Results 861-880 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: I wish to raise two health issues with the Tánaiste. Deputy Kenny yesterday referred to the apparent lengthy delay we now face to introduce legislation to regulate standards in private nursing homes. We had an extraordinary series of revelations with regard to nursing homes——

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: I wish to make the point that this House will become irrelevant if it works itself up into a steam on the need to address an issue such as this, gets promises from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, as I have documented here, that there would be legislation on this at the end of summer and debate on it now, and then finds it is not on any list.

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: There is an issue here. The Tánaiste and Taoiseach made solemn promises to the House. Not only did they promise it would be done, but that it would be done in the autumn and we would get to grips with what everyone recognised as a scandal. We need an explanation for the delay. My other question is what legislation will we see on the future development of hospitals. The taxpayer has been...

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: Yes, the promised legislation——

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Minister's idea is that tax relief for private hospitals will be the basis for expansion in the health sector. We understand 16 such hospitals are waiting, the average contribution from the taxpayer——

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: It does. The Minister for Finance promised this issue would be reviewed under tax——

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: May I finish asking the question?

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: I am trying to put the question. Taxpayers will have to fund 40% of the cost of these new private hospitals——

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: ——and the Dáil must have an opportunity to scrutinise those decisions. They cannot be simply announced outside the House when we have not had an opportunity to scrutinise them.

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: Will the legislation be brought forward this autumn?

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: Will it be later this year?

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: Will we have it this autumn?

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: The answer is "no".

Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: A Cheann Comhairle, I am pleased that you have given me the opportunity to sympathise on behalf of the Fine Gael Party with the Green Party's severe loss and what must be a tragedy for Mr. Hamilton's family. To lose someone at any stage in their life is always a tragedy but to lose someone so young is very difficult to take and our sympathies are with the Green Party and with the family.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (29 Sep 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the estimated cost of the purchase of carbon credits in respect of Ireland's excess over the Kyoto limits; the extent to which these costs will fall in the first instance on private agents and on the Exchequer; if it is proposed to fund the cost through general taxation or through earmarked taxation. [26062/05]

Order of Business. (4 Oct 2005)

Richard Bruton: Approximately half an hour ago, the spending figures for the Government were published and again show that the Government's capital programme is running far behind what was expected in key infrastructural areas. I want to ask the Taoiseach about the infrastructural Bill. It was his pet project and four years ago, he presented it to IBEC as the key to solving infrastructural problems. What is...

Order of Business. (4 Oct 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach is not delivering what we need.

Report of Comptroller and Auditor General: Motion. (4 Oct 2005)

Richard Bruton: In the past eight years the Government has increased spending by an incredible amount, some 142%. This represents an increase of €17,000 in spending for every household in the State. The crux of the issue is do people see the value for that extra increase? The blunt answer is no. It is not just political opponents who claim this. Real indicators such as access to primary health care show...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Oct 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 165: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of meetings of the Food Agency Co-Operation Council in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26216/05]

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 Oct 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 191: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to develop the Teagasc service provided to farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26217/05]