Results 561-580 of 1,750 for speaker:Declan Breathnach

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Applications (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this Topical Issue. I also thank the Minister and I am pleased to see him in attendance. I compliment his Department and officials in terms of my dealings with them on many matters. We may have express buses and express trains but we certainly do not have an express passport application process in the Department. It is a huge...

Topical Issue Debate: Passport Applications (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I thank the Minister for his response. We can deal with the semantics of whether the turnaround time is ten, 15 or 16 days but, unfortunately, the reality is that it is not working for those who are in the situation I outlined. I am not criticising staff in that regard. Nobody, including the Department, should not be allowed push any of the days outward and if there are delays beyond 15 or...

Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I acknowledge the enormous work of all religious orders, priests, nuns and brothers. Without their support over the years in finance and time this country would be at a huge loss educationally. If they were to pull out entirely, the Department of Education and Skills would not be able to educate the young, particularly at primary level. I also acknowledge the great work of lay people on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Legal Cases Data (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 474. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of expenditure on litigation claims against his Department and the HSE in each of the years 2011 to 2016, inclusive, and to date in 2017; the number of claims awarded in court and settled out of court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23218/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Health Insurance Claims (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 475. To ask the Minister for Health the body which is the insurer for the HSE; the amount of premium paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23219/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (16 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 559. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the sports capital grant awards will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23220/17]

Insurance Costs: Motion [Private Members] (17 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I have not come into the House to be repetitive. My colleagues, led by Deputy Michael McGrath, have clearly highlighted the crippling effect of rising home, motor and business insurance costs, together with the undermining of our competitiveness. I wish to refer specifically to the undue pressure placed on community groups and the voluntary officer boards associated with them. Most...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service Data (17 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 96. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 128 of 4 April 2017, the number of those fines imposed that specifically relate to smuggling or selling illicit cigarettes, fuel and alcohol; the number of attachment orders imposed; the number of persons sent to prison for non-payment; and the number of those fines paid. [23490/17]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cross-Border Projects (17 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 272. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if further discussions between the stakeholders regarding the Narrow Water Bridge project have taken place as was alluded to in a report of the North-South Ministerial Council in November 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23395/17]

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I must be the third man on this side of the House. The programme for Government contains a commitment to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible. In that regard, I note that the disabled person's grants scheme, while very welcome in all counties, is completely oversubscribed. In my county alone in the priority 1 category, many people have been refused the grant owing to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting Rights in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. By way of introduction, my initial interest would be to ensure that every citizen in the Twenty-six Counties can cast their vote. I do not have the percentages with me. There has been talk of personal, postal, proxy and electronic voting, although we should not dare to mention electronic voting. The franchise in the Twenty-six Counties does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting Rights in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: It depends on whether one looks at it from an academic point of view or as a minor or major politician contesting any election. I am all for democracy, as is everybody, but I could not help but think of the phrase "Bono for President" because they would all be out with the diaspora looking for the vote. On the issue of challenging the court on the right to vote, I understand where the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Voting Rights in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I am seeking clarification. I have no difficulty in extending the franchise for presidential elections. However, we still have not grasped the issue of directly elected mayors in local authorities from a 26 county perspective because personality politics are involved. I do not mind saying we could end up with somebody who has a very high profile, such as Bono, being elected. That could...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Panel Rights (24 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter (details supplied) whereby due to an error in his Department's payroll system, a person has been left on point one on the pay scale, rather than point three at which they should be; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in view of this error the person has been precluded from getting onto the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Eligibility (25 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 159. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to revise the farm income threshold for persons wishing to take part in the rural social scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the fact the current threshold is set very low at €409 per week, that those struggling to survive on low family incomes as in the case of a person (details supplied) are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Brexit - Recent Developments and Future Negotiations: Discussion (Resumed) (25 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to address the committee. It is the first occasion. I thank the witnesses for the three presentations. Coming from a Border county, I note that the movement of trade has the potential to change the dynamics not just across the country but in the Border area. I am certainly concerned about how any restriction or slowing down of movement would impact...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Pensions (30 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 359. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if recently retired public servants and local authority staff will receive an increase to their pension from the partial pay restoration which commenced on 1 April 2017; if future pay restoration measures will increase pension benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25335/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Public Sector Pensions (30 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 384. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to offer an incentivised pension scheme in critical employment areas, such as nursing, occupational therapy and speech therapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25860/17]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Contracts (31 May 2017)

Declan Breathnach: 207. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 136 of 13 October 2016 and 159 of 18 May 2016, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the HSE has stated after complaining to it (details supplied) and applying for a reimbursement of charges for blood testing that there is a loophole in the system whereby general practitioners have been advised by the IMO...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Implications of Brexit for the Environment: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Declan Breathnach: I will try not to be repetitive as Deputy Brendan Smith has covered a great deal of this. I thank the delegates for attending and raising the profile of environmental issues. I was looking at the documents last night and could not help but think of the phrase in the context of a 32 county Ireland that only the rivers run free. They run free in the context of the issues which have just been...