the mess in which we find ourselves and stop kicking the football around. The Irish people will forgive decisions but they will not forgive a mess being kicked around with no purpose. The people know there is no fantasy government under which everything will be better. They have Sinn...

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: Let us have some "Yes" campaign in respect of the referendum next Saturday.

Pensions and Retirement Lump Sums: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: What about vouched expenses?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to adjust the student maintenance grant, either by reducing the grant rates or by tightening the conditions for eligibility. [48817/12]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a capacity to grow more crops here where a commercial market price can be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the range of medicines, with established safety profiles and available in other locations without prescription, that can be dispensed by pharmacists with a view to generating more savings as seen in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48828/12]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I welcome Mr. Moran and his team. I too have come a rather unconventional route to where I am today, having previously been a banker and juice bar owner. However, that is neither here or there. I am dealing with the big stuff now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I would prefer to be Minister. For now, however, I will focus on the serious issue of mortgages. Goal No. 5 in the delegates' document refers to outcomes, short-term strategies and performance measures. One of the short-term strategies referred to relates to finding solutions to the problem of distressed mortgages and difficulties with personal debt. My concern is that there does not seem...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: The difficulty for ordinary people is that they cannot see any specific activity or anything at all tangible being done to resolve the problems with mortgages. There is the mortgage relief aspect, but for people who are trying to move up the ladder or move out of a negative equity situation, it is not tangible enough and is too slow-moving. The Department must agree a clearly identified...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I agree. My concern, however, is for the overburdened generation on whose back these profits will be made. The reality is that the most negligent lending will turn out to be the most profitable lending in the long run for those who purchase the banks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: In regard to the maximisation of the value of the State's investment in the banks, as per the fifth goal contained in the document, the Department intends to measure this by the return of investment in the banking sector. In my view, the Department needs to have a much greater regard for the social dimension and to look at people as individuals rather than numbers. There is an onus on the...