Results 34,441-34,460 of 34,833 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2009)

Seán Fleming: I am glad to have an opportunity to speak on the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008. This wide-ranging legislation covers many issues relating to housing at local authority and other levels. It is an issue close to the heart of every public representative, both at national and local level, and is important considering the current economic situation. I must give credit to the...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (24 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 847: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Laois. [11042/09]

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009. It is timely as the local and European elections, and possibly some by-elections, are scheduled for 5 June. It is important the legislation is processed as soon as possible. This straightforward Bill is not establishing any new principles in the electoral process. It is extending the...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: ——and thought they would get me fined six weeks after the election. The posters appeared again on other occasions.

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Somebody did it, but it was not one of my party colleagues. All four candidates in Laois-Offaly were featured on a single poster so it was somebody else. I will not point a finger but it was malicious. It was an attempt to get——

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: No. His picture along with the pictures of me, Deputy Brian Cowen and Councillor John Foley appeared on the poster. It was not him. That incident happened so candidates should be careful. I have no hesitation in defending my action of taking down the posters. The legislation also deals with the expenditure limits. I fully support limits. However, I believe they are outrageously large....

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: I believe the figures are not compiled properly. I will ask that a comparison is made between how much a candidate can spend on a local election with what can be spent on a general election. I would have assumed a candidate would have much less to spend, not just proportionately, in a local election. When one considers that candidates can spend €10,000 per electoral area, it amounts to a...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: No. The Minister is making provision for election expenditure but it is up to the individual candidates if they choose to take up that level. I do not envisage candidates in my constituency taking up a fraction of what is permitted under the legislation. I hope the figures will be re-examined. Personally, I believe they are too high. There is a lacuna in the legislation. If a third party...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Poor Mary and everybody else. There must be something wrong with the system if it allows very direct political advertising but has no legislation to deal with it. We must deal with that issue. It might not be possible in this legislation but we must deal with it in the near future. Before introducing this legislation the Minister appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 406: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the costs paid by local authorities prior to design build and operate schemes being introduced for waste water treatment plants throughout the country and the costs now being paid by local authorities to private contractors under the DBO schemes; if he will publish the public sector cost comparator in...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 433: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the electoral divisions (details supplied) in County Laois will receive broadband under the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10081/09]

Written Answers — Tax Refund: Tax Refund (4 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 101: To ask the Minister for Finance when the deposit interest retention tax refund claim will be approved and granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois. [9088/09]

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (4 Mar 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 126: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when outstanding issues in relation to the payment of a grant under the sports capital programme to an organisation (details supplied) in County Laois will be dealt with. [9087/09]

Written Answers — Public Works Projects: Public Works Projects (25 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 131: To ask the Minister for Finance when the public walkway (details supplied) which had been closed for safety reasons by the Office of Public Works while they completed works in the area will be reopened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7868/09]

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 163: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works will arrange for a completion of works (details supplied) in County Laois before the end of February 2009. [7539/09]

Written Answers — Prison Staff: Prison Staff (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 282: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the competition for recruitment of prison officers which commenced in 2007; the number who applied for these positions; the number who passed the first round examination; the number who were contacted regarding stage two of this competition; the number who were called for interview; the number who...

Written Answers — Inland Waterways: Inland Waterways (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 364: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding a visit by his Department's staff to a location (details supplied) in County Laois; the contact they have had with the fisheries board regarding trying to carry out improvement works in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7538/09]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (24 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: Question 391: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the district electoral divisions in County Laois that are not part of the national broadband scheme; the reason they are not part of the scheme; and the details of the broadband service available in each of these districts. [7537/09]

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the employment law compliance Bill. Like every Member of the House, I have mixed views on this legislation. I am taken by the last paragraph in the explanatory memorandum: "In summary, the Bill is intended to benefit low-paid and other vulnerable employees in particular, by securing vindication of their employment-related rights: this should have clear...

Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Feb 2009)

Seán Fleming: ——before it returns to the House or sent on a sojourn so that we do not see it again or,——