Results 461-480 of 2,386 for speaker:Michael Finneran

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Meeting social housing need remains a high priority for the Government. While ensuring that we can deliver across the full range of needs, the scale and composition of the public housing programme in the years ahead will be dependent on a number of factors, including the level of available funding and the evolution of the housing market generally. I am determined to ensure that the programme...

Written Answers — Local Authority Schemes: Local Authority Schemes (12 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: My Department's involvement with the Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability relates primarily to the recoupment of a proportion of local authority expenditure on the payment of individual grants. The grant schemes, introduced in November 2007, are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (11 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. Therefore, decisions on whether or not to disregard particular sources of income for the purposes of calculating rents is a matter for each individual...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (6 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981. The Department's role is one of supporting and assisting fire authorities in delivering fire services...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Houses sold to first time buyers under the various affordable housing schemes at a significant discount from market value contain a clawback provision, in order to prevent short-term profit taking on the resale of the house to the detriment of the objectives of the schemes. There are no plans to abolish the clawback arrangements under the existing affordable housing schemes. However, it...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for individual authorities. My Department has been advised by Roscommon County Council that, in this case, a schedule of works has been prepared with a view to having them carried out as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is a matter for individual authorities. My Department has been advised by Roscommon County Council that the relevant works have been carried out in this case.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The New House Grant Scheme, which was administered by my Department, was terminated on 14 November, 2002. In accordance with the provisions of the Housing (New House Grant etc.) Regulations 1990 (Amendment) Regulations 2002 a grant could only be paid where, inter alia, a contract to purchase or to build a house was entered into on or before 14 November, 2002 and where an application had been...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: The operation of the various affordable housing schemes is a matter for individual housing authorities, and my Department does not operate any scheme of financial assistance to those purchasing such properties.

Seanad: Ministerial Pensions: Motion (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the opportunity to engage in a full debate on what the Government is doing on ministerial pensions. This is an opportunity to set out the facts and make certain the public is fully aware of what has been done to reduce spending on ministerial pensions. We are all aware that the issue has caused a great deal of public controversy in recent days, which is, to an extent,...

Seanad: Inter-Country Adoptions (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I welcome the opportunity to reply to the debate on this Adjournment Matter which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State with special responsibility for children and young people, Deputy Barry Andrews. The Government's objective in regard to adoption is to provide for a regime in which the child will be at the centre of the adoption process, whether it be an inter-country or a...

Seanad: Inter-Country Adoptions (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: That seems to be the case in some instances. In others, as I said, there may have been a misunderstanding about documents sent. The Russian authorities have accepted that they are available.

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I am pleased to have an opportunity to respond to the Senator on this very important issue affecting the Rush area. Under the terms of the Government's decision on the implementation of savings in respect of public service numbers, no public service posts, however they arise, may be filled by recruitment, promotion or the payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: As Minister of State with responsibility for libraries I have a personal responsibility for this area, so it is close to my heart. I reiterate that there have been no applications for staff for Rush library. In fact, Fingal County Council has indicated it will be opening Rush library by reorganisation and redeployment of the existing complement of staff. I understand the contributing...

Seanad: Library Projects (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: Fingal County Council has indicated it does not require extra staff and that the main issue is the industrial relations problems in the public sector. I hope for all our sakes that these will be resolved shortly.

Seanad: Crop Damage Compensation (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I thank Senator McFadden for tabling this matter. I am taking this on behalf of the relevant Department. Due to the very wet conditions experienced during November 2009, a significant proportion of the national potato crop remained unharvested at the end of the year. In the early days of January 2010, this situation was compounded by the arrival of severe frost conditions, which resulted in...

Seanad: Crop Damage Compensation (5 May 2010)

Michael Finneran: I acknowledge the issues raised by the Senator in regard to the potential losses of €600,000 and 18 jobs in that enterprise alone. I will outline the Senator's views to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, and the Minister of State, Deputy Cuffe, and perhaps these issues can be discussed further at the meeting planned for the near future. I acknowledge in...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: ): I am pleased to be in the Seanad to present the Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009. The primary purpose of the Bill is to transpose Directive 2006/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council into Irish law. The directive requires service providers to retain data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications or of...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: The Bill recognises the Revenue Commissioners' role as a criminal law enforcement agency whose role is to protect the Exchequer from fraud. Experience has shown that the lack of such access has been a hindrance in detecting certain cases of serious tax fraud and gathering the necessary evidence for the purposes of prosecution. This need is clearly justified and access to such information...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) Bill 2009: Second Stage (29 Apr 2010)

Michael Finneran: -----under cover of bogus invoices, alcohol fraud using bogus documentation, cross-Border VAT fraud and other forms of serious tax evasion often include contact phone numbers which need to be traced. The identity of the subscriber must be established along with the usage of the phone if the investigation is to be progressed. I find the case for access compelling and Revenue Commissioners...