Results 1,861-1,880 of 11,470 for speaker:Mary Butler

Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (26 Sep 2018)

Mary Butler: The Local Government Reform Act 2014 of the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, and the previous Administration created a democratic deficit at the heart of Irish politics, placing more power in the hands of unelected officials. It utterly failed to transform how we do politics in this country. However, this policy shift must be welcomed. The main...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Support Grant (26 Sep 2018)

Mary Butler: 86. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the criteria for the awarding of the carer's support grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38851/18]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pharmacy Regulations (27 Sep 2018)

Mary Butler: The PSI recently approved rules that will restrict the work practices of pharmaceutical assistants. Under existing codes of practice, pharmaceutical assistants are entitled to cover short absences such as lunch hours. They can cover two half-days or one full day per week, as well as any unscheduled short absences. In the case of a temporary absence resulting from the holiday entitlements...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pharmacy Regulations (27 Sep 2018)

Mary Butler: I would like to reiterate what my colleague has just said. It is strange that the Minister has not received the draft rules, given that this matter has received quite an amount of traction. Like Deputy Cahill, I would like representatives of the PSI to come before the Joint Committee on Health to explain where they are coming from with this idea. Many pharmacists are already struggling to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: 225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39696/18]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Support Services Provision (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: 339. To ask the Minister for Health when a wheelchair will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39445/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Regional Airports (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: 533. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a decision will be taken on the application submitted on behalf of Waterford Airport, Waterford City and County Council and other interested investors to extend the runway at Waterford Airport; if the necessary extra capital will be provided to facilitate this extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39673/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: 631. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of second-hand houses and dwellings purchased by each local authority in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39756/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Housing (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: 632. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to allow local authorities to add additional rooms to local authority houses under their remit on the grounds of overcrowding only and in circumstances where no alternative accommodation is available or suitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39759/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: I remind members, visitors and those in the Public Gallery to please ensure their mobile telephones are switched off or in flight mode for the duration of the meeting, as they interfere with broadcasting equipment even when on silent mode. I welcome Deputy Niall Collins, the sponsor of the Bill, to scrutiny of the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017. I draw the attention of witnesses...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: I thank Deputy Collins. As members know, I have worked in retail all my life. I have sold an awful lot of vouchers in my day. This Bill is very timely. We are now facing into the busiest period for any retail, the period before Christmas. There is no doubt about it; consumers need to know when they purchase a voucher from a retailer, online or in person, what the value of the voucher is,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: If a person has spent €50 on a voucher there should not be a limit on when he or she can spend it. A pub or a shop should not refuse to accept gift vouchers just because it is busy on a Sunday. Retail Ireland and Chambers Ireland are very supportive of a five-year timeline, while Retail Excellence is more supportive of a three-year timeline. Has Deputy Collins given any thought to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: I do not think there is an answer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: When the Deputy was considering this Bill did he give any thought to a lost or stolen gift voucher?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: A person exchanges his or her money for the gift voucher so as far as the person is concerned the gift voucher is the same as money. If a person loses a €50 note he or she has no recourse, and if the person loses a voucher the majority of retailers feel the person has no recourse either unless, perhaps, they know the person well and have kept a record of it. Did you give any thought...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: To be fair, some of them might be small retailers, such as an independent hairdressing salon or a small store, and they might manually write out the gift voucher, whereas in the bigger retailers they would be provided electronically. It would be a good idea to keep a record of them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: Absolutely. I call Deputy Neville.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: That is a very fair point. To summarise, this is a pro-consumer Bill, which is most important. We are currently at a crossroads. I read recently that by 2020, 80% of all clothes will be bought online. We have high streets and towns and villages everywhere that are crying out for footfall. I know we get the footfall at Christmas. As Senator Humphreys has said, if one goes into one's...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: I thank the Deputy and I propose that we now suspend the meeting for a moment to allow the Department officials to take their seats. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Mary Butler: I welcome from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Kieran Grace, principal officer; Mr. Billy Cox, assistant principal officer; and Ms Emma Hanrahan, executive officer, all of whom are attached to the competition and consumer policy section, to the meeting to scrutinise the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017. I have already read out the procedures, and the...