Results 4,961-4,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: As this has been previously raised on numerous occasions in the House, the Deputy will know that decisions in relation to individual post offices are a matter for the board of An Post. It is to the board that he should direct his questions.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I will have to come back to the Deputy. I do not know what has been done but certainly I share his dismay at the decision of the Japanese Government.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: It is worth repeating that when the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, with Canada was introduced, the reaction in the House was exactly the same.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: The same comments to the effect that the Canadian agreement was a sell-out were a feature of the reaction to it.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: That agreement has proved beneficial. I am not stating that the agreement before us is perfect by any means; it is not. However, it is incumbent on all of us to look at it and at the protections that are built into it in order to assess how we can use them to benefit our farmers
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We must also consider how we can strengthen the agreement in the coming two years. We must evaluate the agreement and both sides of the argument-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----in order to assess whether, in the overall interests of the country, we should oppose what is involved. It is dangerous for people in this House - scarcely after the ink on the agreement has dried and possibly without everyone having had an opportunity to read it - to draw conclusions
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: As the Taoiseach stated, we need to take the time to evaluate the agreement. Having had that opportunity, we will then make a decision as to where Ireland's interests lie and how we will seek to protect Irish farmers. That is what we will do.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I have consistently acknowledged, and the Taoiseach acknowledges, that the key Irish concern was associated with beef. Under the original proposal, 300,000 tonnes of beef would have come in from the Mercosur countries. The proposal that has emerged is based on 99,000 tonnes. Some 45,000 tonnes of that are frozen. One of the main concerns of...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: No. I do not agree with the Deputy. He rightly recognises that supply is the key. We are not seeing an increase in supply of landlords coming into the market; we are seeing the opposite. We are seeing landlords leaving the market. That is a real problem. If we want more affordable rents, we must have a model that sees more people entering the market to provide tenancies to people, as...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, 6,000 affordable homes will be rolled out under a programme that is starting this month. In my area, one of the first contracts for affordable homes will be signed later this year.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We must have a balanced response of supply right across all the various areas, from private and public tenancies to the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and affordable supply. That is the only way we will get to grips with the situation. We are seeing progress in those areas. Contrary to what Deputy Howlin says, in the rental area we are not seeing a new supply of tenancies. We are...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: -----many landlords leave the market.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We must find a model that will support that. In this agreed legislation, we are taking action to make it much tougher for landlords to abuse the provision. We are making it a criminal offence and giving greater powers to the RTB and allowing it to initiate cases without any third-party complaint.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: We are pursuing those issues and trying to increase the supply which, as the Deputy acknowledges, is the only cure.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this because the protection of rent pressure zones has been extended today to 19 new areas, including Athlone, Dundalk, Trim, Waterford, Limerick, Gorey, Arklow and several other places. This provides protection for people in those areas. The record of the rent pressure zones is that they have helped to contain the growth of rents.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: The legislation that we have just passed, which has had broad support in the House, captures large institutions in the rent pressure zones. It provides new powers to ensure that these are respected, such as criminal sanctions against those who fail to respect them and stronger powers for the Residential Tenancies Board to sanction and investigate landlords. The legislation has helped to...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: I have listened to Deputy Mary Lou McDonald in this House for some time and I have seen her consistently oppose the Canadian agreement, the Japanese agreement, the Korean agreement, all of which we have had significant benefits from. The reality is that these trade agreements have helped Ireland, particularly at a time of very real difficulty, to be able to diversify away from reliance on...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: This is an agreement that will put pressure on these countries to comply with their obligations.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2019)
Richard Bruton: They are part of a multilateral strategy-----