Results 1,761-1,780 of 15,836 for speaker:Robert Troy

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Conventions (28 Mar 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised concerns regarding the series of constitutional changes initiated by Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban with his Hungarian counterpart; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15576/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (28 Mar 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied). [15760/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Civilian Staff (28 Mar 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recruitment of civilians to the Garda Communications Centre, Garda Command and Control, a recruitment competition for these positions was undertaken and completed last year, yet as of March 2013 up to 30 Gardaí are reportedly still working in Garda Command and Control, this is not the best use of limited resources, as these...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (28 Mar 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify the eligibility criteria for medical cards for those persons who have worked both in this State and another EU member state and who are in receipt of a non-social welfare pension, these persons do not currently qualify for a medical card, however, if a person enters this State and has not worked in another EU member state or made...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Appeals (28 Mar 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) [15821/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she is taking to make child care more affordable here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17522/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: I thank the Minister for her reply. It is fair to say that child care services are not a luxury; they are an essential public good. According on an OECD report, in this country, unfortunately, working families on an average wage spend 45% of their monthly income on child care costs, while the EU average is 15%. As a country we spend 0.4% of GDP on child care, while the European average is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: I acknowledge we are in stringent times but child care is an essential public good. The Minister must make it a priority within the Department. She rightly referred to the vast increase in direct payments over the previous ten or 12 years. In a national newspaper article after Christmas the Minister mooted the idea of reallocating a proportion of expenditure from direct payment to child...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Child Care Costs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: The physical infrastructure is in place.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the legislation she will introduce between now and the summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17523/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: I welcome the Minister's confirmation, but both Bills have been promised repeatedly. The child and family support agency Bill was to be with us before Christmas, as was the Children First legislation. Both Bills were in section A of the Government's spring legislative programme and again the Minister is saying they will be dealt with during this term. She will forgive me if I am somewhat...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: The lack of progress, in particular with regard to the Children First legislation, leaves children vulnerable. Only yesterday a report in The Irish Times cited a 20% increase in the number of care orders in the past year. There is a concern that the absence of the Children First legislation means we do not have a proper framework for reporting with regard to child protection. The Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: I also welcome the fact that HIQA is now conducting investigations. It is very important. We have had four reports, one of which unfortunately highlighted vast areas of improvement required in the north-west Dublin area. It is to be welcomed that this has been identified and I hope serious action is being taken in this regard. Members of the Oireachtas have not had an opportunity to feed...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: We all agree it is critical that the issue of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, is given the attention it deserves. The Minister said that 90% of the actions in the action plan have been implemented, but one of the Minister's actions must be in the 10% bracket. The Minister was to deliver on two actions in 2012, but she has only managed to deliver on one of them. The Minister...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Jobs (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: Consultation is all very well but action is required. A serious number of young people are unemployed and that needs to be addressed. I quoted from the final progress report on the 2012 action plan for jobs and I am not making this up. During the past week, I visited a factory in Mullingar where 90 people are employed. The owners said they are finding it difficult to find people with the...

Other Questions: Child Care Services (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: I thank the Minister. This matter relates to the cost of child care, which we discussed in our discussion on today's first Priority Question. This is a State cost on child care. In reply to a written parliamentary question, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, stated: "With regard to the application of rates to childcare facilities, local...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Preschool Services (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she is helping children with special needs access crèche and pre-school care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17288/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Remuneration (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider protecting lower ranking bank staff from the further pay cuts outlined in the Mercer Report in recognition of the fact that lower ranking bank officials have already experienced overall pay cuts of between 6-11% since 2008 due to bonuses being scrapped. [17030/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector Remuneration (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the Mercer Report into pay at Irish banks, if he will outline the proposed timeframe for the implementation of the report’s recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17031/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pension Provisions (16 Apr 2013)

Robert Troy: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will outline the procedure to withdraw the pre-retirement additional voluntary contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17001/13]