Results 2,601-2,620 of 3,588 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (15 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: 82. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance does not qualify for the Christmas bonus payment. [44678/15]

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: I did not propose any amendments to the provisions relating to point-to point racing. I understand the thinking behind these amendments and the Minister is also aware of concerns raised about this matter. He assured us in discussions that the proposed changes in this regard are a paper exercise, as it were. Given that the Minister will not always be in that office, we must safeguard...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: I wish to make a point on amendments Nos. 29 and 30 and also fixtures because it is the same. Some of the comments that have been made here are very reflective of comments one would hear in the industry in general, that HRI is the big baddie, that it is not flexible, it does not listen and it has its own agenda. That perception is out there in the industry and it has been reflected by some...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: There is a balance for us to strike in order that we are not overly prescriptive in the legislation and do not tie people's hands. Horse Racing Ireland, HRI is answerable to this committee and will continue to be so. The important role of the owners also needs to be borne in mind by HRI in everything it does. The owners fund a very significant portion of everything that happens and are a...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: We have said in the past that integrity is something one takes for granted when one has it. We have it. The integrity in question relates to our good name and it is crucial to the industry in terms of its overall importance. We must ensure that in the changes we make here, we do not impinge on the role of the racing regulatory body to carry out those functions and maintain the high...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Ireland Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: On amendment No. 50 and the consideration that such amounts be taken into consideration in determining the budget for integrity services under subsection (1), if the Turf Club is receiving funds from elsewhere to do something, that the Exchequer funding needs to be taken into account is definitely part of it. However, we also need to ensure we maintain appreciative independent functions for...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility (9 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: 62. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an entitlement to the Christmas bonus for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44397/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (8 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: I thank Mr. Gleeson for his presentation and the officials for attending. They have had to wait around and it is a pity something so important has been left to the end of the meeting. I commend the departmental officials on what is a very innovative scheme. It obviously took a lot of engineering to get something like this through. It fills me with pride to think that Ireland does not just...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Issues (1 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: 490. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to pursue the case of a person (detail supplied); his plans in view of the pending trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43023/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (1 Dec 2015)

Martin Heydon: 591. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the funding available for the refurbishment of buildings recently purchased by a person who intends to use these buildings for commercial use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43024/15]

Credit Union Sector: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the motion. Not for the first time, I rise to address issues surrounding credit unions while focusing on the movement's key strengths, namely, its scale, its number of branches and its volunteer ethos. These elements have stood the test of time since the movement was first established as an organisation by the people for the people. The large...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (25 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: 217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the emergency response provisions that will be put in place to avoid lengthy delays for road users as a result of serious road accidents, given the recent experiences of motorists on the M50 when delays of several hours were experienced as a result of a tragic accident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41901/15]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (25 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: 223. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider supporting a performance of "Shackleton's Endurance" in the National Concert Hall during 2016 to mark the commemoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41886/15]

Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Minister for his detailed response. Can I take it from him that just because a commercial operator claims it will look after an extra 300,000 households, as was the case with last June's announcement, the Department will not take that at face value? Can he confirm that there will be detailed scrutiny and that an area that was to receive State-led intervention will not...

Topical Issue Debate: National Broadband Plan Implementation (24 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this very important matter. It not only impacts on the rural parts of south Kildare but also is an issue throughout the country. I thank the Minister for attending to address the matter personally. I start by acknowledging the role the Minister and his Department have played in addressing the structural deficit in certain parts of Ireland outside...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Redundancies (24 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: 175. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if lock keepers have to change their title to get the option of voluntary redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41214/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: I will concentrate on the statutory instrument before us today. I congratulate the Minister on securing another increase for the horse and greyhound fund, which is absolutely crucial. It is an investment not in a sport but in an industry which employs an awful lot of people around the country. I recognise the role of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and note that the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: I do not see how these issues are connected. We are here today to pass a very important increase in funding to the industry. Let us deal with any other issues aside, as the committee always has done, and invite people to come before it. I do not see the link. I came here today to pass this and I would like us to make a decision on it today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: That has nothing to do with the funding of the overall industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2015: Motion (18 Nov 2015)

Martin Heydon: We have to get past this. If it needs to go to a vote, so be it.