Results 18,101-18,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for his question. I was in the House when we established NAMA. One of the aspects that we took considerable care in ensuring was that there could be no possibility of the Minister for Finance of the day interfering in NAMA's commercial activities. I was on the Opposition benches at the time and that was written into the law for good reason, namely, to ensure that NAMA...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: To make it clear, there is no question of the Minister having acted inappropriately. He met a former US Secretary of the Treasury who happened to be an employee of Cerberus. He had no hand, act or part in the decision of NAMA, which is established independently under statute to make decisions on its own. Its decisions and decision-making process are what are under scrutiny, as the Deputy...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Mary Lou McDonald for the question. As she is aware, the objective of the Government is set out in the programme for Government and the Independents and Fine Gael have agreed on that approach. It is all about using our steadily improving economy to improve the lives of people and it is built on a very solid set of programmes. We have a very comprehensive plan on housing,...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: Deputy Mary Lou McDonald's party has spent its time relentlessly trying to stand in the way of the progress this Government has made. We are now seeing the fruits of that, namely, more investment in education, housing and health. In terms of what is new from the discussions yesterday, the Independents asked that an independent expert from overseas would look at the process we have put in...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: We have a programme for Government to which we are operating. That is the arrangement and that is the truth of it. Deputy McDonald must see that we are improving the situation in health even though we have problems there. We are treating 20% more people in our health service and 2 million people will have operations this coming year as a result of the investment we are putting into that,...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I believe the real solution to this is increased supply. That is the real focus of the approach that the Government has been taking. It is about real supply coming from social housing. For the first time, we have committed to 47,000 new builds of social housing after a period in which there was virtually no social housing constructed, which created huge imbalances in the marketplace. ...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: The truth is that the Minister has put in place a framework for putting caps on rental accommodation. He has put in criteria which will be used to decide the areas where there are rental pressures.
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: It is only where there are rental pressures that those caps are appropriate. He has put that process in place and it is open to any area to set out its case. It will be objectively assessed and the same order will apply-----
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: That is a speedy process he has put in place and each area can be assessed on the basis of the framework that is set. As Deputy Howlin recognises, it is crucial that we continue to get the public supply, the rapid build, the new initiatives in the private sector and the new student accommodation that will take pressure off rental accommodation. All those elements are proceeding at pace.
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: The early indicators are very clear that that strategy is starting to get traction and have an impact but it will take time to build. In the meantime, there is the protection for tenants of the rental caps that are being put in place.
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I read the newspaper reports, as did the Deputy. Any drug that improves people's lives is something to be welcomed. I understand the patients have what is described as compassionate access to the drug but the company appears to be suggesting this will be withdrawn from them. The HSE has a process for deciding what drugs are supplied with the...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: It is very unfair if the company has given 20 people compassionate access to a life-transforming drug and is seeking to withdraw it from these patients as part of a negotiation to get a better price deal or wider access. This seems to be a very unfair approach by the company. There are responsibilities on the company. If it gives access to a life-transforming product it should sustain it...
- Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I am not wrong. The HSE and the company are in negotiation about its longer-term use in the wider public service. As I understand it, the company provided 20 patients with compassionate access to this product as a demonstration of its efficacy. I do not believe that should be withdrawn in the process of a discussion about its longer-term use.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach made it very clear that he was wholly committed to making sure there would be no hard Border. He said yesterday that he had met with virtually all the leaders of Government across the EU to make a very strong case over the particular significance of this. It would be a huge backward step and he pledged that it would be top of the political agenda. This is not a technical...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: The Government's commitment is absolutely clear.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: The Government is disappointed with the reports of a shift in policy from the US, though it is not yet clear what it will mean in practice. The Government's position remains the same. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, has been trying to get a Middle East peace process under way with initiatives by both France and Sweden. Recognition could be helpful but...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: It is my understanding that the national mitigation plan is at an advanced stage and documents are in place to provide for a consultation. It is an area of immense importance. The actions are set out under the various pillars, namely, transport, agriculture and energy etc. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, is absolutely committed to...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I see. I will have to come back to the Deputy on that.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: I understand that the heads of that Bill are expected shortly. They will go for pre-legislative scrutiny to the Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There will therefore be plenty of opportunity for Deputies to ventilate their concerns-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Feb 2017)
Richard Bruton: -----about the management or otherwise of the tracks concerned. That offers an immanent opportunity. Parliamentary questions can be tabled in the meantime.