Results 10,341-10,360 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I cannot give any such guarantee. I am not the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I am not the chief executive of Bus Éireann. I note, however, that a commitment has been given that no community will be left without a public service. It must be remembered that in my own area we have many private sector providers doing a great job on rural transport. I have many companies...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for additional Government business as well as commercial business to be transacted through the post office network. The final report of the group was published in January 2016. On foot of the report, two working groups were established to progress the...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: Deputy Penrose is a plain speaking man. To outline the situation, I put a lot of work into this over the past six months and was hoping to have the report ready for Government before Christmas. I do not have statutory responsibility for An Post, but I have been given the role by Government to see what can be done to improve the services. Mr. Kerr gave his report to An Post on 23 December....

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I have never been in that Department but I see that Deputy Burton is smiling. She was very close to those in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and knows that what Deputy Penrose is saying is correct. I will do my best. I must say that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, has given me great support as has the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe....

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 62 together. A Programme for a Partnership Government envisages that An Post, the League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders will be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The programme for Government also...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: There is an action in the plan to support credit unions. To be fair, credit unions have done an excellent job down through the years. I am a supporter of the credit union movement.

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: There is support for them. There will be engagement with them the context of this plan. The Sparkassen model and post office models will also be examined. In regard to a point raised earlier, 72% of all jobs created in 2016 were created outside Dublin. There are many people in this country who are creating thousands of jobs throughout the country who are forgotten about in the context...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: In response to Deputies Burton and Penrose, I am taking this matter seriously. I am dealing with the post offices. Officials from Germany will be in Ireland on 13 February to meet with my officials. I have met Irish Rural Link and I will meet with the credit union movement and all the other stakeholders involved. In regard to the Department of Finance, I know from experience, in terms of...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I am not the greatest supporter of banks. We all know what the banks did to this country. We know also what the country had to do for the banks. We have to be careful about how we deal with this issue. We need to be sure that this model will work. We do not want to use models that in the future the State will have to subsidise or takeover if difficulties arise. When we do this, we must...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The Action Plan for Rural Development provides a framework of supports to improve the lives of people who live and work in rural Ireland. It is the first Plan of its kind to address both the economic and social needs of rural Ireland through a whole-of-Government approach. The Plan includes number of initiatives across a range of Departments which will have a particular benefit for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: It is intended over the next few weeks to publish the various reports compiled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service staff of my Department and the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) on the NPWS website for the 2015/16 season. There are some 200 separate reports - including NPWS ranger reports, ICC Reports, ICC Veterinary Reports - ranging over 70 coursing meetings – and arrangements are...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The restored gardens at Killarney House opened to huge public acclaim in April 2016. The interpretation/exhibition programme and installation for Killarney House and the National Park is advancing and I expect that it will be completed in the coming months. It is intended that the exhibition will open to the public during the tourism season and that the historic rooms of the House will be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: It is my understanding that a copy of the report prepared by my Department in relation to Rathdowney Coursing club was provided to the Deputy in December 2016. The report is also available on my Department’s website – (). The meeting scheduled by the coursing club did not take place, no licence was given for a rescheduled event and all hares held in captivity by the club were...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: 323. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance claim (details supplied) in view of the fact that the application was submitted in August 2016. [3806/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Dormant Accounts Fund (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 381 together. The Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for additional Government business – as well as commercial business – to be transacted through the Post Office network. The final report of the Group was published in January 2016. On foot of this report, two Working Groups were established...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The 2016 CLÁR programme focused on three separate measures: -Measure 1: Safety Measures for Schools and Community/Sports Facilities -Measure 2: Playgrounds and Multi-Use Games Areas -Measure 3: Local Access Roads. In October 2016, all Local Authorities with designated CLÁR areas were invited to make submissions under the measures outlined above. Following an assessment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: 635. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment for 2012 did not issue to a person (details supplied); and when the payment will issue. [3945/17]

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. I am aware from media reports that Luggala house and estate comprising some 5,000 acres has been offered for sale with a reported asking price of €28 million. It is situated near Roundwood and is within the area of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The main mechanism for protection of our built heritage is the inclusion of buildings...

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: Deputy Burton is correct. I have just gone through this process with regard to Westport House, and I want to state on the record again today that I am delighted the Hughes family has bought Westport House.