Results 9,061-9,080 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Written Answers — Department of Health: Prescriptions Data (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: 620. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 906 of 11 June 2013, if he will provide an answer to the question; if he will make available the information provided to his Department by the Health Service Executive on 27 June; the reason for the delay in making this information available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41127/13]

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: As regards the definition of "assets", on Second Stage I raised the issue of the telecoms sector. Aurora Telecom is owned by Bord Gáis but I understand that it will not form part of the disposal. Prior to the Christmas recess, the Minister will be bringing forward far-reaching legislation on expanding the telecom sector. Hopefully, it will address the broadband deficits. We should...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his response and I am glad this mapping project is taking place. However, the Minister did not answer my question. We have five State-owned broadband networks and most of that fibre is unlit. Given that there are five separate holding companies, we cannot utilise those assets to the extent they should be used or have those wholesaled to commercial operators to...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I want to flag that we will have this battle with the next piece of legislation.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: Section 12 deals with the transfer of the BGE and Gaslink network. I wish to raise again a concern which I raised on Second Stage in relation to the network. The Minister has received a detailed submission from the Western Development Commission regarding the use of part of the funds to be generated from the sale of this particular entity, Bord Gáis Éireann, for the extension of...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his response, which I had headed off to some extent when I pointed out that we need to revisit the criteria that are laid down by the Commission for Energy Regulation. To refer again to the Chairman's home town of Ballaghaderreen, it has a massive creamery with the same ownership structure as the creamery in Nenagh and also has significant energy demands. Not only...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: Surely the Minister does not expect me to make his job easy. For the record, I wish to clarify a point for Deputy O'Donovan. Naturally, I am articulating concerns in respect of the region I represent but the Gaslink phase 3 report covers several towns throughout the country. Deputy O'Donovan can see the towns in the report. They are situated throughout the midlands, the west, the east...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his comments. If the Minister was sitting on this side that would be a fair one for him to swallow. I have no doubt about his bona fides on this issue and I have no doubt that if he is Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources this time next year, after the sale, he will appear before the committee and elaborate as stated. We have been told there...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I understand that provision is not retrospective.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: We can make provision for it in the primary legislation to ensure that happens, if there is any doubt in regard to it.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: Perhaps the Minister would go to the bookie shop, have a think about it and come back to us on Report Stage.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: On secondary legislation, last December the Minister for Finance announced an extension to the employment incentive scheme to get approximately €125 million into companies to create 1,200 new jobs a year. Last April the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation produced a report stating that EU approval was expected within a number of weeks, but the Department of Finance only...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I support the Minister. He acknowledges there is a difficulty with wheelchair-accessible taxis and he is right to focus on the issue of specifications, as there seems to be over-regulation in this area. In many rural areas it is next to impossible to get a wheelchair-accessible taxi. Due to the closure of our small hospitals, a fact that the Minister knows well-----

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: -----and the centralisation of health services in regional centres, older people and those with mobility difficulties have to travel long distances to access outpatient and inpatient services. Ambulance services and the supplementary welfare system have withdrawn their support in providing such transport. People are forced to use private transport to get to these appointments - namely,...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 9: In page 25, after line 38, to insert the following:“(5) The Authority, in making regulations under this section, shall take into consideration the potential impact of any proposed regulation on the provision of services in rural areas and on rural dwellers.”.The reason I have tabled this amendment is that every now and again we come across regulations...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister of State for his response and accept his bona fides on the initiatives for rural Ireland. He is correct that there is a deficit, but whatever measures are introduced, it is important, as articulated, that they do not undermine those providing services in provincial towns. I know it is a fine line and that it is a very difficult call. The Minister of State could end up...

Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Report Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: On the basis of the Minister of State's response, I withdraw the amendment.

Topical Issue Debate: Child Benefit Reform (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this important issue. One in ten primary school children and one in six secondary school children miss more than 20 days of school every year, one eighth of the secondary school year. Last year, almost 1,500 children left school and were not recorded as turning up in secondary school. We have a severe problem that is building serious...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Benefit Reform (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister for his response. I am talking about replacing the current social welfare system with a National Education Welfare Board system, so it is not a duplication but a reduction in bureaucracy. Children are not attending school today. One in six secondary school children misses more than 20 days of school, while one in ten primary school children misses more than 20 days of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (2 Oct 2013)

Denis Naughten: 14. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he held in the US recently regarding legislative reforms to assist the undocumented Irish; the current status of plans for an E3 visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41178/13]