Results 15,841-15,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (6 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Religious education is one of the seven curricular areas of the 1999 Primary School Curriculum. Under Article 44 of the Constitution, all parents have the right to withdraw their child from religious instruction in school. Furthermore, under Section 30 of the Education Act 1998, a student cannot be required to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (6 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for processing applications from schools for special needs assistants (SNA) supports, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs). The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (6 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Section 6(1) of the Employment Equality Act lists nine grounds that an employer cannot discriminate on and it prohibits discrimination in relation to a person's ethnicity or their culture. As such my Department does not hold records of such information in relation employees and therefore I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Foireann Roinne (6 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Tugtar mionsonraí sna ráitis tháblacha leis seo faoi na baill foirne a ceapadh sa Roinn seo le linn na tréimhse 12 mhí is deireanaí. Ceapadh ceathrar cigirí bunscoile agus ní mór dóibhsean bheith inniúil sa Ghaeilge chun dualgais an phoist a chomhlíonadh. Rinneadh ceithre cheapachán chun na Cigireachta Iar-bhunscoile. Ós...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I share Deputy Michael McGrath's concern that there would be an impact on many people who are in a vulnerable position. Our primary objective now must be to protect the valuable services which have been delivered with great commitment by people in Console. This has come as a huge shock to those working within the sector as well as those supporting it. The way this matter came to light...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that the relevant Ministers have been directly involved in these meetings and are not dealing with this matter on a hands-off basis. Their priority is to ensure the continued delivery of these services. There is no Member of this House who has not been touched by some family that has suffered as a result of suicide, which has a dramatic impact on everyone around it. The...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand that in respect of the cases that have arisen, the State has offered an ex gratiapayment to those who suffered in this way. This payment is available to people and, as the Deputy recognised, many people have accepted it, which has allowed them to get some satisfaction without pursuing a lengthy, costly and difficult court case. If people choose to pursue a continued case in the...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The courts have to decide who is responsible for abuses and to what extent that responsibility is shared by those who are in a position of trust. That cannot be decided by the Oireachtas; it has to be decided by the courts. The State has recognised that people have been extremely damaged and hurt and in respect of that we have made payments and we will continue to make payments under an ex...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Courts decide these issues. The issues of responsibility that the Deputy has raised-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The issue the Deputy is raising is that people have been damaged and where the responsibility for that lies. Obviously that lies-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----in the primary instance with the individuals involved. Then the question is: does that extend to others? It is for the courts to decide where those responsibilities lie but the State has recognised that such people need to be supported.

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for raising this. Coming from my previous job where we were concerned to speed up the development of the south west, I am in no doubt that infrastructure such as this is very important. I understand the project has a strong cost-benefit ratio and that reflects its strategic importance. It is one of the projects that have been singled out in the transport plan...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am not in a position to identify what will be in the 2017 Estimates. I can give the Deputy some reassurance that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently announced to the House, as the Deputy knows, that the capital envelope is being increased and the specific commitment to a €4 billion fund that was in the programme for Government will be raised to €5 billion....

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The tax affairs of any company are open to pursuit by the Revenue Commissioners and if the Deputy has information that he needs to bring to the attention of the Revenue Commissioners, I recommend that he do so. There is no doubt that the Revenue Commissioners have enhanced powers - every year we enhance their powers - and they will pursue any company that is abusing its position. The wider...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Finance Acts provide for anti-avoidance measures and the Revenue Commissioners execute those. They have the powers to deal with them effectively. Those powers have been enhanced every year, in every Finance Bill over the years. If additional reform to the Finance Acts is necessary, it is open to the Deputy to bring forward such amendments, but in respect of the existing Revenue...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is a Bill of 83 heads. The pre-legislative scrutiny process has been completed and the 83 heads have now gone for drafting to the OPC. They already have been approved by Government. There is a lot of justice legislation so there is pressure on the drafting process but I will convey the Deputy's concern to the Minister.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My understanding is that the Minister has signed into effect the Part of that Act that deals with investigations and recruitment is under way with a view to increasing the staff complement by more than 50% to deal with this. The charities legislation is being gradually rolled out. Registration was the first phase, interim receipt of complaints was the second and the roll-out of...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: That Bill was approved by Government this week and it is being published in the normal way. I indicated yesterday that I had obtained approval for the Bill. In terms of dealing with the issue of a ceiling on past pupils, the major change in that sphere is that whereas the previous Bill proposed it would be done by means of regulations, on the advice of the Attorney General that will now be...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Minister will bring forward an action plan for housing that will include legislative but also non-legislative proposals. The Government recognises the acute pressure on housing supply, particularly in social housing. As the Deputy knows, he has already - together with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar - increased the rent ceilings. This initiative is...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand this was done as a last resort for reasons of public safety. I know as well as the Deputy that diseases in our herd can have a huge impact on the fortunes of the entire farming sector if they are allowed get out of hand. This containment strategy must be in place, and it is only as a last resort that something of this nature would occur.