Results 31,161-31,180 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I support the amendment, though the Oireachtas is settling for half a loaf rather than nothing at all. Deputy Boyle's proposal is very solid because it would give us the opportunity to debate the NESC strategy and the present one is worthy of study and debate. These bodies are essentially ingredients of social partnership but the key activity is the agreement hammered out in negotiations. It...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: Of course I will push it. We are not trying to hold another debate on the NESC strategy on housing. We are not looking for another debate on the reports on the welfare system or on the housing system, even if they are exciting and raise important issues that are not addressed by Government strategy, nor on the reports challenging the way we think about the environment and our capacity, as...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I support the amendment and Deputy Burton has articulated the reasons for tabling it. The Deputy has consistently introduced amendments to provide for the introduction of similar arrangements to apply to various bodies which come before the House. Although the Government should accept these kinds of provisions, it has consistently failed to do so.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I note that discussions on social partnership are about to restart. Is it not extraordinary that the last deal involved no input from the Dáil in framing the discussions, no debate on the negotiations and no sanction by the Dáil on the outcome of the social partnership agreement? The State was the only group represented at the partnership talks that did not get sanction for its proposal.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: Is there to be a change in the way social partnership negotiations occur on this occasion?

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: It is an issue on the Order of Business because the discussions are starting and there has been no signal from the Government that there will be any change in the way we deal with the issue.

Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: If one divorces social partnership from those who are democratically elected to the Houses, it is not good for social partnership, no more than it is good for this House.

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I welcome this amendment. It is important that all areas where the Taoiseach has powers to make changes in respect of the scope of this Bill should come for approval under this reduced form system. I am glad the Government has accepted this approach.

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I move amendment No. 9: In page 8, between lines 30 and 31, to insert the following: "(2) The Council shall, prior to the commencement of negotiation of agreements between the Government and the social partners, present to the Oireachtas an assessment of key strategic challenges relating to the efficient development of the economy and the achievement of social "justice" and set out a...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: I do not know whether the Minister of State is being deliberately obtuse in failing to address the issues raised by the Opposition or if his head is so buried in the sand that he cannot see them. This amendment does not require the NESC to report to the Dáil and that is not at stake. The crucial matter is that, prior to the commencement of negotiations on agreements, a debate should be held...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: That is not the intention of this amendment. The Minister of State deliberately ignored all references to social partnership and pretended that the debate here merely concerned the relationship between the Government and the NESC. We have been debating the need to change the way in which partnership works through making it more dynamic, answerable to the people and willing to confront...

National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report Stage. (1 Feb 2006)

Richard Bruton: If he read the legislation, he would know it does not merely concern holding debates about NESC reports. It is about shaping the way partnership develops, not about debating reports.

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 137: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department has given sanction for the redevelopment of the Children's University Hospital in a joint development on the campus of the Mater hospital; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a proposed review of tertiary paediatric services has put a halt to this development on which €46 million has...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has received the residential and non-acute care accreditation scheme from the Irish Health Services Accreditation Board; the action she will take regarding the proposed scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3053/06]

Written Answers — Tax Certificates: Tax Certificates (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 357: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the delays in issuing P60s in respect of 2005; the reason for same; his views on whether this will delay the payment of overpaid tax to taxpayers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2809/06]

Written Answers — Departmental Payments: Departmental Payments (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 366: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of interest paid by his Department to contractors or to others due payments from his Department on account of late settlement of the amount due; the rate of interest applying to late payments; and if he is satisfied that all efforts are made to pay promptly. [3202/06]

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 367: To ask the Minister for Finance the value of interest payments made by the Revenue Commissioners in respect of overpayments of tax, and the rate of interest applying; and his views on whether the legislation is too restrictive in respect of the circumstances when compliant taxpayers are due interest rebates. [3204/06]

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 371: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the energy regulator has put in place a customer charter; and if the regulator is subject to referral to the Ombudsman. [2808/06]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 399: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views regarding ending the practice whereby a person on unemployment benefit will switch to becoming an adult dependent of his or her spouse; if the spouse is in receipt of a social welfare payment, once the 15 month claim has expired; and his further views on the introduction of a system of individualisation as has been...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2006)

Richard Bruton: Question 400: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if arrangements have been made that persons taking up childminding under the €10,000 tax exemption scheme announced in the 2006 budget could obtain cover at least at class S even though exempt from payment of the insurance levy on earnings up to €10,000. [2806/06]