Results 5,301-5,320 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 423: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the recent announcement of the suspension the installation aid, there is a benefit to a person to complete the green certificate when they had applied initially to do the green certificate with a view to applying for the installation aid. [37904/08]

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 424: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if funding has been exhausted for a scheme (details supplied). [37919/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 434: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will approve an [i]ex gratia[/i] payment to an organisation (details supplied) in County Mayo who need the funds to remain in operation. [38218/08]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 455: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the effects of the budget 2009 cutbacks on a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo with particular reference to teacher numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37855/08]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 456: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a school (details supplied) in County Mayo is to lose 50% of their teachers as a direct result of budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37856/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 457: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the effect of the cutbacks in the education sector to a secondary school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37864/08]

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 458: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the effect of the cutbacks in the education sector to a secondary school (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37865/08]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 469: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the effect of the budget 2009 cutbacks on a primary school (details supplied) in County Mayo, with particular regard to teacher numbers, equipment grant for learning support teachers and cutbacks in in-service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37920/08]

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 523: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children in County Mayo who benefited under the free book scheme per year in each of the past ten years. [38332/08]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (4 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Question 571: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will reverse the decision to cut the staffing levels of a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [38553/08]

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: Like Deputy Higgins, I tabled an amendment on this matter because the charities are concerned about it. The health board and Pobal are State agencies. Charities are concerned about what will happen to those agencies. As I said on Committee Stage, I had hoped we would have two different bodies——

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: ——and that the State agencies would not have the same status as charities. The Minister of State said on Committee Stage he would examine this matter. It is not the case that I do not want the HSE or Pobal to be eligible for tax exemption, but I do not want there to be any confusion between genuine charities and State agencies which are under the control of the Minister and the State....

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I agree with Deputy Higgins. I tabled an amendment on the matter on Committee Stage. It was the one matter on which we all received considerable lobbying because charities are concerned. Only one word divides us. Even at this stage I ask the Minister of State to reconsider it. Charities are doing a job and if they want to advocate for some kind of policy on a matter that is affecting...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I agree with Deputy Higgins. I ask the Minister of State to give a commitment today that he will review the matter in the Seanad. Otherwise, we will need to oppose it.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I, too, welcome the clarification in respect of "public policy" and "Government policy" and I accept the amendments.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: As this is a recommittal, I will not make a long speech. There has been media publicity on this matter and people have concerns. I hope all genuine charities will be transferred. Will the Revenue and the Minister of State's Department keep in constant contact? There have been newspaper articles detailing how some charities were using their status to avoid tax. I know the Revenue...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I hope any charity under investigation will not be put on the register automatically. Any investigation should be completed before the charity is put on the register.

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: When the heads of this Bill were drafted originally, the advancement of human rights, social inclusion and social justice were included in the general scheme of the Bill as charitable purposes. However, these references were removed later and this is an issue that is of particular concern to the charity sector. There are concerns that some charities, whose main focus is the prevention of...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I agree with Deputy Higgins. It has proven difficult for the Minister of State to draft wording to address this issue properly. As Deputy Higgins stated, no one wants an organisation that supports a cult over human rights and uses charitable funding other than in the public interest to be a registered charity. While the Minister of State and the Department have tried to draft wording to...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

Michael Ring: I move amendment No. 21: In page 12, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: "(l) the advancement of human rights, social inclusion, social justice and civic participation.".