Results 681-700 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy is correct; this is a North-South issue, and it has been raised at quite a number of the North-South ministerial meetings. Hopefully, the parties can get together and form the Assembly in order that projects such as this can be progressed.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I understand the Deputy published a Private Members' Bill on the issue but no decision has been taken on when to take it.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Mental health services remain a priority for the Government and the point the Deputy made will be considered in the context of the budget this year. A huge amount of recruitment has taken place for local CAMH services. We have seen a huge increase on the ground of teams delivering CAMH services around the country but recruitment, in particular, and retention of staff in the area remains an...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Approval to draft the Bill was given at Cabinet this week.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I understand there were some fire and security issues in relation to the building which clearly necessitated that decision.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I do not have the precise details so I will ask the Minister to communicate with both Deputies who have raised this issue. The Government has begun the consultation on the development of home care and making sure we have more substantial investment in home care generally. Such services are very supportive of keeping people in their home.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I will ask the Minister to link with both Deputies, given the seriousness of the issue they raised.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Quite a number of the programme for Government commitments we made have been implemented. There are some constitutional difficulties with the special court that are still being examined.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Minister for Finance will revert to the Deputy on that.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I ask the Minister for Social Protection to respond.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: We had to borrow in recent years because we wanted to protect our investment in public services, which is what the Deputy and all other Deputies would have wanted.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Most Deputies support borrowing to continue the investment during a period of crisis.
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The important point is that we were able to borrow at manageable interest rates. As a result of Government action and because our reputation has been restored, we have been able to borrow at rates that are sustainable, having declined from 14% to 1%. The Deputy should also recognise that the unemployment rate has decreased from 15% to 6%, which makes a difference to his constituents who...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: The Deputy raised a number of issues. He started by referring to public sector reform and the OECD report. That report noted that the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016 was very successful, by and large, in terms of completing the majority of the activities it set out. The report outlined key lessons and findings. On the subsequent points raised by the Deputy on sections 38 and 39...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: What the Deputy said has widespread implications for the role of the community and voluntary sector in providing services. That role has been very valuable and is hugely valued by our communities. We have some excellent services. The idea that every service would solely be in the charge of, and run by, the State would require a great deal of consideration and might not even be desirable....
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: I ask the Deputy to acknowledge the progress that has been made. He did not support many of the policies that got us to the point where our economy is now doing so well and where we have seen a drop-----
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: -----in unemployment from 15% to 6%. The NTMA is an extremely professional body. It has managed us through the crisis and overseen a situation where we have moved from being charged interest rates of 14% to one where they are down to 1%. I have confidence in it to continue to manage the debt. That the economy is in the current position is extremely important in terms of the rates at which...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: My first point relates to the actions that are being taken under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government's multi-stranded action plan to deal with the housing and homelessness issue, with which the Deputy is very familiar. We are creating the right conditions and the environment to increase housing supply, especially in our cities and large towns, and we are encouraging competition among...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Everyone, including housing authorities, is working very hard to ensure the progression of homeless families to independent tenancies as quickly as possible. Every action that is being taken is targeted at ensuring people will not have to stay in that type of accommodation over a longer period. We have to recognise the numbers that have moved into secure accommodation from homeless...
- Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2017)
Frances Fitzgerald: Deputy Michael McGrath is absolutely right when he said that capital investment fell severely because of the economic situation we faced. The crisis had its impact on our infrastructure and this is what we must now correct. The way we will do so is by prudent management of the economy and in making the very best use of the resources we have in the period ahead. I will outline what the...