Results 10,101-10,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I will have to get a report for the Deputy on that.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I do not know of any proposal from Government to introduce mandatory sentencing. This has been a very controversial issue whereby the Oireachtas seeks to remove discretion from judges to evaluate the individual merits of each case. It would have to be done with very careful consideration. The Deputy would have to consider with his own party and with others whether such an approach would...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I will have to refer the question to the Minister responsible as to why there is this distinction between the requirement of a garda signature on one and not the other.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I understand that the official languages Bill is under pre-legislative scrutiny at the moment. I imagine the committee will be in a position to consider suggestions like the Deputy's before the Bill is considered here as a substantive piece of legislation.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I know that the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is particularly concerned about the fodder situation and has set up a national committee to work with the farming community regarding the fodder shortage. That is in place and Teagasc has had a number of meetings to seek to address the issue, and to help farmers better budget and plan their fodder provision. I do not know...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I am sure the Minister is working to develop amendments. I am very conscious that this area is legally complex and there are conflicting constitutional rights that must be steered through to ensure that any amendments that come forward are robust and sustainable. I will alert the Minister to the Deputy's concern in light of this development and I hope the drafting of amendments can proceed...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I understand that the Minister has announced that a review will take place from now and hopes it will be completed by the end of August. The valuations on which LPT are now paid were set in May 2013. They will remain the same for 2018 and 2019. There could, however, be revisions on value as of 2020, based on market prices. The Minister has signalled his intention that people would see...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I understand this is a Private Member's Bill. There is provision for Private Member's Bills being taken in this House and we are keen to encourage that. There has been some desire to evaluate its practicality and enforceability and it is reasonable that the House, whether through pre-legislative scrutiny or otherwise, would get information on the enforceability of such a measure and its...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: We have a substantial capital budget but the pressures on us from the capital side are huge. We have a series of programmes to meet the demographic demand every year, which absorbs approximately 80% of our money. We have programmes for additional accommodation, for emergency works, summer works and minor works. We try to allocate the money as fairly as possible to meet the needs. Every...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Any report of patients being treated in a manner where the standards are not up to an acceptable level is of acute concern to the Government. Certain authorities have responsibility for investigating levels of care. I know the authorities have shown no unwillingness to address failings by the HSE or others. If the Deputy has concerns, they should...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I am informed that there has been a HIQA investigation in this area and the authority has found fault with some of the facilities. Officials have carried out a revisit. While they did find considerable improvement, there is recognition that infrastructural problems are involved. Clearly, the Government is making investment and we want to see care being provided in more of a community...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: As the Deputy knows, the budget for 2018 has been agreed and I do not have €70 million in my pocket, nor does the Minister for Finance for that matter. We must consider all changes in this area in a balanced manner. The Deputy recognised the complexity of the issue. If one makes a change in one area, one can create anomalies elsewhere. Under the old system, people who had paid...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for raising these road safety issues, which I am sure are extremely important. Unfortunately, I do not have access to briefing material on the detailed specifications of points on the N22 at which the Deputy wishes speed limits to be changed or junctions made safer. However, I will refer the issues to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. Allocations for...
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: While I have no doubt that something needs to be done, to suggest the solution to problems such as this are to be found in Kildare Street is not the way to handle these issues.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: Local authorities have powers in this area. They also have the power to meet the relevant national authorities if they wish. I do not imagine that Transport Infrastructure Ireland is refusing to meet local authorities to discuss their concerns. To suggest that every issue has to come to Kildare Street for a solution contradicts the approach to empowering local government the Deputy advocates.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: I agree that it is crucial and think we need to have an honest debate. Last year 25,892 families were assisted into social homes under the housing assistance payment scheme or by way of social provision. That was a massive increase on the 19,000 families who had received such assistance the previous year. Solutions are being provided for families, although the Deputy might not agree....
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: Last year there was an almost fourfold increase in the number of social homes constructed and delivered.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: We doubled the target number of voids to be delivered into the social housing stock and used as homes by families. We are making real progress in all of these areas. We have accelerated the planning process for housing supply by the private sector. As the Deputy knows, developments of more than 100 units can proceed directly to An Bord Pleanála.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: We have made it easier for builders to build apartment complexes.
- Leaders' Questions (18 Jan 2018)
Richard Bruton: Easier provisions are in place to contend with the real shortage of apartments. We are taking initiatives across every area where initiatives can be taken. We have provided rent zones to control rents. We are continuing to look at the residential tenancies legislation to ensure it is up to speed. We want to ensure these provisions are not abused by landlords. A systematic programme is in...