Results 61-80 of 7,291 for speaker:Richard Bruton in 'Dáil debates'

Research and Innovation Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: First, I am very uneasy about this legislation. We are proposing to consolidate the two agencies here before conducting the evaluation that I understand the Minister of State is planning, if it is not already under way. To have structural reform before doing the research into evaluating how the present system is working seems the wrong way to do things. It said in the blurb that it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Production (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: To listen to the climate council, it points to other countries which have taken a more robust approach. I know we value the consultative process and the protections we have enshrined in planning law, albeit we are now trying to rationalise some of the excessive delays that occur in it. Has the Minister looked to other legal reforms which would make it easier to reach these decisions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Production (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: I congratulate Deputy Murphy on his good luck on getting three questions in a row. I calculate the probability of that is one in 1,300. Paul is extremely lucky, unlike me, whose questions are relegated to the bottom of the paper. However, I am very fortunate that Deputy Alan Farrell has allowed me to ask this question. Will the Minister outline his views on the expansion of wind energy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Energy Production (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister for his reply. Representatives of the climate council appeared before the committee recently. I have to say there was a note of exasperation about some of the obstacles to expanding our renewables. They included guidelines for onshore wind which seemed to be inordinately held up, spatial planning guidelines, planning delays, the regulatory treatment of battery storage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Tánaiste and I welcome the Government's position on this. On a matter of clarification, when the Tánaiste mentioned the conventional requirements of membership will apply is it expected that in a wartime society, which is the reality in Ukraine, the same standards will apply or will the system make some allowance for the challenges of that environment? Where is it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Tánaiste for that clarification. At this point, is it possible to say where Ukraine has reached in terms of milestones towards membership?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: 7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on discussions to extend membership of the European Union and the changes in institutional arrangements that might follow. [2982/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: I apologise for being late. I thought the schedule would run on a bit longer. Will the Tánaiste update the House on the negotiations for new membership of the EU, which will include Ukraine, and the implications this will have for institutional arrangements such as membership of the Commission, qualified majority voting and so on?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: Today, we read that new house prices are believed to have peaked at levels like €310,000 in the midlands and €464,000 in Dublin. It is true that, with the assistance of Government schemes, these can now be purchased using mortgages of under €300,000. However, because these schemes do not allow buyers to express advance interest in being purchasers under the affordable...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: Once they are built.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: State Bodies (18 Jan 2024)

Richard Bruton: 12. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the membership of the commission on ageing; and how the public will be able to engage with it. [2082/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: 78. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline the progress in integrating those in temporary protection from Ukraine and who have refugee status into work, education and community activity; and whether further policy initiatives are under consideration to improve integration. [55781/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: Although the Minister and the Government have announced changes in respect of new people coming from Ukraine, there is a continuing issue relating to the success of integration policies. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Brien, has the national integration fund, but there is a need for further initiatives in this sphere, given the scale of arrivals, with 125,000 people to be integrated into...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Minister of State. I recognise the extraordinary efforts his Department and the wider Government services have put into this task. At a time when some people are trying to undermine the work of the Government and create division within the community, we need to step up our innovation in the approach to integration. There is a need for funds that involve local community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the reference to flexibility in the context of Tús and community employment. That can be a win-win, given that many voluntary schemes are struggling to find participants. Perhaps the Minister of State should look at partnership companies specifically. In my area on the north side of Dublin, they are trying to deliver services to support families, but they are very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Childcare Services (14 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the changes the Minister is making in the burden being placed on childcare providers. However, it would be remiss not to express the deep frustration many of them feel. I take the point that the Minister must have accountability and transparency for money spent. However, an obligation of this nature to ascertain how he might better spend the money looks to me like taking a...

Digital Services Bill 2023: Second Stage (13 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. This is one of the regulatory challenges of our generation. We are starting on a crucial but difficult journey of coming to terms with the impact of the digital world on the way we live our lives. This really is different from anything we are used to as legislators. Platforms have generated a massive range of data on every one of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: Thanks to Deputy Stanton, who is not in the Chamber, we had a hearing this morning on the issue of shoplifting, which is costing each family in the country €1,000 every year. A very high level of frustration was expressed at the hearing, with massive under-reporting of the problem and a sense that there is no deterrent when people are caught. I welcome the Minister's announcement of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: The Oireachtas had an opportunity to hear from family carers this morning. While they welcome innovations coming from the Government, such as the carer's pension, they have identified a number of gaps, including in the statutory home care proposal and support for assisted living wraparound services. When will the commission for older people get under way? Can we expect that the home carer...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (7 Dec 2023)

Richard Bruton: I would suggest two things, if I may. First, the cities fund should be used by a partnership of the LDA and the local authorities to develop the affordable purchase piece. Second, the local authorities should create a pipeline of a substantial number of eligible buyers with provisional approval in order that developers, whether the LDA or others, can have confidence that there will be...