Results 701-720 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I wish to ask about the ring-fencing of funds. Many of the suggestions presented by our guests make a great deal of sense. We should try to support them in whatever way possible. However, the Department of Finance always reacts very badly to any suggestion of ring fencing, which is does not like. Bizarrely enough, however, it has no difficulty in ring-fencing funds for horse and greyhound...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome all the guests. There are two ways of looking at the budget. One is to say that it has to meet the deficit target set out, which should be €3.1 billion. The other is to say that we can meet the targets by having a much less austere budget. Do the witnesses have a general opinion on what budgetary measures should be taken, considering that the toughness of the budget will...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of 2014 Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: May I make a comment on that before the other speakers come in on the broader questions? We are completely in agreement - nobody should ever have to make a choice between education and their livelihood. Any changes should be on the basis that those who demonstrably can afford to pay for the maintenance of their children in college should be asked to do so. It is just a question of finding...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 514. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will clarify the legality of zero contracts under Irish employment law; whether or not they are permissible; if so, if he will further detail the protections in place for workers who are asked to work under such contractual arrangements in terms of working hours, advance roster availability and annual leve entitlements. [37636/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 888. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made to date in determining the pricing scheme for the water meters currently being installed; if there will be a free allowance; if the allowance will be calculated on a per person or per household basis; and the details available currently to households. [37393/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 1431. To ask the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 was refused a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37806/13]

Topical Issue Debate: Teacher Training Provision (24 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: The Minister knows the importance of this issue for so many young people who have decided to make their career in the noble profession of teaching. When I became a primary school teacher 13 years ago, there were not so many people who were willing to take on that career. It was difficult to find people who wanted that career and to give of their time and expertise and involve themselves in...

Topical Issue Debate: Teacher Training Provision (24 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister for his reply. Perhaps he would expand on it. He said the Department has directed the managerial authorities of schools to recruit unemployed teachers ahead of retired ones. Will the Minister indicate how successful this initiative has been? As stated, this matter could be tackled by means of a cohesive approach across the entire education system. I am sure those who...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Places (24 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties many trainee teachers are undergoing in their attempts to gain probationary teaching hours, which are compulsory part of their training upon completion of their higher diploma; if this matter could be looked into to enable trainee teachers access the mandatory training hours requirement by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Digital Strategy Implementation (24 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 366. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the date for the roll-out of the e-commerce vouchers for small and medium-sized businesses as outlined in the national digital strategy. [39323/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (25 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I apologise as I must leave to attend another committee meeting.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Parking Charges (26 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the proposal to introduce paid parking in Howth Harbour has now been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40195/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: PEACE IV Programme: Discussion with Special EU Programmes Body (26 Sep 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the delegation. I have learned a great deal from the presentation. Mr. Colgan spoke about new approaches and widening the body's remit. I would like to put on record some of my concerns in regard to the long-term goals of what the body is trying to achieve and what we are trying to achieve. One of the biggest threats to the stability of peace in Northern Ireland, the Border...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Issues (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the significant contribution of money that has been paid by the Roman Catholic Church to the Dublin Institute of Technology Foundation for the maintenance of an active church, as distinct from a multi-faith centre, on the new DIT Grangegorman site and if so, if he will detail all of the conditions attached to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Referendum Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 207. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way temporary staff were hired to work as polling tellers and clerks for the upcoming Seanad and court of appeal referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41330/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank Ms McVeigh and her colleagues for their presentation. A financial transaction tax or Tobin tax is something everybody instinctively supports and considers a good idea. However, when one examines the potential ramifications in terms of costs to customers, job losses at the IFSC and so on, it becomes a little more complicated. Is the Department's position essentially that Ireland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is Ms McVeigh saying that it is not necessarily the Department's fixed position?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: My understanding of the UK position is that it is not simply a case of Government versus Opposition. In fact, both of the main parties are opposed to an FTT on the basis of what might happen in New York as a consequence of its introduction. Would Ms McVeigh agree that there is a range of interdependent issues to consider?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would like some clarity on what seems to be the evolving opinion or consensus on this issue. The Governor of the Central Bank made a speech some 18 months ago in which he was very critical of the proposal for a financial transaction tax. He placed heavy emphasis in that speech on potential jobs losses and the disproportionate impact on the Irish financial sector. However, when he...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Financial Transaction Tax: Discussion with Department of Finance (2 Oct 2013)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I am interested in the evolution of thinking on this issue and how views can change within the Irish and European contexts. Are the Department and the Central Bank in regular contact on the issue or is it something on which the Department has already made a determination without any expectation that the position is likely to change significantly?