Results 6,441-6,460 of 9,814 for speaker:Steven Matthews

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I would agree with the Minister of State's comments. There are certainly stretches of road in this country that need improvement, including safety improvements and upgrades. There is probably a need for more town bypasses to be built as well. We do not need to build a big massive road. Building a bypass around those towns would make much more sensible use of money and create those nice...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I will suggest including it in our work schedule.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for letting me in again. I wish to raise another few issues relating to road safety. I concur with Deputy Leddin concerning the prevalence of red-light running we see. I have this rule for my children when we are crossing the road that when we see the green man, we look twice as hard and should not assume that seeing the green man means that cars are going...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: Is there a good guidance document available for roads engineers? I know there is the DMURS, but is a good guidance document available for these types of simple interventions that could be undertaken? I ask because we want consistency across the board. We do not want people to be driving from County Wicklow into County Dublin and then find that the district engineer there has decided he is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Steven Matthews: I appreciate that. I thank the Minister of State.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding any Department-led initiatives aimed at increasing the supply of bus drivers to help achieve climate objectives related to the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47432/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 296. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding proposed changes for January 2024 in the way the Revenue Commissioners treat general medical services income within general practitioner partnerships; if he is concerned that this will impact the number of GPs operating; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of GPs in how this change is to be administered; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns related to the management of the construction site for a new temporary accommodation for a school (details supplied); if the site manager for this project can meet with school management to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47453/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Priorities (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: 1209. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the implementation of the 109 recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism's final Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47977/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I raise the glamorous subject of septic tanks or domestic private wastewater treatment plants, as they are properly known. My Green Party colleague, Deputy Ó Cathasaigh recently raised some important questions at the Committee of Public Accounts about rates of inspection of septic tanks. Will the Minister of State outline the number of septic tanks there are nationally, the number of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I thank the Minister of State. I completely agree with him that we need to raise public awareness of this and of the substantial grant increase that has been introduced by the Minister. I did some research and worked out that there are probably approximately 500,000 private domestic wastewater treatment systems in operation. However, a report published by the EPA in June suggests that only...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Septic Tanks (9 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am aware that in rural areas there is no choice but to have a septic tank and it is important that we assist people as much as possible to fix those tanks. However, another situation has arisen that I have raised with the Department and the Minister previously. We have urban areas that were once rural. A town has grown and enveloped what was once a rural area. We have houses in my town,...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: While we are on this subject matter, will the Minister elaborate on the minimum wage increase, which we have to take into account here, and on the reduction in the USC band? As I recall on budget day, it was estimated that a person earning around €46,000 a year would be better off about by €2,000 per year. Will the Minister include that in his responses?

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I was going to suggest that this had turned into a late debate so early in proceedings. We should move on, though.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: With every measure, a line has to be drawn somewhere. This is what concerns me the most about Sinn Féin’s fiscal or economic policy. It would blow the entire budget in one go, never with an eye to the future and what might happen. There could be further interest rate rises. There might be a requirement to hold something back in the tank to continue to help people. That is...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023: Committee Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Steven Matthews: I am concerned to hear these kind of policies of blow everything today and do not worry about it. There is a requirement at times to protect people, which we have done in this budget. We have protected many people through targeted and universal measures. However, there is also a requirement to be prudent and think of the future as well. That is my concern.