Results 5,461-5,480 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would agree that a cross-departmental approach is necessary in order to reach the target set out in the employment strategy for people with disabilities. I would expect that the relevant committee will also be examining this and monitoring the implementation of the report. It is essential that it is implemented and I would think that the relevant committee would be an appropriate place to...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Legislation is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish it later this year when the Dáil returns.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, recently met the Geological Survey of Ireland to discuss the issue. I will bring what the Deputy said to the Minister's attention. He must bring the facts to his attention. The previous Government took action to deal with the flooding issues raised by the Deputy. For the first time, we have all of the...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Will the Deputy please send me the details? I will ensure the Minister is made aware of the point and that it is followed up. It does not seem that the two should be connected.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Really.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Last week the Taoiseach spent a long time in the north inner city with the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. As the Deputy rightly said, a huge amount of work has been done with local groups. There has been a lot of discussion about the terms of reference they would like to see. The Taoiseach held another meeting yesterday with the relevant Departments and the work is very near completion....

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Taoiseach will make announcements on it in the very near future.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The previous Government published the first ever national strategy for people with disabilities in terms of access to employment. That strategy is now being implemented. There is work to be done but the policies are there and Government is implementing them. In regard to the particular case that the Deputy has raised, I know that both the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Department of Social Protection recently carried out a review of the rent limits, as the Deputy knows, in line with the commitments contained in the programme for a partnership Government. Increased limits for rent supplement have been introduced in all areas of the country with recent effect and the increases that have been given reflect the pressures on rental properties in each...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy said, it was the subject of a recent High Court case and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will take full account of the ruling in making its decision which I am sure will become known.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Health has put the facts about the site chosen for the new national children's hospital firmly in the public arena. It is a suitable site and the building and development of the hospital will go ahead on it. It will be a state-of-the-art national children's hospital which is long overdue and badly needed. It will provide an excellent service for the parents described by...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy knows, the Government is absolutely committed to improving waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those patients who have been waiting the longest. The Minister for Health will meet the director of the HSE again this week to discuss the very issue raised by the Deputy. There will also be a new initiative which is part of the agreement in the programme for...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I thank the Deputy. Section 110 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 sets out the taxation regime for securitisation and other structured finance transactions. Under the Taxes Consolidation Act, a qualifying section 110 company is chargeable to tax at 25% but has its profits computed by reference to the rules available to trading companies. As a result, the companies are generally...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I repeat that officials from the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners are currently examining this issue, in particular the use of certain vehicles for property investments. This is clearly an issue of concern, particularly the point the Deputy raised yesterday in regard to the use of charitable status, which I believe needs investigation. The Minister for Finance will take...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister is extremely alert to this issue. When he was discussing this in the Dáil on previous occasions he said that he had engaged with the industry and had come to an agreement with it. He said he would monitor it and act on any breaches of the agreement. He also said that if legislation was necessary, he would introduce it. The Deputy can raise the points she raised this...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government believes the significant progress that has been made with recycling rates and diversion from landfill has been very positive for our environment and our communities. As the Deputy knows, the Minister has actively engaged with representatives of the waste industry with a view to agreeing a way forward that results in customers paying no more over the next 12 months than they...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Government appointed a Minister of State with particular responsibility for people with disabilities, which was the right thing to do. We are all aware of the poor standards that historically have prevailed in many residential institutions. I welcome the work HIQA is doing which the Government wants to support. Many of these facilities remained hidden and there was bad management...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is important to ensure the various residential institutions reach the standards laid out. They have not been granted an extension of time by HIQA to reach them. What is most important is that they be independently inspected, that the work being done is independently examined by HIQA. That is where our focus should be to ensure the services being provided and the care being given are of...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Parents of children with special needs, whether intellectual or physical, should not have to fight the system in the way Deputy Moynihan describes. Our intention is to improve the services. Let me give an example of what is happening. Under the Health Service Executive 2016 national service plan, the priority is to protect the level of services provided in 2015 and to provide 1.3 million...

Leaders' Questions (14 Jul 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raises a very important topic. I agree with him that early intervention services are critical, particularly for children with special needs who require either intellectual or physical supports. The programme for Government commits to supporting children in these circumstances. For the first time, children with a disability who are attending preschool education will receive...