Results 4,461-4,480 of 7,082 for speaker:John Paul Phelan

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2014)

John Paul Phelan: I am glad to have the opportunity to welcome this good news story, as Deputy Lawlor called it. I commend the Minister and ESB for acting so swiftly on this matter. In the 15 years for which I have been a public representative, broadband provision has been the main issue, apart from the economic problems of recent years and the issues that arise continually in the health service. As with...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Companies Law Issues (22 Jan 2014)

John Paul Phelan: 101. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the new competition Bill will contain a provision requiring the large multiple retailers who operate in different jurisdictions to publish annually their profits from Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3020/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospitals Funding (15 Jan 2014)

John Paul Phelan: 907. To ask the Minister for Health the level of income raised from car parking services provided in Beaumont Hospital in the years 2007-2013 broken down per quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1729/14]

Adoption (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (19 Dec 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I add my voice to those of other speakers on the legislation. In particular, I thank the Minister, staff in her office and officials in her Department for introducing it. Until recently I understood 19 families were affected, but now I believe the number is 23. Adoption is an emotive and emotional subject. I remember the time when I first spoke on it ten or 12 years ago in the other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (18 Dec 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 126. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason the reviewing of rent allowance applications, in particular for change of address in the Carlow area, is taking much longer to process, which is putting at risk the person holding on to their house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54587/13]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Oireachtas Members' Remuneration (10 Dec 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form for each of the years 2007 to 2013, inclusive, the gross annual salary of a Member of Dáil Éireann; the gross annual salary of a Member of Seanad Éireann; the total amount paid to all Members of Dáil Éireann in expenses and allowances; the total amount paid to Members of...

Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Dec 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I wish to make a few points about the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill and to express my support for the legislation. I will direct some points to the Minister given that she is present. There can be no doubt that in recent years, as most of the previous speakers have alluded, the economic collapse in Europe and further afield has had a tremendous impact on the pension provisions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EirGrid: Discussion with Chairman Designate (3 Dec 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I am sorry I am late but I followed much of the meeting on the monitor. I would like to ask Mr. O'Connor a couple of questions. I was a bit aghast with a response he gave to a question from, I think, Deputy McGrath about remuneration and maybe he could clarify it. If, in my part of the world, a man or a woman was asked to train a junior B football team, he or she would know about the...

Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill and wish to make a couple of points concerning it. The CSO's jobs figures this week were promising and mark a significant step in the right direction, but there can be no complacency. The biggest task facing the Government is in creating jobs. It is particularly significant that this week's job statistics were good concerning the number of...

Road Traffic (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I am not sure I will use all of the five minutes, although seeing that the turnout from the Opposition is so huge today, I might use a bit more than five. I want to echo some of the points made by Deputy Kyne when he spoke about the Minister's recent announcement with regard to the 80 km/h road signs on country roads with grass often growing in the middle of them, which were a bit...

Forestry Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I am unsure as to whether I have had the opportunity to do so in the House since the Minister of State was appointed, but I wish him the best in his job. I will make a couple of points. I come from a part of the world where there is a great deal of forestry. In south Kilkenny in particular, there has traditionally been a large amount of State forestry. In recent years, much private...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (21 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: The report produced by the independent consultants on behalf of the Government on the North-South interconnector was based largely on information and data from 2007 and 2008. EirGid has already admitted in its public documentation that this Grid Link project will go to planning in 2016. In the eight year intervening period it is reasonable to suspect technology will change substantially. I...

Topical Issue Debate: Electricity Transmission Network (21 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing us to raise this issue. It has taken about three weeks to get this raised under Topical Issues. One of the frustrations a TD encounters is the difficulty in even getting a parliamentary question answered about EirGrid. I have had a number of such questions ruled out of order. Rather than repeat everything that has been said by previous speakers, I...

Government Decision on Exiting Programme of Financial Support: Motion (Resumed) (20 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: I am glad to have the opportunity to make a few points in this discussion. I would not agree with the remedy Deputy Peter Mathews suggested, but he is right about there being unfinished business and how the legacy debt should be dealt with. I am not sure his recommendation is a genuine solution that can be agreed to, but the Government must turn its attention to this issue more strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the construction of a school extension (details supplied) in County Waterford ; when he expects the project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49695/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to extending mature student status to persons who may have begun third level education before the age of 23, when their parents means were taken into consideration for assessment, but have since continued further study and have been living independently for several years; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (13 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is deemed ineligible for a third level grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48492/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Nursing Home Subventions (13 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: 177. To ask the Minister for Health if there are any plans to develop a national forum for discussions to take place between the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the national representative body for nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48490/13]

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: The last few times I have spoken in the Dáil, I have had the unfortunate distinction of being after Deputy Bannon, who is even more verbose than I am. I commend the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013 to the House. While I like Deputy Colreavy, I am not sure what types of bicycle they have in Leitrim. In Kilkenny, one can only pedal a bicycle one way, not backwards, because of the mechanics of it.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (7 Nov 2013)

John Paul Phelan: This budget, while containing many difficult measures, is taking the country one step further in the right direction. Deputy Colreavy referred to the troika leaving the country and a few minutes ago the European Central Bank announced a cut to its lowest interest rate ever, 0.25%. There are some positive signs of growth. While I agree there are not enough signs, I found it a bit churlish...