Results 741-760 of 8,073 for speaker:Peter Burke

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: I welcome the Minister's reply and the effort the Department is making to invest money in rural Ireland. It is important that we have an action plan and that it be reviewed. That has been very successful in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills. It is a very strong template with which to move forward and I commend the Minister for...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: I thank the Minister for being ambitious. It is very important that these targets be reviewed. If one looks at the headline figures, there is an ambition to create 135,000 new jobs by 2020. The Minister is right to be ambitious and ensure the target is monitored. It is very important for a constituency such as Longford-Westmeath to increase the number of overseas visitors. The ambition...

Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: 51. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the rural recreation programme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20344/17]

Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: My question is to ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural recreation programme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: I welcome the announcement by the Minister of State. This is another prime example of the Government investing in rural Ireland. That has to be welcomed. I note, in the action plan for rural development, in excess of €50 million over the lifetime of the plan is to be invested in sports, recreational and cultural facilities. I know we have a greenway in my own constituency which got...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services (2 May 2017)

Peter Burke: 833. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider re-evaluating or providing further clarity on the role of the HSE, EITs and NEPS, in general and specifically, when transition reviews are being carried out for children with special needs when they are entering primary level education in view of the confusion and worry caused to persons and management of a school (details supplied) at...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Service Provision (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: 245. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will request a private contractor to provide broadband to a household (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21277/17]

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: I welcome the witnesses from Bord na gCon, including the acting chief executive officer. I thank Mr. Meaney for his opening statement. With regard to the management of the greyhound industry, it is clear the sector is at a crossroads. In the context of the current board, the committee must assess the results presented in the 2015 annual report and how the board has driven matters in respect...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: It was disappointing for an organisation that was getting €261,000 per week in taxpayers' money, although I know some of the contributions come from industry. To focus on page 39 of the annual report, is the €2.778 million in respect of the 57 staff who were taken on?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: Let me rephrase the question. Is that figure in respect of the 57 full-time equivalents?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: That would be a full-time equivalent cost of approximately €48,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: My big concern is in regard to the number of casual staff within the industry. To take the proposals in the departmental circular, whereby one has to disclose all salaries in excess of €60,000, a concern for me is that, in 2015, 11 board members of Bord na gCon received not far off €1.2 million. That is 11 members of staff. Is that sustainable in an industry which, from the...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: Irrespective of that, I think it very concerning that almost 10% of the Bord na gCon wage bill is potentially going to 11 people. I want to know if that increased in 2016 or 2017.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: The number of meetings and the amount of prize money are decreasing. We are selling our assets, as has been highlighted in the past 48 hours. To be fair, the defined benefit current service costs at note 8 in the annual report can be taken out because those are not full-time equivalents who are carrying out their duties at present. However, in 2015, €10.3 million was paid for 240...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: Has there been any decrease in wage costs from this implementation?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: By any metric, the wages being paid do not look sustainable.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: Is Mr. Murnane happy with the 11 board members getting €1.2 million?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: I am very concerned. If other areas are falling, we cannot make an industry sustainable if we are not leading by example. That is an important element, but it does not seem to be the case in this context. Why did the legal costs almost double?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: There have been a number of media reports documenting how the board exercises its judgment in taking cases to court. Its record has been called into question. Would Mr. Murnane like to comment?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon: Financial Statements 2015 (4 May 2017)

Peter Burke: Ignore that one. What about other cases?