Results 9,081-9,100 of 16,537 for speaker:Brian Lenihan Jnr

Decentralisation Programme. (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The decentralisation programme has made substantial progress. As the Deputy is well aware and as I announced in the budget, the programme is not dead, but in light of our changed economic circumstances, certain matters had to be prioritised. The Government's latest decision means that 6,000 posts were decentralised outside Dublin. That is an impressive figure in terms of the...

Decentralisation Programme. (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: That sounds like some members of the Labour parliamentary party who have been out of office for so many years. There are 6,000 posts being decentralised. Some 2,500 posts have already moved and an additional 3,500 are in train.

Decentralisation Programme. (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: This has been a successful decentralisation programme, which has brought great benefits to towns and cities outside Dublin. The programme should be lauded for that. However, it has been necessary, because of the state of the public finances, to pause the decentralisation programme. That has been done.

Decentralisation Programme. (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I will give the Deputy the precise figures for the outstanding timescale. On the issue of value for money, overall the Office of Public Works has spent approximately €250 million, to end-September 2008, on the property aspects of the programme. The total income from property disposed of in Dublin, to end-December 2007, was €355 million.

Decentralisation Programme. (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Deputies do not want to hear the facts when they do not suit them. On the capital side, the State has been a very successful developer in this context.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Options are being considered in consultation with the relevant Departments and the Attorney General as to whether it would be more expeditious to introduce a single Bill or to adopt a sectoral approach to amending existing legislation.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: A Government decision on the matter will be made on the basis of how quickly the required legislation can be enacted. The main features of the legislation were outlined——

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The main features of the legislation were outlined in a strategy——

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——on foot of a Government decision taken on 23 September this year.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I can. I will assist the Ceann Comhairle by stating this legislation will be prepared by the Government as soon as possible and that the Government and I are quite capable of multitasking.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Deputy Upton asked two questions. First, the heads of the Irish Sports Council (amendment) Bill, were approved by the Government on 4 July 2006. A decision has yet to be made on whether to proceed with the establishment of the subsidiary companies and the expected publication date is in the middle of 2009. As for the planning question, existing legislation enacted by a previous Government...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: ——already governs this matter. However, further measures to strengthen the law in this regard are contained in the planning and development (amendment) Bill, for which the heads are expected at the end of this year. Its expected publication date is next year.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The heads of the mental capacity Bill were approved by the Government on 3 September this year. It will be published in the middle of next year.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Ireland signed the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on 25 June 1998.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Progress towards ratification is closely aligned with work at EU level. In that context, the European Union has adopted two directives as part of the ratification process for the convention.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: Regulations transposing the European Communities access to information on the environment directive were signed and came into effect on 1 May 2007. The process to transpose the other directive is well advanced, with legislation completed to amend the majority of the relevant consent systems pertaining to that directive within an Irish legislative framework. Work is continuing on the...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: As Deputy Higgins will be aware, it can be highly complicated when ethical objectives must be realised within an EU framework. However, in respect of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, I can assist the Deputy further. The criminal justice (United Nations Convention Against Corruption) Bill, which allows for the ratification of that convention, now has been amalgamated with the...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: No legislation is promised and I am not aware of any plans at present.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: The Government is determined to preserve the principle of community rating and will bring forward proposals in due course.

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

Brian Lenihan Jnr: I understand the implementation is taking place by way of secondary legislation.