Results 5,441-5,460 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CLÁR Programme (7 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme which provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas which have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. The programme was originally launched in 2004, but was closed to new applications in 2009. I recently re-opened CLÁR programme, with a focus on three...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Banking Sector (7 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: I can confirm that a submission was received by my Department from the organisation in question, seeking the investigation of the establishment of a particular model of public banking in Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentenvisages that An Post, the League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders will be asked to investigate and propose a new model of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Social Enterprise Sector (7 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: The social enterprise sector in Ireland covers a wide spectrum of activities which are delivered by a range of organisations, from local community groups fully supported by the State, to companies operating on a commercial basis for a social return. A number of Government Departments currently provide supports to the social enterprise sector through a range of programmes and schemes. These...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Mountain Rescue Service (7 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI) operates on a voluntary basis, but has received State support for a number of years to help cover the organisation’s operating costs. I understand that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport currently provides an average grant of approximately €7,500 per annum for each MRI rescue team. This grant helps with the provision of health and...

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: Deputy Burton is correct. I have just gone through this process with regard to Westport House, and I want to state on the record again today that I am delighted the Hughes family has bought Westport House.

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: It was an issue of great concern. With regard to what the Deputy said earlier, I, too, was pleased with the outcome. I spent a year, as did the people of Westport, making sure that part of it was held in State hands but the rest of it by a family that is committed to Westport. Deputy Kenny asked me a question. I will give a straight answer. The State does not have €28 million....

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Ring: I thank the Deputies for raising the matter. I am aware from media reports that Luggala house and estate comprising some 5,000 acres has been offered for sale with a reported asking price of €28 million. It is situated near Roundwood and is within the area of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The main mechanism for protection of our built heritage is the inclusion of buildings...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: There is an action in the plan to support credit unions. To be fair, credit unions have done an excellent job down through the years. I am a supporter of the credit union movement.

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: There is support for them. There will be engagement with them the context of this plan. The Sparkassen model and post office models will also be examined. In regard to a point raised earlier, 72% of all jobs created in 2016 were created outside Dublin. There are many people in this country who are creating thousands of jobs throughout the country who are forgotten about in the context...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: In response to Deputies Burton and Penrose, I am taking this matter seriously. I am dealing with the post offices. Officials from Germany will be in Ireland on 13 February to meet with my officials. I have met Irish Rural Link and I will meet with the credit union movement and all the other stakeholders involved. In regard to the Department of Finance, I know from experience, in terms of...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I am not the greatest supporter of banks. We all know what the banks did to this country. We know also what the country had to do for the banks. We have to be careful about how we deal with this issue. We need to be sure that this model will work. We do not want to use models that in the future the State will have to subsidise or takeover if difficulties arise. When we do this, we must...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 62 together. A Programme for a Partnership Government envisages that An Post, the League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders will be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The programme for Government also...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The Post Office Network Business Development Group, chaired by Mr. Bobby Kerr, was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for additional Government business as well as commercial business to be transacted through the post office network. The final report of the group was published in January 2016. On foot of the report, two working groups were established to progress the...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: Deputy Penrose is a plain speaking man. To outline the situation, I put a lot of work into this over the past six months and was hoping to have the report ready for Government before Christmas. I do not have statutory responsibility for An Post, but I have been given the role by Government to see what can be done to improve the services. Mr. Kerr gave his report to An Post on 23 December....

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I have never been in that Department but I see that Deputy Burton is smiling. She was very close to those in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and knows that what Deputy Penrose is saying is correct. I will do my best. I must say that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, has given me great support as has the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe....

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: As the Deputy knows, Bus Éireann is a semi-State company and this is a matter for its management. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, has said rural services will be protected and he has responsibility in relation to transport. The Department to which the Deputy put down the question has no responsibility in relation to Bus Éireann. However, we are...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: I cannot give any such guarantee. I am not the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I am not the chief executive of Bus Éireann. I note, however, that a commitment has been given that no community will be left without a public service. It must be remembered that in my own area we have many private sector providers doing a great job on rural transport. I have many companies...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, was launched on Monday, 23 January in Ballymahon, County Longford. The plan is a whole-of-Government initiative and contains over 270 actions across five related pillars to be delivered by Departments, State agencies and other groups. The plan will support sustainable communities, support enterprise and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is working with local authorities on broadband. The Minister, Deputy Naughten, has responsibility for it, but the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is working with the local authorities and I am supporting her to ensure that when broadband is ready to roll out the local authorities will have their job done. The Deputy asked me a specific question on what it...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Regional Development Initiatives (31 Jan 2017)

Michael Ring: A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to delivering balanced regional development, particularly in the west of Ireland.  Key elements of the Government's strategy to achieve this goal are shared across a number of Departments. However, within my Department, I am progressing a proposal for the development of an Atlantic economic corridor to attract Irish and multinational...