Results 26,881-26,900 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 810: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the wage bill of Waterways Ireland in 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38930/09]

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 956: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some councils have taken persons off the housing list and will not consider them for a housing offer if they have entered into a rent accommodation scheme arrangement either with their own council or with another council, however other council are willing to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 976: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of 21 October 2009 if a local authority which introduces a waiver scheme is acting [i]ultra vires[/i] the terms of the Local Government (Charges) Bill 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39029/09]

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 90: To ask the Minister for Finance the balance between spending savings on the current side, on the capital side, and additional tax measures which will make up his fiscal strategy for the coming years. [38094/09]

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am disappointed that the Minister did not answer my question about where the savings would come from. Has there been a fresh Government decision overturning the proposal set out in table 6 of the April budget that in the next two years it would earn €4.6 billion in extra taxes, €2.5 billion of which was to come in next year? Has the Minister rescinded that proposal? He has said...

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Will the Minister confirm or deny whether the Government made a decision on changing the balance on the amounts that must be found from current and capital spending? When the Minister says he is keeping his options open, does that mean he is open to some of the suggestions advanced by the social partners that the balance should be different from the Government's current position that the...

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: A new decision has been made then.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Will the Minister reveal the nature of the decision? That was the purpose of my question to find out what decision had been made.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: It is only now apparent that the Minister has made a decision but will not release it to the House.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: That was not the question I asked.

Fiscal Policy. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Government has made no decision on the balance between spending and tax.

Oireachtas Expense Allowances. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 92: To ask the Minister for Finance his strategy for the reform of political expenses of office holders and of ordinary Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. [38095/09]

Oireachtas Expense Allowances. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: As we approach probably the most difficult budget in the history of the State, does the Minister agree that the Government must be seen to lead by example in this field? Does he believe the size of ministerial offices working for constituency purposes should be controlled among office holders and that Ministers drawing cash allowance in lieu of secretarial assistance should be discontinued?...

Oireachtas Expense Allowances. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: If the Minister answers the questions he remembers, perhaps I will recall the first one I asked him.

Oireachtas Expense Allowances. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the Minister's indication that he will make a decision before the budget because the credibility of the entire House will be on the line unless we are shown to be able to reform the way we operate ourselves. The approach of Ministers to allowances and to their own ministerial offices needs to be significantly curbed. To state that there is an arrangement in place does not meet that...

Oireachtas Expense Allowances. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Minister keeps us here most of the time he is here too.

Price Inflation. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the Minister's acknowledgment that we have lost competitiveness, but I must express dismay at his suggestion that the Government has no function in the area of prices set by the Government. Has he considered the competitiveness report, which shows that all of the non-pay business costs in control of the Government are in the "red light" danger area? Many of the most chronic cases,...

Price Inflation. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: I did not mention gas.

Price Inflation. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: I could have given health, education, communications or any one of 1,000 areas.

Price Inflation. (3 Nov 2009)

Richard Bruton: Who is going to lead if the Government does not do so?