Results 3,641-3,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (8 Sep 2020)

Richard Bruton: 503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the significant gap in funding between voluntary secondary schools and those which are run by the ETB sector; and her plans to close the funding gap. [21358/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Sep 2020)

Richard Bruton: 504. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied that many schools in disadvantaged inner city areas do not get the sort of supports needed to even up educational opportunity; her plans to assess the scale of the gap in educational opportunity; and if proposals are being developed to close the gap. [21359/20]

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Richard Bruton: Some of the interpretation of this legislation is very unfair to those who drafted it. I listened to Deputies Michael Collins, Michael Healy-Rae and Mattie McGrath. In my view, this is a framework under which we can start to open pubs and lift some of the restrictions that have been very difficult to manage. Deputy Michael Collins portrayed the legislation as a means to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the spend by her Department on improving school leadership and in delivering in-service training to teachers; the proportion of teacher payroll which it represents; and her plans to increase that ratio over her term in office in a significant manner. [17962/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the planned reform of the leaving certificate will be accelerated in view of the changes which are necessary to the conventional curriculum and examination system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17961/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 991. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to establish childcare Ireland; when he expects to have the agency established in order to provide greater support to the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19744/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 992. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to his statement to provide financial supports for parents who opt to look after their children themselves, if he will provide further details on the proposals; if this will be pursued through the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19745/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 993. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to reform the childcare system to create one that brings together the best of community and private childcare provision; if terms of reference have been drawn up; if stakeholders will be included; the time frame for establishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19746/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 994. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to set a cap on parental fees irrespective of income and publish a policy, legal and economic analysis in 2020 as set out in the Programme for Government; if terms of reference and tenders for this report have been initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/20]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services (30 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 995. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to examine options to increase flexibility within centre based care in addition to options to accelerate access to subsidies for non-relative childminders as set out in the Programme for Government; if terms of reference and tenders for this examination have been initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19748/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (29 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 53. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the ratio of persons aged 65 years of age and over in 2016 to the numbers aged between 25 and 64 years of age and to the numbers at work; her projection for these ratios in ten and twenty years’ time, respectively; and the implications for projected pension costs and the balance between spending and revenue in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider increasing hours and or posts supported in schools for guidance counselling in view of the increased pressures on students as a result of Covid-19; and if supports will be particularly focused on children that may be at a disadvantage. [19396/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: Everyone recognises that Covid-19 is an appalling tragedy for many countries, particularly the least developed ones, but it also offers an opportunity to embed real structural change as we move forward and try to resolve it. There is a risk that low oil prices and the urgency of immediate priorities might result in the wrong decisions being taken. It would be worthwhile for the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on her elevation to the post. I have started to read the book she recommended to me. The EU green deal is an exciting moment for Europe and it offers the opportunity for Europe to change something for the good globally. It is important that we use this opportunity to make sure other countries, which are in a less strong position to take on those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his preparations for the climate conference which has been postponed until 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17964/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: This year's planned UN conference on climate change has had to be postponed until next year. This gives an opportunity, in the light of the European green deal, for Ireland to plan a more coherent approach to that conference , particularly in the context of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in leveraging change across the international community. I would like to hear...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: I do not wish to repeat everything that has been said, but what strikes me, apart from the content of this law, which is worrying in itself, is that it is in conflict with the basic law which was the underpinning of the "one country, two systems" principle; that it was drafted in secret, with no opportunity for the people of Hong Kong to be consulted; that it has created categories of crime...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: How is it intended that the EU will monitor the application of this law within Hong Kong in order that not just its introduction but also its continuing application can be a cause of pressure to ensure that the potential abuses that are evident in the way it is being introduced do not come to pass?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 34. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the way in which new legislation designating political protest as a criminal offence with huge penalties was introduced and the new security apparatus has been installed in Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17963/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (28 Jul 2020)

Richard Bruton: 638. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to improve animal welfare in the greyhound industry here and in countries to which they are exported; and if he will report on the progress being made. [18338/20]