Results 33,781-33,800 of 34,833 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Minister replied to a parliamentary question that the Department was considering possible candidates for further asset sales to inform further decisions. I agree with remarks on Coillte made by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I fully understand the Fine Gael position but I cannot fathom the Labour Party's support for it, it has walked away from its people. I accept...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Yes, but the Government is looking at assets that will generate revenue further down the road and getting their value now for the taxpayer to invest. I appeal to the Minister when he is looking at assets to look at the State's financial assets. We own 99% of AIB. The chief executive of the bank was before the Oireachtas committee recently and he said they want to dispose of some of it to...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: We can. Perhaps the Minister thinks we should not have nationalised it and it should have been closed down. If he wants to say that, that is fine. There are shares to be sold in AIB and there are shares being sold in Bank of Ireland. If the sale of assets in such a bank is worth a lot to the Exchequer, could that money not be used to fund the economic development programme we all want to...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I am bemused at the Minister's answer that we would not realise the value of the State's shares in the banks at present. Is the Minister not aware that during the summer - this arose at the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts and in a response to a question to the Minister for Finance last night - the Government sold €1.123 billion worth of Bank of Ireland shares and that the...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I am not a bit confused because this is black and white. The Government claims the State cannot realise the value of its shares but it is doing the opposite. I am glad the Government got €1.123 billion and reduced the State share-holding in Bank of Ireland. There was nothing in the emorandum of understanding we signed last December about using the proceeds of State assets. The...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: They are State assets.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Why not use those proceeds for job creation not for writing down debt?

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Perhaps 40%.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Selling the ESB is the first nail in the coffin of the Labour Party in this Government. That should have been the red line issue on going into Government, but there was no red line because the Labour Party was so eager to get into government. It is not necessary to sell these assets. I accept from this side that mistakes were made in the past with selling the likes of Eircom, but it is...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: The Government should sell the banks - that is constructive.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: We are too strategic.

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. I am disappointed the Minister is not here, but I am sure he will be back to take questions. It is a sad day. It is sad that we are here to talk about selling shares in the ESB, EirGrid, Bord Gáis, Coillte and Bord na Móna. Each of these is a strategic asset. The Minister will almost try and tell us that the provision of light, heat,...

Sale of State Assets: Statements (13 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: They will have no job at the end of it. That is the same thing to me. I am shocked that the Labour Party has been snookered into this. The Minister, who is a shareholder, is selling these assets. Another Labour Party Minister, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, will be the front line Minister for the sale of some of these assets and we have a...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 14: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to bring forward proposals in relation to developing the digital gaming industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28830/11]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 47: To ask the Minister for Finance the arrangements in place regarding recouping VAT to the Exchequer when State agencies arrange the sale of assets abroad and when VAT may be charged on the sale commission or on the sale proceeds (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28992/11]

Written Answers — Banks Recapitalisation: Banks Recapitalisation (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Finance the arrangements in respect of the €1 billion that is being recouped from the sale of Bank of Ireland shares to private investors; if he will confirm that funding provided to Bank of Ireland through the National Pensions Reserve Fund is to be lodged; the impact this will have on State finances; the implications in respect of the budget deficit...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 128: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if, in view of the sell off of the channel 69 spectrum and the move to channel 38 for programmes making special event users, he will consider having the licensing rate reduced to a level in line with neighbouring countries; if he will examine the possibility of some financial support scheme to help them...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 136: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the role of the relevant local authorities, through whom funding is provided from his Department for voluntary housing co-operatives; if the local authority has any responsibility in relation to the standard of works or are they merely a conduit for funding with no responsibility in relation to these...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 140: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the timescale for introducing legislation based on the report of the medical negligence working group which recommended the introduction of a periodic payment order scheme as an alternative to the current lump sum system of paying compensation in catastrophic injury cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29036/11]

Written Answers — Mental Health Services: Mental Health Services (12 Oct 2011)

Seán Fleming: Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health his priorities for mental health services; if he will ensure that there are no cuts in expenditure in this area in budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/11]