Results 31,441-31,460 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 240: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons employed in the public sector distinguishing the pension contribution made by different categories of worker and indicating the corresponding employer contribution. [34871/05]

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 182: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of meetings of the Food Agency Co-Operation Council in 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33801/05]

Written Answers — Civil Marriage: Civil Marriage (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 205: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she has made provision for conducting a civil marriage ceremony in places other than a registry office; when the public will be able to avail of this opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34116/05]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 289: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of first-time purchasers of new houses valued under €317,500 and under 125 square metres in size that have had to pay stamp duty due to the fact that the builder has not or cannot produce a floor area compliance certificate; his views on whether first-time buyers in those circumstances have a liability to stamp duty in such...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 372: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if directives or guidelines have been issued to pension fund managers, or if directives or guidelines have been issued by agencies acting on his authority regarding the provision of early pensions to persons who retire before reaching 65. [34117/05]

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 414: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on suggestions that Luas drivers are not always receiving the minimum rest periods due to inadequate rostering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34470/05]

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 439: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the role of her Department in relation to animal welfare; if she is satisfied that this aspect of policy has kept pace with developments in other countries; her views on whether there is merit in restructuring this aspect of policy and integrating all aspects of animal welfare especially in respect of domestic animals in the...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (15 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 638: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the role of his Department with regard to animal welfare; if he has satisfied himself that this aspect of policy has kept pace with developments in other countries; his views on whether there is merit in restructuring this aspect of policy and integrating all aspects of animal welfare especially in respect of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (10 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 40: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount by which he expects Ireland's contribution to overseas development aid will be increased for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33277/05]

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 131: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will indicate his estimate of the gap in production costs for bioethanol fuel compared to competing oil based products. [33113/05]

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 158: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the contrasting trends reported by the Central Statistics Office regarding employment growth and output growth in the economy, which implies an unexplained collapse in productivity growth in the economy. [28595/05]

Written Answers — Health Levy: Health Levy (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 210: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the cost of the concession exempting persons with income under €400 from paying the health levy; the cost of exempting from health levy the first €127 of income, the first €150 of income and the first €175 of income respectively; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the present fixed exemption limit...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 257: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the rules relating to exposure to visual display units for workers which prevail in Ireland; if these differ from the standards generally applying in the EU; and the plans he has to revise those standards or to harmonise standards across the EU. [33395/05]

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to introduce innovations in the presentation of the budget Estimates in the procedures by which they are debated, in requirements for evaluations in respect of new initiatives and of the impact of tax measures in order that the debate on spending and taxation can be better focused on obtaining value for money. [33303/05]

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister for his reply, which is clear on commitment but short on detail. I am disappointed the Minister does not intend to have the new procedures in place to allow us to have a more meaningful debate on the Estimates and budget for 2006. I refer to five white elephants, e-voting, MediaLab, Stadium Campus Ireland, accommodation for asylum seekers that was not occupied and the...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Comptroller and Auditor General's remit should be extended beyond reporting on past failures to improve corporate governance by preventing their repetition. That was my suggestion. Does the Minister agree that if key performance indicators are not published by Ministers with the Estimates, the Dáil cannot effectively hold them to account? For example, an allocation of €46 billion is...

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: That is the end of it, there is no follow up.

Budgetary Process. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: The Minister has experience of this. He should not pull that one.

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister for his reply. His figures suggest that one in five people obtain a tax review and, on average, receive a €750 refund. While I do not suggest that the remaining four out of every five would receive a similar refund, has the Minister looked hard at the take-up on various reliefs where there is likely to be under-claiming? I have conducted a calculation exercise, without...

Tax Code. (9 Nov 2005)

Richard Bruton: I have assembled the information to which I referred earlier and can forward it to the Minister. What I have calculated is based on CSO estimates of how much is spent on out-of-pocket medical expenses and on what we know of bin charges through the local authorities. It is also based on what we know of the number of people who claim DIRT refunds. Only 1,000 people claimed DIRT refunds while...