Results 30,361-30,380 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Tax Code. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the Minister's examination of this exemption. What will be the scope of the examination? The HSE spends approximately €30 million on privately provided services, which are subject to either 13.5% or 21% VAT. Many families provide home care services themselves without the support of the HSE and 24-7 care costs approximately €1,500 a week, resulting in a VAT bill of €16,000 a...

Tax Code. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Does the Minister expect the review to be competed before the announcement of the budget on 6 December? I would like the review to be accelerated so that, at least, the Minister would have the option of considering amendments in this area, if that is possible.

Tax Code. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: The most recent data on the cost of pension relief date back to 2001 or 2002 when it would have cost €3 billion. The Minister is collecting information on the distribution of pension benefits and therefore will be aware of who gets the benefit. When will we have sight of the information on the distribution of pension benefits across different income thresholds? There is an issue...

Price Inflation. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is satisfied that the pricing of services provided or regulated by Government is contributing adequately to containing price pressures in the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33447/06]

Price Inflation. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister aware that if one takes a five-year perspective from the end of 2001, when the current CPI was constructed, to the present day, looking only at Government services, one sees that the increase in their price has been 52%? By contrast, the cost of private services, which pay the same wage costs and endure the same environment, has increased by only 18%. Government service...

Price Inflation. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Does the Minister agree that the two VAT increases he implemented in 2002 have added approximately €714 million to his revenue, equivalent to approximately €500 per family? Does he further agree that the cost increases I outlined have added approximately €3,000 in extra costs for a consumer or family affected by them? Therefore, the Minister's suggestion that these are insignificant...

Price Inflation. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Is the Minister proposing water charges?

Price Inflation. (18 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: The Minister would have to change the law to introduce water charges. He does not have the legal authority to do so.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 192: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of meetings of the Food Agency Co-Operation Council in 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32765/06]

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is common practice within the Garda that persons who are working within specialist units, who seek promotion, are required to leave their specialist unit and return to general policing on acceptance of promotion; and if he will review this practice in order...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 404: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to a practice where companies keep breaking contracts in order to leave workers in a permanent temporary capacity, thereby eroding their capacity to develop pension rights and other service-related benefits; and his plans to develop protocols that would bring this practice to an end. [32669/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 420: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will review the rules whereby a single parent can lose eligibility to the back to school allowance by taking up work which amounts to a lesser number of hours than would be sufficient to qualify for family income supplement; and if he will make changes to ensure that traps of this nature are removed in order that all...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 429: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the threshold for secondary sources of income used to decide eligibility for fuel schemes was last changed; and the value it would now be at if it had been indexed in line with the contributory old age pension. [33283/06]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 513: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans for the development of services for children with dyslexia and in particular the plans in respect of services at second-level education. [32667/06]

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: I have a question on transport legislation for Dublin. I recently read the Progressive Democrats' manifesto.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Yes, it is sad. They had some interesting policies. They were going to eliminate the transport deficit by 2007. By 2006 we would have two new Luas lines and by 2007 we would have a metro to Dublin Airport. Does the Taoiseach feel any sense of failure, not only that we have not delivered——

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: The Ceann Comhairle should let me complete the sentence.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: I would like to ask a question on legislation. Does the Taoiseach feel any sense of failure that not only has he not delivered the promises of his Progressive Democrats colleagues, but he has failed in his own programme to replace——

Order of Business (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: ——the Road Transport Act 1932 with modern legislation? There is also the Dublin transport authority Bill. We have seen neither Bill and were told that they would be introduced before the end of this session. Parliamentary counsel has not even started on the heads of one Bill, while the other will not be ready before the election. Five years on, the Taoiseach has delivered nothing, not...

Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2006)

Richard Bruton: Our prices are 50% more expensive than the UK.