Results 28,321-28,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: I wish to ask a question.

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will share my scepticism at the Minister's silky assurances that everything in the Department of Finance is carefully assessed.

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: I will not do so. I ask the Minister whether the €900 million for the decentralisation programme was carefully assessed in the Department. Was the €52 million spent on e-voting carefully assessed in the Department, or the €160 million on PPARS? I could go on and list all the projects we see year in, year out in the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Let us be honest...

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: What assessment was done before the politicians took the decision?

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: We expected that a business case would be made or an assessment carried out.

National Development Plan. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: That is the sort of answer the Minister would get away with in the Dáil bar, but not here. Unfortunately, we are time-constrained.

Appointments to State Boards. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the fact that the Minister intends to put some thought into this, but I hope it does not suffer the fate of his thoughts about publishing evaluations. Does the Minister not agree that we would be much more assured of the quality of the people appointed if we had some level of assessment by an Oireachtas committee? I am not talking about a Star Chamber, but an Oireachtas committee...

Value for Money Initiative. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Minister evaded the question which was whether he would allow the Oireachtas to initiate the evaluation. We represent the people who use public services and see good and bad. The issue for us is that several other parliaments have very strong evaluation arms available to them. They carry out serious evaluations of performance and are backed in doing that work. The Government has a...

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: I suppose it is the elephant in the room so far as competitiveness is concerned, but can I ask the Minister about the role of sectors that he manages or regulates? Does he accept that half of the inflation generated since 2000, excluding mortgage interest, has been generated by services directly provided or regulated by the Government? Does he intend to benchmark the competitiveness of...

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: We have the highest price for electricity and the highest rate of increase. Riddle me that?

Economic Competitiveness. (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Minister does not have personal responsibility. The responsibility lies with the public sector, which he manages.

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: The Taxing Master of the High Court has drawn the attention of the House to the fact that many people are being ripped off in the legal fees they are being charged. A Government committee sat and reported on this, but we have not yet had any action on the matter. What priority does Government give to No. 74, the legal costs Bill? This is a matter that affects not only ordinary families,...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: That does not sound as if it is being given priority. Reports and recommendations have been provided.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 190: To ask the Taoiseach if the Central Statistics Office has determined the way the proposed transfer of funds from pension funds of certain non-commercial State sponsored bodies to the Exchequer would be treated in the Government accounts in that the move adds both liabilities and assets to the Exchequers position; and if the EU have been asked to comment on the impact on the...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 275: To ask the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which VAT can be refunded to persons doing small home improvements or one-off building; if a more generous regime of VAT rebate applies in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29761/08]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 278: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will extend the tax exemption that applies to pensioners on low income who earn deposit interest in order that an exemption will also apply to exit taxes which are levied on the maturity of certain savings bonds and other savings products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29929/08]

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 298: To ask the Minister for Finance the pension schemes for which a full guarantee on pension payments will be offered in return for acquiring the accumulated assets in the funds; the total value of these funds; and the purposes to which these acquired funds will be devoted. [30316/08]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 300: To ask the Minister for Finance if Agri-Environmental Science, which is a level eight degree within the UCD Department of Agricultural Science, is a course which makes graduates eligible for stamp duty relief for young farmers; and if not, if he will take steps to add it to the list of qualifying courses. [30332/08]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 309: To ask the Minister for Finance if tax relief will be extended to cover the cost of park and ride car parking expenses used to facilitate people switching from their private car to public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30488/08]

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (24 Sep 2008)

Richard Bruton: Question 358: To ask the Minister for Finance if the existing level of service estimates for 2009 have been estimated; and if he will be placing them in the Oireachtas Library in advance of budget 2009. [31524/08]