Results 7,821-7,840 of 34,780 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: The Minister talks about an increase in expenditure for health by 0.5% for the next three years, which includes €460 million in that to be achieved from income generation, but will not tell us the specifics. We had a black hole in last year’s health budget on budget day. The HSE blew it out of the water in 24 hours.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: Of course, the Minister has probably ensured there is nothing on file that can come under freedom of information for the coming year. We do know from the Government’s figures that there is a black hole of €460 million in the health Estimates. The Minister claims the specific figures will be provided later in the Revised Estimates. We need to know today what is happening for...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: Why does he bring in an Estimate year in, year out that he cannot stand over? He has never presented an accurate health Estimate and this year is no different. I have just presented some figures I have gleaned in an hour. That is just the tip of the iceberg. The Minister has not provided us with any further information. The €460 million black hole will have to be found-----

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: -----but, of course, the Minister will magic it away with growth.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: I must leave party politics aside because matters are too serious in the health services. Essential health services need to be looked after. Nowhere is this truer than in the crucial issue of suicide prevention. Suicide remains the nation’s silent killer. There is not one community, not to mind one family, that has not been affected by suicide. There is nothing in this expenditure...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: The Government has cut back on speech and language therapy services for elderly people who have had a stroke and need occupational therapists to get back on their feet. I mentioned the medical card fiasco, which is rumbling on, and last year's figure. Today, a constituent told me about an appeal with the office in Ballyshannon that had been submitted ten months ago. That person had a...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: It probably took two or three months to deal with the original application. We were used to these extended delays with social welfare payments, but it is a new procedure to have it in the appeals office for the unit within the HSE dealing with medical cards. The Taoiseach is the only one in the Chamber on the Government side at this stage.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: I want to move on to housing and the increase in social housing in the past six years. Some 90,000 families are on housing lists.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps the Taoiseach might be good enough to tell us where the two Ministers are. I suspect they have gone off to talk to the media to give a full briefing that was withheld from the Oireachtas. I would love to know where they are. There will be details from the press conference on "Six One".

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: On a point of order, I ask for a commitment in advance of the budget to be announced next year that the two Ministers will sit here to have the courtesy of listening to what the Opposition has to say. If it cannot be delivered, there is a question about whether they should be delivering the script to the national media. The House is the place in which to deliver it and listen to the response.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: It is on two channels, but there is a disregard for the entire democratic process as the budget is the subject of the biggest statement of the year. Ministers feel they can ad lib, walk away and not listen to what is going on.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: With regard to housing, the proposed Central Bank changes to mortgage requirements will compound the problems for young people. Home ownership will be concentrated in fewer hands and the majority will have to pay increased rents. I refer to the section of the Minister's statement that refers to a figure of €2.2 billion for social housing provision in the next three years. The...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: I do not believe any of the figures because NAMA was told to provide houses for local authorities. It offered 4,000 houses, 2,000 of which were rejected by local authorities. I bet it will be able to sell them comfortably through private sales, but there will be no protection for the taxpayer. Local authorities did not take up these houses. Of the 2,000 houses accepted, only 700 have been...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: I am sorry the Minister is not here because I could say a lot about homelessness. Instead, I will give way to Fr. Peter McVerry who spoke at a conference last Friday attended by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. He captured it well when he said:I'm absolutely dismayed at idea that the tax cuts are going to be at the top rate of tax. [...] Because basically it’s not...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: We know that the Government is trying to wash its hands of the debacle of water charges, but no amount of washing of hands and hand wringing will get it out of this hole. Households with two adult children will have bills of €482 per annum. The funds in the first two years will go to the more than 500 staff in the super quango which is consuming €180 million in set-up costs,...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: They have to pay €900 for a ten-week break in going to the institutes of technology to do the education part of the course. The Government took half the money it gave to these apprentices in order to repay third level fees. That is in line with the Government's actions in increasing third level fees, which it is continuing. It is very difficult for people in this position. I will...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: -----the era of auction politics was over. It now appears the Government is buying people's votes with the proceeds of the sale of the family silver. It is central to the Government's policy. I raised the next matter directly with the Taoiseach two years ago, when I asked him about the Construction Contracts Act 2013. It was passed by the Oireachtas in summer 2013, having been brought...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: If the Germans, French, Italians and Spanish can find a way to avoid having people in every other country easily reading tender documents, I ask the Government to adjust the process to the advantage of domestic businesses. This is being done within EU procurement rules. I ask the Minister to get a little bit more clever about this. He should do as the Germans, French, Italians, Spanish and...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Gender Recognition (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: 10. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the legislation dealing with gender recognition legislation is expected to be finalised in the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39132/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: National Internship Scheme Funding (14 Oct 2014)

Seán Fleming: 31. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Laois who is on JobBridge and living away from home may receive expenses to cover accommodation or travel costs associated with getting to and from their work in view of the extra costs that will be involved in taking up this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39130/14]