Results 5,661-5,680 of 6,629 for speaker:Seán Kyne

ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013: Second Stage (22 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: I very much welcome this legislation, the main principle of which is to include electronic communication in the statutory functions of the ESB. Most people would associate Eircom with communications and not the ESB. I am not impressed with the history of Eircom in the provision of broadband, a point Deputy Connaughton made in respect of rural Galway. The previous national broadband scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (22 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 32. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans to redesign all Government Department and State agency websites using the one template; if such a redesign falls under the remit of the recently established Office of Government Chief Information Officer; and if consideration is being given to examining the template used by the www.gov.uk website. [2668/14]

Other Questions: Springboard Programme (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in recognition of the over 15,000 educational places provided by Springboard, if a new round of Springboard courses will be introduced in 2014; when a call for expressions of interest among course providers will be made; and if the criteria governing eligibility will be reviewed to assist, for example, persons on long-term social welfare...

Other Questions: Springboard Programme (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: When will the new Springboard courses be introduced in 2014? When will a call for expressions of interest be made, and will there be any changes to the governing criteria?

Other Questions: Springboard Programme (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister for the reply. I welcome the fact that a call will be made in February for expressions of interest and that the courses will reopen in June. The Higher Education Authority reviewed Springboard in February 2013 with a number of feedback reports from participants. Will the small number of concerns about what is a successful course be taken into account in the criteria...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 32 - Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: I would like to pick up on Deputy Calleary's comments about IDA Ireland's locations. As a representative of Galway, I am aware of the importance of regional balance, which has been much commented on. Obviously, there is a critical mass in Dublin and Cork as the largest cities. Are there other issues that attract companies primarily to those locations? Can more be done to attract inward...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports provided, financial or otherwise, by his Department to encourage the take up of Irish language courses by adults in the context of lifelong learning. [2316/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Prices (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 663. To ask the Minister for Health the progress made regarding reducing the cost of medicines both at a State level and at consumer level; the negotiations that have been held between the Health Service Executive and the pharmaceutical companies; and if consideration will be given to partnering with other EU member states in purchasing medications which would enable health services to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 661. To ask the Minister for Health further to the Parliamentary Question No. 626 of 17 December 2013, and in the context of the planned changes to the Irish Health Service, if consideration will be given to empowering Health Information and Quality Authority to monitor and inspect standards in private hospitals as well as public hospitals, in view of the proposed introduction of a health...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 662. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to amending section 39 of the Health Act under which financial supports are provided to voluntary and non-Governmental organisations to increase transparency and accountability of such items as director and management salaries in view of the fact that such a legislative measure would increase public confidence regarding the...

Recent Severe Storm Damage: Statements (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: Like other speakers, I take this opportunity to thank county council, ESB and Eircom staff and local communities who cleared seaweed and cleared rock debris from many of our local roads during the height of the storm. Galway County Council has estimated €8 million worth of damage was done while the city council has estimated €0.75 million was done. Clearly, the funding and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Presidency Priorities of Greece: Ambassador of Greece (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: I welcome the ambassador to the meeting and I apologise for not being here to listen to her presentation. I extend best wishes to her country on its Presidency of the EU. We appreciate the economic difficulties across the European Union which are a challenge for all politicians and in particular for the EU Presidency. The ambassador stated that one of the main principles is to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs Application (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 13. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will confirm regarding the rent a room tax relief scheme if the income up to €10,000 threshold per annum is exempt from PRSI in addition to the exemption from standard income tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1553/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Road Safety (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 31. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will give consideration, in the context of the recent road safety statistics, to exempting safety equipment such a helmets, visibility clothing and so forth from VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1552/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Division (16 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 271. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if minimum-maximum figures are available for commonage (details supplied) as per the commonage reviews; and if he will supply same. [2085/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Strategy (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if work has commenced on devising a new trade strategy; if he will indicate the number of staff and sections of his Department involved in this; and if he will indicate the input of Ireland's embassies in the process, on account of their valuable expertise and knowledge of foreign economies and markets. [1472/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Seán Kyne: 31. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the priorities being pursued by Ireland in terms of the UN Human Rights Council and if he will report on the contribution of our representatives to the work of the UNHRC in 2013 which was the first of the three year term of membership. [1473/14]

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Seán Kyne: 7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider providing a capital grant scheme for mountain rescue organisations to enable the organisations, most of which are staffed by volunteers, to update or modernise equipment in view of the very welcome growth in adventure and activity related tourism which unfortunately at times requires the services of such mountain...

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Seán Kyne: I am asking the Minister to consider the introduction of a modest capital grant scheme for Mountain Rescue Ireland and various other subsidiary bodies, for equipment and the replacement of jeeps and vans. Such vehicles are used to transport hard-working volunteers to their mountain bases to carry out their important rescue work.

Other Questions: Mountain Recue Funding (19 Dec 2013)

Seán Kyne: I thank the Minister for his reply and concur with his remarks about the amazing work undertaken by volunteer mountain rescue teams. I recognise the current expenditure provided by the Department of Transport, which includes €7,400 to the Galway mountain rescue teams. I also acknowledge the Department's promotion of the hiking and walking sector which is growing. Volunteer rescue...