Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,787 for speaker:Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (6 Feb 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there is a delay in the project (details supplied) being approved by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5928/14]

Northern Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (5 Feb 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the current situation in Northern Ireland and on the recent work that has been undertaken by the Government and, in particular, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in seeking a successful resolution to the talks chaired by Dr. Richard Haass. It is with a sense of regret that I point out that almost 20 years since the IRA and...

Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Fianna Fáil councillors rezoned those areas.

European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: One of the most important things we have in this Republic is the opportunity to vote and participate in elections. The Minister has announced that the date for the European and local elections will be 23 May. One difficulty we have in Ireland is with the disconnect between the electoral system and the population and the fact that many people do not believe politics is working for them. One...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: It is not an encouraging balance that we are trying to strike here. To go back to the issue of those who need short-term loans, the suggestion from the witnesses is that they would resist an interest rate cap. Surely anybody listening to this conversation or studying these figures would say that any interest rate that creeps up to 287% has to be challenged, controlled and driven down....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Does that mean that 88% said "No"? What did the others say?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I welcome the delegates. The report is interesting, as is much of the information given in response to questions. We had all assumed the Central Bank was in the business of ensuring people were not exploited. When the Central Bank engages with people on the receiving end of these loans, whom it states it is trying to protect, how do the delegates describe an APR of 287%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: Is there an adjective Mr. Sheridan would use? Would he describe it as excessive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I would describe an interest rate of 287% as pornographic, but that is just me. Mr. Sheridan talks about people who want short-term loans, but if they want short-term loans at that range, between 23% and 287%, it means that they have something in their lives they want to finance at short notice. It could be the cost of a funeral or Christmas expenses and concerns something they cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: They will take money at any cost in order to get through this period.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I must look at it in those terms because Mr. Sheridan has said he has engaged with lenders and that is the basis of his report. I assume he talked to the MABS which has done a lot of work with the Traveller community on the reasons moneylending becomes a problem in that community. Surely he has some appreciation of the reasons people need short-term loans and, at difficult times in their...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: That is always the argument made against doing anything. With any legal vice in society, people say that if we touch or regulate it too much, it will move underground. Is that a good enough excuse?

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Week (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 95. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for heritage week, particularly for involving the disadvantaged, Travellers, and new Irish communities over the week 23 to 31 August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (29 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 98. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will investigate the possibility of preserving the Legion Hall in Killester in view of the anniversary of the commencement of the Great War this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4468/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Exemptions (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 195. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has considered reducing the rate of VAT for children's tennis lessons to make them more accessible for struggling parents and encourage an active lifestyle amongst children in view of the rising rates of obesity here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils who entered the primary education system in 2013; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3732/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils that will be leaving the primary school system in 2014 nationwide; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3733/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school pupils currently in senior infants, first class, second class, third class, fourth class and fifth class; and if he will provide the information for each county. [3734/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Supply (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 506. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the help available to homeowners who moved into homes with leaks on their side of the property boundary in view of the imminent introduction of water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3685/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Obesity Strategy (28 Jan 2014)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: 658. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has explored the health consequences of the below cost selling of sugary food and drinks to children; if she has considered developing a strategy to deal with the consequences of such a policy in view of the rising rates of obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3746/14]