Results 10,261-10,280 of 13,291 for speaker:Joe McHugh

Garda Operations (20 Jun 2012)

Joe McHugh: If we are to follow through fully on the philosophy of fairness and equal treatment, is the Minister satisfied with the powers conferred on the Garda to investigate the matters in question? I am conscious of the fact that he does not want to make a public comment, as the matter is still at an investigative stage.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (19 Jun 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 526: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of flight hours incurred providing Ministerial transport in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; if he will provide the number of training hours undertaken and the number of passengers in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29342/12]

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (19 Jun 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 646: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his approach to increasing the mobility of persons with disabilities in EU member States; if there is a common EU approach to personal assistance services; if his Department has a developed view regarding the number of personal assistance hours that are available to an Irish person with a disability currently living...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (19 Jun 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 729: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly whereby an national car test certificate runs only to the anniversary date of the registration of the car; his views on whether it is unfair as, for example, a person with a five year old car may decide at the expiry of their NCT to take the car off the road for a number of...

European Stability Mechanism Bill 2012: Second Stage (7 Jun 2012)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. It is important to acknowledge the vote of the people in the recent referendum which was an indirect endorsement of the ESM. To boil it down into a very simple formula, the people decided that should we need money, it would be in our national interest to have access to that money. People were aware that the EFSF would run out in 2013, so a...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the implementation to date of his Department circular 0031/2011. [26036/12]

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the provisions in the Bill. My colleague, Deputy Terence Flanagan, listed the range of organisations to be amalgamated, from the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the Higher Education Training Awards Council. Apart from streamlining, it also makes sense. I also acknowledge the role of the Minister for Education and...

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: If secondary schools along the Border do not meet the minimum threshold of 500 students, they will also close. The rationale and philosophy of the Sinn Féin mantra in Northern Ireland is, if I am not mistaken, a form of austerity, which is a word much used in this House. It is important for us to engage on the ground because we have schools south of the Border that will not be closed. We...

British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly: Statements (17 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I want to put on record, on behalf of my co-chairperson, Laurence Robertson MP, and BIPA members, our thanks to the Ceann Comhairle, the Cathaoirleach, the Captain and the ushers for the fantastic welcome that was given this week to the 44th plenary session. I thank the Tánaiste for the opportunity to debate the plenary session in the Chamber, and as co-chair a key aim of mine is to make the...

British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly: Statements (17 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: Denis O'Brien.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (10 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide information regarding An Garda Síochána jurisdiction on Irish waters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/12]

Construction Contracts Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I propose to share time with Deputy Anthony Lawlor. The introduction of the Construction Contracts Bill is a welcome move and I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Howlin, for showing leadership on this issue. It is also within the brief of the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and affects a range of Departments. Unfortunately, the Bill is not retrospective because that would open up a...

Road Safety Education (9 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I appreciate the Minister does not have an input in the design of the junior certificate but his intervention with regard to the need to include some road safety training in the junior certificate programme could be critical. A few years ago I visited a secondary school in my county. The teacher told me she had a group of boys in the class whom she could keep engaged only by promising that...

Tourism Sector (9 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I welcome this announcement which is significant. As regards the reduction of 9%, when the wheel is not broken it is important not to fix it. Having spoken to many people in labour-intensive restaurants, the real difference in moving from 13.5% to 9% is whether it permits them to stay in business. That is how significant this matter is. The Minister is working on a range of measures, be...

Road Safety Education (9 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 6: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his views on proposals to include road safety on the reformed junior certificate cycle; if consideration will be given in this respect to the Finnish model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23083/12]

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (8 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 158: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider facilitating families that are affected by changes in the closed school rule in Budget 2011, which may be faced with the prospect of sending some family members to different schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22585/12]

Broadcasting Services (1 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: I welcome the Minister. He will be aware of the plans and consideration given to closing RTE's London office in September of this year. I applaud the fact that RTE is taking its cost saving measures seriously. At a time when all businesses are rationalising and examining cost benefit analyses there is no reason RTE should be any different. However, leaving aside the rationalisation...

Broadcasting Services (1 May 2012)

Joe McHugh: As the Minister does not have any direct authority over decisions taken by RTE, I will bypass him and address my comments to the public service broadcaster. "Out of sight, out of mind" is a common saying in business. We want to build on the events that took place 12 months ago when Queen Elizabeth paid a symbolic visit to this country and spoke of creating a space for bridge building and...

Written Answers — Post Office Network: Post Office Network (19 Apr 2012)

Joe McHugh: Question 133: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number and locations of post offices that have closed since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19658/12]

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Apr 2012)

Joe McHugh: In every political debate there is a temptation to muddy the waters. There will be a danger with regard to the stability treaty to make it into something it is not. While we have conversations about austerity and linking the treaty to household charges, property taxes and water rates we must be genuine and sincere in our approach and inform people of what the treaty is about and not what it...