Results 27,821-27,840 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 1450: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has had an opportunity to consider the application for an emergency works grant from a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to cover the immediate replacement of an antiquated and costly heating system as set out in their 2001 refurbishment/extension application. [48059/08]

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 1488: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will make arrangements that the cheques for grant holders are issued by set payment dates in order that students can rely on having the money at the beginning of term or at the start of the new year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1149/09]

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: Question 1489: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has support to offer to a person who lost their job over the summer and has enrolled in a further education course; and if in view of the present crisis, rules will be relaxed in terms of waiting periods and parental dependency to allow such persons take up the best option with the lowest ultimate cost to the State. [1153/09]

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: It is inconvenient.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: Let us see it.

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: On what ongoing basis?

Order of Business (27 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: It may be early March, but the budget was only in December.

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: I am slightly confused as we were informed the amendment had been disallowed. Obviously, that is not the case.

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: The substantive point in this regard is that a thorough investigation is required to get to the bottom of this matter. If necessary, a High Court inspector must be appointed. I support the principle underpinning the amendment. Decisions and behaviour in the banks have exposed taxpayers to significant risk, destroyed shareholder value in the banks concerned and damaged the employment...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: I wish to share time with Deputies Kieran O'Donnell and Olivia Mitchell. Perhaps the Chair would let me know when 20 minutes have elapsed. Most people in this country share a sense of outrage at how we have come to this pass. That sense of outrage is apparent right across the country. There is outrage at the political ineptitude which has been a feature of why we are in this sorry...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: That is something that must come out of this. People are terrified that their job may be the next to go, that they can no longer rely on their pensions, that they can no longer rely on the banks. There is a yearning now for leadership, and that leadership has not been given. Let us be blunt. We have budgets that displayed no understanding of the challenge we face and now we are apparently...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: We need to deal with that matter and have a proper answer to it. I am surprised that it was not dealt with in the Minister's Second Stage speech.

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: It should be dealt with. This is the last time Deputies will get a chance to assess this legislation. The Minister knows as well as I do that there is a great deal of public concern. He may say it is frivolous and wrong-headed but there is a concern that Fianna Fáil politicians could use the nationalisation of the bank to advance the interests of debtors to the bank — big property...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: It must be absolutely copper-fastened that this cannot happen. The Taoiseach may feel that this questioning is unwarranted but it is everywhere in the media and it must be nailed. In other words, we must pin down that there can be no unwarranted interference, that the bank will be managed entirely without fear or favouritism, that taxpayers will see the policies applied in writing down...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: We need radical and total change. I accept the Government now has the opportunity to bring in a fresh board. Members of the Oireachtas deserve an opportunity to vet the suitability, appropriateness and policies that are going to be pursued. We need to see the strategy that is to be pursued if this bank, as the Minister says, is to be made a going concern. He knows we are sceptical that...

Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Bill 2009: Second Stage (20 Jan 2009)

Richard Bruton: There is a middle way, which is the one we have advocated. The time is so curtailed that I do not even have time to mention all the amendments we will seek to make. However, we will want to see proper operational independence in the bank and a presentation to the Oireachtas of the relationship framework so that we can vet it. We will want to see transparency on loan exposures and decisions...

Gaming and Lotteries Legislation. (18 Dec 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 7: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in respect of proposed reform of the gaming and lotteries legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47133/08]

Recapitalisation of Credit Institutions: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Minister that we must be careful about this issue. Equally, it is a matter in which the Dáil must exercise careful scrutiny of what is occurring, but that position is inconsistent with the Government's decision to dismiss the Dáil for six weeks in the midst of this delicate and important business. When the guarantee was offered on 30 September, I happily offered the...

Recapitalisation of Credit Institutions: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Richard Bruton: I would have preferred if the Minister could have provided more information on the advances that have been made——

Recapitalisation of Credit Institutions: Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Richard Bruton: ——and indicated what is envisaged and how taxpayers will be protected. At present, taxpayers are being run ragged as a result of what is happening with the banks. The cost of the State's borrowing has already risen by 1.5%, which will add almost €1 billion to our total debt next year. Taxpayers are, therefore, being screwed in respect of the cost of this borrowing. It is obvious that...