Results 17,021-17,040 of 21,588 for speaker:Denis Naughten

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: In fairness, this is happening and some of them have. I have to say the Department of Social Protection has expedited such cases but the difficulty is that the pandemic unemployment payment is there to supplement income because of a loss of income. There are people who would have some income coming into the household who have lost a substantial amount of income because of Covid 19 and would...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Is everyone happy with No. 5? We are not going to dwell on JobPath. If we get the report back, we can come back to it again.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: As everyone is happy with No. 5, we will move on to discussing No. 6, the offset of savings of €2.119 million on jobseeker's payment to reflect the Government's decision on the pandemic unemployment payment. Any questions? No. No. 7 is the €1.55 million due to the transfer of the employment policy and Low Pay Commission funding to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Before the Minister makes her closing comments, I refer to the point made by Deputy Ó Cuív. The Minister for Finance made an announcement in budget 2020 that we look at the possibility of staff being able to hotdesk in other Government offices. For argument's sake, that would mean someone who is based in the Department of Social Protection in Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon or Longford...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Further Revised) (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: That concludes the consideration of Vote 37 - social protection. We have put the Minister's officials under pressure over the past number of weeks and I thank them for providing us with information. There will be further engagement over the next couple of weeks in advance of the social welfare Bill coming before the House.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Message to Dáil (11 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: In accordance with Standing Order 101, the following message will be sent to the Dáil: The Select Committee on Social Protection,Community and Rural Development and the Islands has completed its consideration of the following Revised Estimate for public services for the year ending 31 December 2021: Vote 37 - Social Protection. I again thank the Minister and her officials for their...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I have a query regarding section 6, which concerns the related issue of the primary medical certificate and disabled driver's allowance. As the Minister knows, approximately 1,500 people will be denied access to the scheme this year, and a further 150 per month will be denied access to the support because of the suspension of the issuing of primary medical certificates last June on foot of a...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I welcome the Minister's comments, which are very positive, but I seek some clarity from him. According to the feedback I have received from constituents, it seems these primary medical certificates are being processed again. Will the Minister clarify that, and ensure that the HSE starts to process the certificates and deal with the backlog? My concern is that many of the staff who were...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I support the points Deputy Canney made. We are looking for the help-to-buy and the Rebuilding Ireland home loan schemes to be extended not just to new builds but also to second-hand properties. As the Minister will be aware, the census in 2016 highlighted that there are 80,000 homes vacant across the country that could have families in them. Some of these homes have fibre-optic cable...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: Following on from some of the previous comments, I wish to briefly ask the Minister a question. We are talking specifically about vacant properties here. We are not talking about second-hand homes in general. Local authorities have a list of vacant properties right across this country. Surely a mechanism can be found so that when vacant properties are being redeveloped they would eligible...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I wish to respond to the Minister's comment about local authorities. The situation in Dublin is very different from the situation in rural areas. The difficulty is that local authorities are not purchasing these vacant houses in villages and smaller towns because there is not a demand for housing in those villages. There are a number of villages with a large amount of vacant residential...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I move amendment No. 4: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on options for enhancement of tax credits 11.The Minister shall, within 90 days of the passing of this Act, publish a report on options for the enhancement of tax credits that can be claimed where a person works remotely.”. I raised this issue with the Minister during the passage of the...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: In the context of the Minister's comments, what we will see is the hybrid model in general. We will mainly see blended working involving people working from home part of the week, possibly working from a hot-desking facility and possibly working in their main office headquarters on a less regular basis than would have been the case up to now. Flexibility and adaptability will be key. We...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I thank the Minister. I have listened to the comments of the Minister and colleagues. The point made by Deputy Doherty about capital allowances is something we probably need to look at again. I accept that the Minister is correct and there is a major benefit for employers. Ultimately, we will get some type of a blended working situation, a bit like that outlined to us at the committee...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Finance Bill 2020: Committee Stage (16 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: I moved amendments earlier and I am not a member of the committee. This is the first I have ever heard about such a rule, that a member of the committee has to move an amendment. That is complete news to me. I have moved amendments to Finance Bills every year for many years and have never been a member of a finance committee.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to expand the role of the Air Corps air ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36565/20]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 74. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to expand the cybersecurity capacity of the Defence Forces; the engagement of the Defence Forces with the National Cyber Security Centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36566/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review the cost-benefit analysis for flood relief works to incorporate turlough flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36128/20]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 125. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to include specific provision for turlough flooding in the cost-benefit analysis for flood relief works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36129/20]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2020)

Denis Naughten: 342. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to allow swimming lessons to proceed under level 3 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36828/20]