Results 821-840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Minister of State has simply restated his previous comments, namely that this would break with the existing appointment system. He does not offer a rationale for it. The appointment of a successful applicant for the position of Clerk of the Dáil is a fairly routine matter and the Taoiseach simply rubber stamps it. However, dismissal is a different matter and this provided that the...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Minister has not explained it other than stating that it is the same situation as in Britain.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: However, the purpose of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission is to establish the independence of the Houses of the Oireachtas from the Executive. It is quite acceptable that a Taoiseach might rubber stamp someone who has been selected successfully through a selection process. However, it raises significantly different issues when a Taoiseach can dismiss that person at his or her own...

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: That is quite likely, but the legislation before us allows a Taoiseach to do so even if the Ceann Comhairle does not support that action. Hence it gives a Taoiseach the authority to dismiss the Clerk of the Dáil in the same way that it gives a Minister the authority to dismiss a Secretary General. However, the relationship is different and the Minister of State has not addressed that issue....

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Because a Secretary General is the boss of his or her Department, runs that Department and is responsible for its operations. However, the Taoiseach does not run the Houses of the Oireachtas. They are run by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and the Taoiseach does not have the same presumption to dismiss that a chief executive might have.

Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2004: From the Seanad. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: We are moving away from that position by stating that the Houses of the Oireachtas are self-governing and make their own decisions, which is why we are providing them with a budget and discretion. They will no longer be obliged to have their decisions sanctioned by the Minister for Finance or whoever, as was traditionally the case. However, the Minister of State appears to be carrying over...

Pension Provisions. (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the number of persons in the total workforce who are covered by pensions; the percentage of these that are covered by PRSAs; the breakdown of the pension coverage by pension type; if he will provide information on the ages of persons availing of PRSAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22933/05]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 20: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the recent ESRI report on pensioners' incomes. [18323/05]

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 194: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on whether new entrants to the health insurance market have yet obtained sufficient market share to be able to carry the cost of contributions to the risk equalisation fund; and her further views on whether the extra cost will force up premiums for customers and risk damaging the emergence of long-term...

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 154: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the new guidelines for the issue of medical cards and doctor only cards; if she will define the concept of net income which will in future be used and the new system for dealing with expenses on mortgage and rent, travel to work costs and child care costs; and the allowance for children which will in...

Written Answers — Medical Waste Disposal: Medical Waste Disposal (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 156: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the report on the management of waste by hospitals; if she plans to introduce a practice of good waste management and targets for waste management performance; if she intends to investigate the significant cost element which waste management represents for hospitals; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Medical Waste Disposal: Medical Waste Disposal (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 157: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the costs of waste management in each hospital nationwide since 2000 to date, distinguishing between risk and non-risk waste. [23826/05]

Written Answers — Health Insurance: Health Insurance (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 195: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has plans to privatise the VHI. [24024/05]

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 257: To ask the Minister for Finance the annual budget and resources allocated to the Registrar of Credit Unions since its establishment. [23772/05]

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 258: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many credit unions representatives and volunteers believe that the Registrar of Credit Unions is seeking changes beyond his legislative remit and that both credit unions and the registrar are seeking a review of current legislation in this area; the timeframe for such a review; and if he will report...

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 259: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that individual credit union officials should now compete for board positions by way of proposals of intent and that credit committees should also have expertise appropriate to the type of loans approved; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these positions are voluntary and it is...

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 260: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the regulatory burdens imposed on credit unions may be excessive for some of the movement; his views on the merit of introducing some transitional arrangements to recognise the different ethos of credit unions from other financial institutions. [23775/05]

Written Answers — Credit Unions: Credit Unions (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 274: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason the Registrar of Credit Unions organised a meeting with information technology suppliers regarding future needs of credit unions without consulting with credit unions on their future requirements. [24212/05]

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 271: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent of the practice of discretionary waivers at the Revenue Commissioners in respect of interest in the 1980s; if the practice was widespread; the number of cases that received such waivers; if he can state who in the Revenue Commissioners had the authority to allow such waivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24148/05]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (30 Jun 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 358: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in each of the past five years, classified by sector of the economy in which persons are employed and by skill level. [24022/05]