Results 15,221-15,240 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: This is a very valuable document providing evidence for us. It deals with issues raised, such as the nature of the right that might be there for water and the best system for charging. Interestingly, it is recognised that the best system for managing the issue would be volumetric metering, although it is recognised that the political realities are such that we must have acceptance for...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is indicated that people paid in good faith, with more than 60% of people doing so, recognising their civic duty. Not everybody decided they would not pay a legally established charge. The report indicates those people should be treated equally and fairly. There is much food for discussion and as we evolve a system that will deal with a water network that needs €5.5 billion...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: We must deliberate over the evidence in a mature way. That is what I look forward to doing.

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: That is the nature of democracy. It is not just those who shout loudest or protest who make determinations. It is the elected people, on a balanced basis, sifting the evidence and making decisions for our community in the best long-term interest of the country.

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: We must consider in the committee how the issue of fairness for those who have respected their civic duty and paid a tax that was duly charged and duly underpinned by law is to be dealt with. However, I will not make a decision to commit money today to the repayment of charges. As a former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Deputy would be the first to criticise me if I were to...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----an opportunity to deliberate on this and arrive at the consensus approach. The commission has done very valuable work in showing elements of fairness that must be respected: the fair treatment of those who paid their water charges, the fair treatment of those who have paid for water for years through water schemes, group schemes and so on, and fairness in the sense that if some people...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Howlin for raising this matter. It is worth restating one point. While I fully acknowledge the public disquiet, section 2(1) of the Water Services Act 2014 provides that there will be no change in the status of Irish Water without a majority of votes cast in a plebiscite in favour of the proposal. We already have legal provision in place, as Deputy Howlin knows. The...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is nonsense to suggest that people were elected on any one issue. People were elected because of concerns across a range of issues. They wanted to see people getting back to work. They wanted those on welfare who had not received increases for eight years to receive such increases. This Government is providing a response in respect of many of the issues that were raised during the...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: We have to sit down-----

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: As Deputies elected to this House, we have to deliberate on this decision. We have to reach our own decisions. We are not pre-empting that. We all have our views.

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: We all have our views. Sinn Féin set out its red-line issues. We need to sit down at the committee that has been appointed for the purpose of-----

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The committee will be well chaired and we will reach a conclusion.

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank all those who have been involved in drawing up this report. It is a useful piece of work done under the chairmanship of Mr. Kevin Duffy and it shows that a great deal of expertise was brought to bear on the issue. The report allows us to have a genuine conversation about the future of water. The Deputy has selectively picked parts that she likes and chosen to ignore others. What...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I can assure the Deputy that the Minister is absolutely at the front line-----

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----but the difficulty has been that the technology assessment has shown that at the price being demanded for the drug, it is not medically cost effective. That has been found to be the case not only in Ireland but in Australia, Canada, England and Scotland. All those countries are having difficulty with this company in getting a reasonable pricing of the product. That has been confirmed...

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. It is an issue of considerable concern, particularly for sufferers. The Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, has made it clear that he wishes to make progress on this issue. There is no attempt by the Government to talk down the benefits of this. Indeed, other Ministers have met families directly affected and are very aware of the concerns....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The funding arrangements for Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, are set out in the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The legislation provides that €110 million in contributions from religious congregations will be provided to Caranua to help meet the needs of persons who, as children, were abused in residential institutions. To date some...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in general, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their premises are managed and utilised at local level. It should be noted that the vast majority of primary school buildings in the country are in private ownership, including the school referred to by the Deputy. The Department has a general policy of encouraging...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (30 Nov 2016)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The Commission in this regard operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate Examinations.  In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.