Results 1,521-1,540 of 1,974 for speaker:Arthur Spring

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: Is Ireland seeking more funds from the European Central Bank?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I welcome Mr. Moran and his team. I too have come a rather unconventional route to where I am today, having previously been a banker and juice bar owner. However, that is neither here or there. I am dealing with the big stuff now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I would prefer to be Minister. For now, however, I will focus on the serious issue of mortgages. Goal No. 5 in the delegates' document refers to outcomes, short-term strategies and performance measures. One of the short-term strategies referred to relates to finding solutions to the problem of distressed mortgages and difficulties with personal debt. My concern is that there does not seem...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: The difficulty for ordinary people is that they cannot see any specific activity or anything at all tangible being done to resolve the problems with mortgages. There is the mortgage relief aspect, but for people who are trying to move up the ladder or move out of a negative equity situation, it is not tangible enough and is too slow-moving. The Department must agree a clearly identified...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: I agree. My concern, however, is for the overburdened generation on whose back these profits will be made. The reality is that the most negligent lending will turn out to be the most profitable lending in the long run for those who purchase the banks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: In regard to the maximisation of the value of the State's investment in the banks, as per the fifth goal contained in the document, the Department intends to measure this by the return of investment in the banking sector. In my view, the Department needs to have a much greater regard for the social dimension and to look at people as individuals rather than numbers. There is an onus on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to adjust the student maintenance grant, either by reducing the grant rates or by tightening the conditions for eligibility. [48817/12]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a capacity to grow more crops here where a commercial market price can be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/12]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (7 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Health his plans to expand the range of medicines, with established safety profiles and available in other locations without prescription, that can be dispensed by pharmacists with a view to generating more savings as seen in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48828/12]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Illegal Israeli Imports (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of a recent report Trading Away Peace, published by a consortium of 22 organisations across Europe, which shows that despite viewing Israeli settlements as illegal the EU imports goods and services with an estimated value of €230 million from the Israeli settlements compared to €15 million from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the situation in Uganda, the measures and safeguards that are in place to ensure Irish aid funds are not misappropriated by other Governments and authorities that benefit from such funding. [48166/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Asset Management Agency (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are any debtors of the National Assets Management Agency in receipt of salaries from NAMA who are being pursued by said organisation for personal guarantees. [47856/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Asset Management Agency (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are any debtors of the National Assets Management Agency in receipt of salaries from NAMA who are being pursued by said organisation for recovery of assets transferred to a third party. [47857/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: National Asset Management Agency (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Finance the average wage for developers or project facilitators in the National Assets Management Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48105/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Finance the extra cost to the Exchequer that would arise if mortgage interest relief was extended to 50% for persons with net income of less than €30,000, and extended to 40% for person's with net income between €30,000 and €40,000. [48212/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Regulation of Accountants (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether the Revenue Commissioners, under current legislation, provide sufficient protection for the tax payer if incorrect accounts and information are submitted by the tax payer's accountant to the Revenue Commissioners without the taxpayer's agreement. [48350/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Graduate Medicine Programme (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the difficulty medical graduate entrants are having in securing bank loans in order to complete their qualifications; if the situation is being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48102/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in grant applications being processed through the new Student Universal Support Ireland website system; the number of these grants that are being held up due to delays by the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48108/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action being taken to cater for the provision of Church of Ireland schools, taking into account the absence of any secondary schools with a Protestant ethos being provided in County Kerry. [48211/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Nov 2012)

Arthur Spring: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform regarding repeated flooding in the Kilmoyley area (details supplied) in County Kerry, if the Office of Public Works will undertake a flood risk assessment and undertaken appropriate measures to prevent flooding which is impacting on local residents as well as the church and cemetery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48671/12]