Results 27,421-27,440 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 544: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rules that will apply to determine eligibility for mortgage interest supplement by a person who loses their job. [15432/09]

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Can the Taoiseach credibly say that policy decisions are being made in a better fashion since the Government destroyed the Freedom of Information Act in 2002 when it removed the opportunity for scrutiny of government decisions at the time, and shortly after, they were taken? Does the Taoiseach still believe that the smothering of public discussion on many important decisions has improved...

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: It is indeed. It goes to the core of these questions which are about the restriction of freedom of information disclosures.

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Ceann Comhairle will understand there is much interest in how the Taoiseach of the time handled the decentralisation decision, a decision taken without any strategic plan or consultation with the line Departments affected or even the wider public. The idea of freedom of information was to have a degree of openness in respect of decision-making but this has been smothered. Does the...

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge the Taoiseach widened the Act's remit when he was Minister for Finance. However, that is because the Government created 250 new agencies. This was not a great breakthrough in far-seeing openness. Does the Taoiseach believe we would be better off if we knew what advice was given to Ministers on, say, handling the property bubble or decentralisation? Will he agree this would...

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: That is ridiculous. The Taoiseach is scraping the barrel at this stage.

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Not only does the Taoiseach know it was not-----

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: No wonder the country is in the state it is, if that is as far as the Taoiseach's economic insight goes.

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Is that correct about the Garda?

Freedom of Information. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: The Taoiseach does not even know that the Garda are not subject to the freedom of information legislation.

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Where did the concept of economic renewal go when the Government came to drawing up the budget strategy that was presented just six days after the last meeting of that committee? In the budget, there was only one reference to supporting jobs, which was an enterprise fund of €50 million in two years, at a time when the Government's document was forecasting 250,000 jobs would be lost over...

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Either this is a meaningful process where we can discuss something of relevance to the country or else it is just a sham and we are wasting the Taoiseach's time and our own.

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: I would like to have some opportunity. We are talking about an economic renewal committee which has important business to do. Within six days of the meeting of that committee, a budget emerged which bore no stamp of the work of that committee. Surely we have a right to ask the Taoiseach in respect of this-----

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: ------particularly at a time when other parties made their effort. We put forward our proposals for infrastructure investment that would not have relied on Exchequer funding.

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: We are all interested in some process of Dáil reform that at least allows us some sort of meaningful exchange in this House on issues that matter.

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Last Friday I was in Donegal where businesspeople were in despair at the budget. There is a sense that nothing was done about the VAT issues to give them relief and that there was no investment stimulus. These are people trying to hang on in the face of a very tough climate. The Taoiseach needs to think again about what the Government is going to do about job protection and job stimulus in...

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Chips were brought in.

Cabinet Committees. (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Are the newspaper reports accurate, namely, that the legislation to underpin the NAMA will not be presented to the House until autumn? Against this backdrop and if the Taoiseach is discussing establishing an interim board, will it have the authority to commit taxpayers' money without the Dáil having any say in the framework within which it will operate? The figures are of a stunning...

Appointment of Ministers of State (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: Briefly, I make no secret of the fact that my party believes the Taoiseach should have gone further both in reducing the numbers and in the remuneration of the offices. Notwithstanding that, I congratulate the new appointees in particular, namely, Deputies Áine Brady and Calleary. The Cabinet still will be "Kitted" out as although one Deputy Kitt has departed, another Deputy Kitt has...

Order of Business (22 Apr 2009)

Richard Bruton: I wish to ask two questions on the Order of Business. First, I seek clarification from the Taoiseach on the issue of the National Asset Management Agency. There have been newspaper reports that although this is a matter of priority, it is unlikely that Members will see the legislation until October. However, the Taoiseach indicated recently that an interim board would be appointed fairly...