Results 5,201-5,220 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: Generally, there is a major building programme to which schools have access. It moves in stages and people will know what stage they are at. It is dictated largely by passing various requirements in design and development of projects. The Department seeks to assess applications for additional accommodation in a timely manner and to provide responses to schools. In order to take the matter...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position is that it is only in the situation of a winding up of NAMA that resources become available. This is not a pot of money that is sitting there and which could be deployed. There will be plenty of opportunities to debate that issue. It is important to note that the Government has committed to a programme of investment of €120 billion in critical infrastructure in the next...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Bill is on the priority list and I take it that means it is proceeding according to schedule. I will get back to the Deputy if there is any slippage.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I am not, unfortunately, because I do not have details of the reasons this CE scheme is in difficulty. I will convey Deputy Mattie McGrath's concerns to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, who has responsibility for CE schemes.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, has recognised that we need a comprehensive response to the challenge posed by drugs. She has been driving a strategy to deliver that response. As the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, stated yesterday, this issue of organised crime, which is at the heart of the drugs business, cannot be resolved with a Garda response alone....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: Deputy Eugene Murphy referred to the opening lines of A Programme for a Partnership Government, which was appropriate given that this is one of the areas on which we have been delivering. I know the Deputy is interested in the delivery of the national broadband plan as well as the rural revival via the €1 billion fund, which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I do not disagree with the Deputy that there is great opportunity for Ireland in the context of generating offshore wind and wave energy. However, the reality is that offshore facilities offer less than 1% of our renewable sources. It is the sector that needs to be developed in the coming years. We have the ambition that by 2030 we will have 70% of our power generated from renewable...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: It is certainly the ambition of Government that this Bill will pass all Stages. Obviously, we are dependent on both Houses to secure that. I will have to come back to the Deputy in respect of the money message relating to Deputy Kelleher's Bill. I take the opportunity to congratulate Deputy Kelleher on his success. We will have him here for another few weeks.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: It would be prudent for all of us to study the full terms of the judgment before we draw any conclusions. From newspaper reports that I have seen, there was certainly a recognition by the courts that the Oireachtas has the scope to deal with some of the defects that were found in this case in the context of the arrangements under which we operate here. Fine Gael will participate fully with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Houses will provide the forum to address the issue. I assure the Deputy that the Government will support the Houses in any way that it can.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: We should absolutely lead by example and this is not limited to just one segment of government. We need to look at the power network, which is largely in Government control, and the arrangements for generating power will be dictated by the Government. That will deliver the 70% target, which is a massive change. It will require much infrastructural investment and change in the sort of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: First, I can assure the Deputy that we will be taking the actions necessary to achieve the net zero target of 2050 and will deliver on our obligations in 2030. The only way that we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is by reducing the 84% current dependence. We use only 16% renewables. The rest is coming from fossil fuels. We need to develop real policies that will see a shift in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a matter of acute concern for every one of us. There is huge pressure at play, particularly in the context of employer liability and public liability insurance. There have been improvements on the motor insurance side, with premiums down by over 20% in the past 12 months. However, that is not having an impact in this critical areas. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The position is that the amendments will be published shortly. In the debate in the Seanad, it was clear there was a consensus for this change. The Minister committed to drafting the changes. They were approved at heads-of-the-Bill stage by Government and the detailed drafting is occurring in the Attorney General's office. It is the determination of the Minister for Justice and Equality...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling the climate disruption issue is the greatest challenge that humanity faces. It will pose major challenges, globally as well as here at home, if we fail to deliver. The sad reality is that since the economic recovery started, we have failed to break the link between carbon and growing prosperity. We have a great deal of work to do in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The questions he articulated are certainly on everyone's lips but, equally, I would have to say that for me to follow his invitation and to give my personal commentary on prospects would not be the best advice. The reality is that these are difficult issues that need to be resolved. We understand that. There is a huge urgency, as the Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I lost track of my train of thought. The clock seemed to start at a strange time.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: No. I accede to not interrupting your flow.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: I can assure the Deputy that the Tánaiste's sense of urgency and his commitment to getting this agreement is absolutely undoubted. He is, as the Deputy will be aware, involved in those talks today. He is seeking intensification of the discussions over the coming days. During the week of 11 June he will update the House. The Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister have committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Air Quality (30 May 2019)

Richard Bruton: The ban on the marketing, sale and distribution of bituminous coal, or ‘the smoky coal ban’ as it is commonly known, has proven very successful since first introduced in Dublin in 1990 and subsequently extended so that it now applies in 26 urban areas nationwide. On each of the occasions that the ban has been extended, it has been done through statutory instrument made by my...