Results 801-820 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this issue. I wish to address two main issues. Many Members have already discussed the dangers of online gambling and that the social interaction in the bookie's shop in the main street would be replaced by a more private engagement online which, as Deputies Spring, Seán Kenny and others have already said, is particularly dangerous and...

Recent Severe Storm Damage: Statements (16 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I have been working very closely with Councillor Jane Horgan Jones of Dublin City Council and Councillor Judy Dunne on Fingal County Council and with Brian McDonagh on this issue. I join Deputy Kevin Humphreys in thanking the council workers, as I know the Minister of State will too, who did excellent work on the ground over the Christmas period. The 2005 Royal Haskoning report which...

Recent Severe Storm Damage: Statements (16 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Justifiably.

Topical Issue Debate: Air Ambulance Service Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White, for being present. I express my intense irritation at having to come here to raise a Topical Issue on which I tabled a parliamentary question last week to which I received a one line answer. It is not the best use of my time, that of the Minister of State or the Department to have to draft a memo when such matters could be readily dealt with...

Topical Issue Debate: Air Ambulance Service Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I appreciate the Minister of State's reply but I am sure he will agree that if I had been provided with it in response to a parliamentary question, I would not be in the House now wasting everybody's time. This is a reasonably detailed reply. It indicates that the helipad has been used on 17 occasions in the past year, although it was supposed to have been used only six times. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (21 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 676. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there are periods during rush hour where there are fewer DART carriages running than in other time slots; the reasons behind the 50 cent fare increase in December 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2419/14]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 37 - Department of Social Protection (Revised) (23 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister for her presentation. My question centres on family income supplement, too, which the Minister has addressed. Another way of looking at it is that, in effect, we have spent €250 million, which has been increased to €280 million, to support approximately 50,000 families who are in work but so poorly paid that the State must intervene to keep them out of...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 195. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered reducing the rate of VAT for children's tennis lessons to make them more accessible for struggling parents and encourage an active lifestyle amongst children in view of the rising rates of obesity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils who entered the primary education system in 2013; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3732/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils that will be leaving the primary school system in 2014 nationwide; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3733/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school pupils currently in senior infants, first class, second class, third class, fourth class and fifth class; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3734/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 506. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the help available to homeowners who moved into homes with leaks on their side of the property boundary in view of the imminent introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3685/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Obesity Strategy (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 658. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has explored the health consequences of the below cost selling of sugary food and drinks to children; if she has considered developing a strategy to deal with the consequences of such a policy in view of the rising rates of obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3746/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Week (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 95. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for heritage week, particularly for involving the disadvantaged, Travellers, and new Irish communities over the week 23 to 31 August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 98. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the possibility of preserving the Legion Hall in Killester in view of the anniversary of the commencement of the Great War this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4468/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the delegates. The report is interesting, as is much of the information given in response to questions. We had all assumed the Central Bank was in the business of ensuring people were not exploited. When the Central Bank engages with people on the receiving end of these loans, whom it states it is trying to protect, how do the delegates describe an APR of 287%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is there an adjective Mr. Sheridan would use? Would he describe it as excessive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would describe an interest rate of 287% as pornographic, but that is just me. Mr. Sheridan talks about people who want short-term loans, but if they want short-term loans at that range, between 23% and 287%, it means that they have something in their lives they want to finance at short notice. It could be the cost of a funeral or Christmas expenses and concerns something they cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: They will take money at any cost in order to get through this period.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I must look at it in those terms because Mr. Sheridan has said he has engaged with lenders and that is the basis of his report. I assume he talked to the MABS which has done a lot of work with the Traveller community on the reasons moneylending becomes a problem in that community. Surely he has some appreciation of the reasons people need short-term loans and, at difficult times in their...