Results 641-660 of 9,090 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Data (8 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) is a new tax introduced in Finance Act 2021 which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the activation of development on lands which are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced. It aims to bring those lands which have benefitted from investment in services and are capable of being developed forward for housing, rather than to raise revenue. ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the points the Deputy has raised on the behalf of those with dyslexia, dyscalculia or other challenges who are engaging in State examinations. I will ask the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, who I am sure the Deputy has engaged with, to respond to this campaign. The Department of Education is responsive to the needs of many students in how it supports them, for example,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I have said in reply to others, the Government is hugely committed to supporting the nursing and midwifery workforce. There are over 27,000 more staff working in our health system than there were at the beginning of 2020. That is a 23% increase over this period and includes more than 9,000 additional nurses and midwives. OECD statistical data shows that Ireland has more practising...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Bank and the Department of Finance have advanced significant reforms in this area to support households that face difficulties with their mortgages. There is a clear framework for how that engagement is meant to occur. If there are specifics that the Deputy wants to raise with my office, we will engage with him on the issue.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As a Government, we introduced temporary reductions in excise rates of 21% and 16% per litre of petrol and diesel, respectively, in 2022, when energy prices in our economy were very high. That was worth approximately €1.2 billion to consumers. We gradually changed excise rates as the global price of petrol and diesel fell. Fuel prices in our economy have fallen significantly. They...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. The area of road safety is one over which I previously had responsibility. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, are putting intensive work into supporting a lot of road safety policy areas. That is being advanced in the context of the road traffic legislation this year and other reforms intended to support pedestrians and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. I am not familiar with the specific operational matters that may have been set out by the OPW. I appreciate the point the Deputy has raised for residents and the wider community in the area. I will reflect that to the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. It is important that the OPW responds to the concerns and needs of residents and the wider community...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I acknowledge and thank the workers in Kerry and elsewhere who provided unprecedented public service at a time when we needed all workers on the front-line. We have a long-standing policy on abatement of pay for people who come back to the public service. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, co-ordinates wider pension and pay policy so I will reflect the matter raised by the Deputy with him. We...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As a Government TD, the Deputy will be aware of the unprecedented investment in education, healthcare and wider supports for the Waterford and south-east region. There was a positive result when it came to the veterinary college and I know from speaking to the Minister, Deputy Butler, and others that there is ongoing engagement when it comes to further supports or broadening out the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I think it is very unfair that the Deputy has made such a personal attack and used such violent language, talking about stabbing people in the back.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy should not be using language-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Yes, you have. You talked about him stabbing someone in the back.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: That is beneath this House.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: It is beneath the Deputy to refer to a colleague in the House in that way. The LGMA and SIPTU retained firefighter representatives will meet shortly to consider the outcome of the ballot and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, will work constructively with them. He has been very clear in acknowledging the important role they play in communities across the country. He has been very...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: -----both in his own community and indeed in meeting retained firefighters right across the country. He will engage constructively on that-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: ----- and the Deputy should do that too.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate this issue as a fellow colleague in Dublin. We need to make sure there is law and order on our streets and that is why the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has ensured Garda funding has increased by more than €500 million in total and is up 27% since 2020, with €2.48 billion in budget 2025. Budget 2025 will provide for the recruitment of between 800 and 1,000 new...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I will ask the respective line Minister to respond to the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: I regret that constituent had to do that for that particular appeal. I will ask my officials to engage with this particular case. More generally, the primary medical certificate has not been working for many years as everyone in the House would agree. That is why intensive work is ongoing to try to reform it and bring about a new scheme to help those who need it. That is part of our wider...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Look at the very significant investment the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, have advanced through budget 2025. We are retaining the fare reduction, for example, which helps commuters right across the country with affordability.