Results 5,741-5,760 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: At the Cabinet sub-committee working on the range of issues concerning housing, there has been a strong focus and emphasis on ensuring the very situation described by the Deputy is dealt with. The increased funding to local authorities makes it more feasible in order that they can turn around these houses for suitable occupation much more quickly than they have done in the past. The number...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The adoption (tracing and information) Bill is important legislation and much work has been done on it, as the Deputy is aware. It is expected to be in the House in the next term. The heads of the broadcasting (amendment) Bill are being worked on.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I suggest the Deputy takes that up with the line Minister.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Coveney, to communicate directly with the Deputy on this matter. The Deputy also asked about an inquiry. There was a detailed review of over 300 cases in which complaints were made. In a number of cases, it was recommended that there should be further investigations. We have been in discussions with the Attorney General about the precise format of those...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I would expect that it will go ahead fairly quickly.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can say in response to the Deputy's first question that there are no plans for such legislation at present. It seems to me that the business committee might be the best place for the Deputy to take forward the second point he made. The Ceann Comhairle has also made a suggestion in that regard.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I will answer the first part of the Deputy's question and ask the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to answer the second part of it in accordance with the new procedures. It is absolutely the Government's intention that by the end of this year, it will be able to adhere fully to all the conditions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and thereby be in a position to sign...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: I expect the first Bill the Deputy mentioned to be before the Cabinet next week. The legislation on the Criminal Assets Bureau was before the Cabinet this morning and will be published within the next day or so when the Bills Office has finalised its work on it. Of course, if the justice committee is in a position to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny on it, that will be done. However,...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will know, the Taoiseach has outlined the importance of the citizens' assembly as an opportunity to have a broadly based discussion on the eighth amendment. It is intended that it will be put together as quickly as possible and that the first topic for discussion will be the eighth amendment. The composition has been made known, as the Deputy said. It is a citizens' assembly,...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the Deputy's first question, I understand the scheme will commence next year.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: So I am informed, but I will communicate directly with the Deputy on the matter.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: On the commitment to deal with the housing crisis, I remind the Deputy that the Cabinet made a decision today to support people to stay in their homes at a cost of €12 million this year and €50 million in a full year. This commitment made in the programme for Government is being delivered on today. This is very important. We have a priority focus on putting more resources...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: First, I do not accept the Deputy's characterisation of the role of the European Union and the part Ireland has played in it over the years or of the benefits that have come to this country as a result of our participation in the European Union. There are many people in this country who fully support our participation and are very conscious of the benefits that have accrued to this country....

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The position of the Government in respect of the Water Framework Directive has been well articulated. The current situation is that the establishment of an expert commission to assess and make recommendations on the funding of domestic public water services in Ireland and the nine-month suspension of domestic water charges were discussed at Cabinet. I am sure that the Minister will address...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Obviously, the Government is proceeding with legislation. The Government operates within the constitutional advice that it receives.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Of course, we recognise the result the Deputy outlined. There is no question of that.

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Clearly, the concerns of everybody on the island of Ireland are going to be utmost in the minds of the negotiators at every level, including ministerial and official level. There are a range of issues. We are in a unique position as regards the impact of the result and very serious issues arise for us. The whole question of Border controls, maintaining the common travel area, immigration...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: Along with most of my colleagues in the House, I had advocated a different outcome in the UK referendum. However, I fully respect the decision that the people of the UK have made. It is very important in the immediate aftermath of that decision that we recognise that there will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands. We have engaged in...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: It is critical that confidence is maintained in the charities sector and that the members of the public have confidence when they make a donation to fundraising that it will be used properly and appropriately. Concerns arose about another charity in the recent past and the previous Government ensured a charities regulator was put in place. It is distressing for people who support an...

Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2016)

Frances Fitzgerald: The charities regulator has no role in investigating fraud nor has it any competence to carry out that type of investigation. However, in respect of the behaviour of charities, once a complaint is made to the authority, it will carry out an investigation and, where appropriate, involve other bodies, whether that is the Garda or the Office of the Director Enforcement. However, we now have the...