Results 4,921-4,940 of 7,024 for speaker:Willie Penrose

Social Welfare Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I am glad to have an opportunity to contribute to this debate on the Social Welfare Bill 2015. This is one of the most important Bills to come before the House as it contains within it provisions that are vital for people who, for one reason or another, depend upon the State, are subject to fixed incomes and are vulnerable. It covers a significant cohort of the population and gives...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Universal Social Charge Application (10 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: 169. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will commit to applying the universal social charge to retired public servants on the same basis as currently applies to other retired workers, in the interest of equality of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39571/15]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (10 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: 211. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of the concerns of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants in relation to the slowness of the pension restoration, as indicated, which is not aligned with that pertaining to pay restoration proposals; if a commitment will be given that these pensions will be fully restored, and thereby maintain pension increase parity...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Ombudsman (10 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: 315. To ask the Minister for Defence the steps he will take to immediately implement the findings of the investigation, decisions, and recommendations of the Defence Forces Ombudsman in respect of an officer (details supplied) in County Westmeath who has suffered significant financial loss and stress as a result of the administrative effort involved in this case, in consequence of which...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EID Tagging: Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (10 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. There appears to be a significant number of advantages to supporting the introduction of EID technology to monitor stock movements and to eliminate human error and the strain and stress of work in terms of the level of input. There are a significant number of positives. The witnesses said ICOS carried out trials a couple of years ago in...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I am pleased to have this opportunity to contribute to the debate on this very important legislation, the objectives of which are to strengthen governance and transparency within horse racing, to clarify the respective roles of the HRI and the RRB, to improve accountability and control over the generous State funding of the sector and to streamline the administrative functions of these two...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: That decline was partly due to the amount of levies being imposed on horse owners by the HRI. Owners had to renew their colours every year, which was nonsense. They also had to pay money to renew the registration of trainers. The HRI was extracting money at an unacceptable rate. It got blood out of the turnip. It contributed to the decline in numbers and I have said that to its...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: Where are they?

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: That is still a major change for volunteers who will see the big boys come into the sport. The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee runs point-to-point racing by providing racing officials and voluntary stewards for each fixture. It also provides a comprehensive committee and administrative structure to deal with integrity and licensing issues. The sport has never experienced major...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I wonder if that is correct. Horse Racing Ireland will take over the promotion and development of point-to-point racing. It is unprecedented that the State proposes to take over an amateur sport. HRI also has its neck in to negotiate the media rights for point-to-point racing. Is there anything HRI does not want to control? It will come as a great surprise to hunts around the country...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: The Minister should read the Bill, as I did. I also attended the meeting of the joint committee at which the Bill was subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny. I want assurances that none of this will happen. I am involved in point-to-point racing. The Minister may believe I am a fool who knows nothing about the sport, but I know a bit about it. I have many questions to ask about how the...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: The memorandum of understanding was agreed at that time. What has gone wrong in the meantime?

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: In that case, why is Horse Racing Ireland taking over everything?

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: There is no reference to point-to-point racing in the memorandum of understanding. That is my point. The memorandum of understanding was subsequently approved at a joint meeting of the stewards and governing bodies. Given that stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee were not present at the negotiations between the two Ministers, it is clear that point-to-point racing was...

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I want a guarantee that it is not.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I am quite happy to take the point.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I have heard of the record being right here before when it turned out to be very wrong when legislation was implemented. I want an assurance from the Minister. He is the boss and that is why I am asking him.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I have never invited disorder. I am always orderly with the Ceann Comhairle.

Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: I have given a lot of time away already. It is important to understand how this will work. I am quite happy with the Minister's assurance, but I still believe point to point races should be excluded. If one looks at it from a legal perspective, I wonder if the commitment that was given in 2001 will stand up to scrutiny in the context of the Bill. That is all I am putting out. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (17 Nov 2015)

Willie Penrose: 291. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society in relation to visually displaying the ratings of the stock for sale in line with the beef genomics scheme data, at their marts which would be very helpful for all of the stakeholders concerned; if he will provide the appropriate financial assistance for...