Results 16,301-16,320 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: There have been 650 housing solutions through the housing assistance payment, HAP, initiative, as well as a 40% increase in the housing budget. A series of actions have been taken. I have acknowledged that they are not-----
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: They are beginning to work but will take time. That is quite clear.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Everyone across the House has as much sympathy as the Deputy dies for every family that find themselves in this situation. It is shared by all of us. Dealing with this issue is a priority for us and the Minister will make further announcements on the rental strategy in two weeks. We need to consider alternative solutions for families at risk of entering homelessness and they will be...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Dáil will vote on the motion on the establishment of the committee today and I assume Deputy Eoin Ó Broin will accept its democratic will when the vote is taken. The Chairman of the committee is named in the motion as Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh who, as the Deputy knows, is not a member of any party but a member of the Independent group in the Seanad.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I am sure the Senator will chair the committee in a way that is fair to all members. As Deputy Eoin Ó Broin knows, the committee has been given a set timeframe of three months from the date of its first public meeting in which to report to both Houses. The expert commission is due to publish its report at the end of the month. I understand the motion on the establishment of the...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: There will be a democratic vote to decide on the approach to the work the Government has agreed should be taken. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin will have an opportunity, if a vote is called, to decide whether he wants to support the composition of the committee, including the Chairman. I am very confident that the Chairman named, Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh, will do his work in a way...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The question is why Deputy Eoin Ó Broin is afraid of the democratic process in which we are involved.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Why can Sinn Féin not accept a democratic vote in the Dáil?
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: Why can Sinn Féin not accept the results of a democratic vote in the Dáil? There will also be a democratic vote in the Seanad where Senators will have ample opportunity to decide how they wish to respond. They will take their democratic decision as well. Why be so fearful of a committee which will bring in experts to discuss the issue? It will be very helpful to have experts at...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: On the final point the Deputy made, we have a financial services regulator who can deal with the claims she has just made. She outlined several individual schemes where there are problems. I will revert to her on those individual schemes. On the broader point, in the Government's approach to the Lansdowne Road agreement and the unwinding of the financial emergency measures in the public...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The points the Deputy made are extremely serious. I acknowledge the impact on individuals and their income after retirement. I also acknowledge the serious consequences of these issues if not dealt with. Clearly, she has raised this with the line Ministers, Deputy Varadkar and Deputy Donohoe. If further legislation is needed, I have no doubt it will be examined. I will ask both Ministers...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: This is a very important issue. Rising costs have been a concern. The Deputy has outlined a number of individual cases of rising costs for people seeking to renew their premiums. He mentioned both car insurance and the difficulty in obtaining insurance in other areas, including in respect of flooding. This is an issue we take very seriously. We will have a report from the working group...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: It is important to have an evidence-based report. We will have it very shortly. I understand the Deputy's impatience but we will have the report before the end of the year. It will give us detailed information based on evidence the committee has been gathering. I assure the Deputy that we intend to take action. Once we have the report, we will act on the recommendations therein to deal...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the review is ongoing but I will ask the relevant Minister to revert to the Deputy in detail with the information he requires. I do not have it.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: It would be good to have consensus across the House on this issue. Minister of State Deputy David Stanton has been doing a lot of work on this and will shortly be making a presentation to the Cabinet sub-committee on social policy. Depending on the outcome of that meeting, I expect he will be addressing the issue further in the House.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I share the Deputy's opinion that it is important legislation that will enable us to ratify the UN convention. We are working urgently on a small number of outstanding issues that involve a number of Departments, primarily the Department of Health. It is necessary to set up an agency to deal with the new capacity legislation. There is an agreement that the agency will be under the...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: The bail Bill will be published before the end of this year. It will allow for electronic tagging and give the Garda more powers to take action and request the courts to do this themselves. There will be a number of other important changes regarding bail. For example, courts will have to give reasons for their decisions, etc. It is a detailed Bill that strengthens bail legislation. It...
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: It will be published before the end of the year.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, a review of rail services has been published and public consultation is under way. No decision has been taken by the Government to close any line. There has been a big increase in the Minister's budget to enable transport services of all types to be developed further. That is essential, given the increase in traffic owing to improvements in the economy.
- Questions on Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2016)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to reply.