Results 30,561-30,580 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Jul 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 699: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children under nine years who are in classes of over 20 pupils in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25856/06]

Written Answers — Pre-School Services: Pre-School Services (4 Jul 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 754: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the role of Montessori in developing early childhood education; if her Department has recognised the system for funding and recognised its association as an acceptable regulatory body for developing standards; and the role that she foresees for Montessori in the continuing development of services under her Department. [26388/06]

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (29 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outstanding issues to be dealt with by Romania before that State may become a member of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25151/06]

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (29 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings he has held with his counterparts from EU and non EU Member States to discuss tackling human trafficking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25122/06]

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 151: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a case where a person (details supplied) has been detained without charge and without disclosure of evidence which would back up its alleged security reasons for their detention; if he has raised this practice of administrative detention with the Israeli authorities; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Nursing Home Charges: Nursing Home Charges (29 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 131: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when the repayment of the unlawfully deducted charges in nursing homes will commence; and the length of time it will take to complete the process; and her views on making a further interim payment in view of the delay and the advanced age of many of the recipients. [25396/06]

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (29 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 184: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the community development projects which have operated in disadvantaged areas under recent community support frameworks will be renewed; and when will agencies running these receive a financial envelope in order to frame new multi-annual plans. [25398/06]

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: The Minister might learn something.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: The Government made a promise in the House.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: One would not want to hold one's breath.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: F minus.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Is that the new Cabinet?

Industrial Disputes. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the Minister's reply. In the context of voluntary negotiations, what is the Minister putting on the table for people in State agencies who opt to stay in Dublin? I understand that the Department of Finance, as the public service employer, has not offered any options to people who voluntarily want to remain in Dublin and whose contract is with the State agencies. These people have...

Industrial Disputes. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Does the Minister not have to spell out what "voluntary" means? He has said repeatedly decentralisation is voluntary. He needs to tell people in FÁS, Enterprise Ireland, the National Standards Authority of Ireland etc., what it means in terms of their options. They can then negotiate on the options on the table. I do not foresee the Minister putting——

Industrial Disputes. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: It is not realistic for the Minister to regard himself as an outside interest. He is core to this process. It is his policy. He needs to create the framework.

Industrial Disputes. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: That is not the case in this instance. With respect, this is not a standard industrial dispute.

Industrial Disputes. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: No, I would present the business case, the approach we need to take, the things we have to achieve and say why this is a good move and how to mitigate certain problems that arise. One sets out a strategic case and then the unions negotiate, knowing what is the strategic framework. However, while the Minister has talked about the process, he has no strategic framework within which the parties...

Pension Provisions. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 24: To ask the Minister for Finance his Department's view regarding the defined benefit pension schemes in public bodies and the accounting standards applied in pensions funding. [25173/06]

Pension Provisions. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am sure he has seen reports in the media of the experience of the board of one State company which was considering moving from a defined benefit to a defined contribution scheme. On approaching the Department of Finance to discuss the matter, the board was told that if the idea of moving to defined contributions were to surface ahead of the national pay...

Pension Provisions. (28 Jun 2006)

Richard Bruton: I accept it is not a matter the Minister should pre-empt. As he indicated in his reply, however, the attitude of the Department of Finance to public pay and condition norms in State bodies has always been central to the way in which they developed. Is the Minister saying the reports are incorrect that an approach was made to his Department and that the latter was at best two-faced in...