Results 16,701-16,720 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is no longer here. I will ask him to brief the Deputy on that matter.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Úinéireacht Phoiblí ar Shócmhainní Áirithe), 2016: An Chéad Chéim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Public Ownership of Certain Assets) Bill 2016: First Stage (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: No.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is my understanding that such a selection would be made by the Garda Commissioner. Obviously, as it is a pilot, the lessons learned will be assessed in terms of the implications for the best interests of policing in our communities. I am not in a position to give a timeline but I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to convey that to the Deputy.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: That Bill is still under consideration. However, with regard to issuing guidelines, one of the matters being worked on by the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Social Protection is the introduction of better support for people who are in mortgage difficulties, so that the various legislative supports - be it MABS, from the Department of Social Protection, or the...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Minister has indicated that he would be prepared to take legislative action if companies do not agree to comply with the approach that has been worked out. There is no doubt, as the Deputy has indicated, that there are concerns about the activity of one company, and these have been brought to the Minister's attention. I understand the Minister is making contact with the company to seek...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the pre-legislative phase of the Bill will be taken shortly. I am not in a position to confirm exactly whether it will deal with that issue. The pre-legislative scrutiny will afford an opportunity for the committee to assess the adequacy of the legislation and whether such an issue can be addressed in that legislation.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: It will be down to the committees to order their business, but I understand it is available to do that.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: That Bill was approved by Government this week and it is being published in the normal way. I indicated yesterday that I had obtained approval for the Bill. In terms of dealing with the issue of a ceiling on past pupils, the major change in that sphere is that whereas the previous Bill proposed it would be done by means of regulations, on the advice of the Attorney General that will now be...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Minister will bring forward an action plan for housing that will include legislative but also non-legislative proposals. The Government recognises the acute pressure on housing supply, particularly in social housing. As the Deputy knows, he has already - together with the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Varadkar - increased the rent ceilings. This initiative is...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I understand this was done as a last resort for reasons of public safety. I know as well as the Deputy that diseases in our herd can have a huge impact on the fortunes of the entire farming sector if they are allowed get out of hand. This containment strategy must be in place, and it is only as a last resort that something of this nature would occur.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: It is a Bill of 83 heads. The pre-legislative scrutiny process has been completed and the 83 heads have now gone for drafting to the OPC. They already have been approved by Government. There is a lot of justice legislation so there is pressure on the drafting process but I will convey the Deputy's concern to the Minister.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: My understanding is that the Minister has signed into effect the Part of that Act that deals with investigations and recruitment is under way with a view to increasing the staff complement by more than 50% to deal with this. The charities legislation is being gradually rolled out. Registration was the first phase, interim receipt of complaints was the second and the roll-out of...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The tax affairs of any company are open to pursuit by the Revenue Commissioners and if the Deputy has information that he needs to bring to the attention of the Revenue Commissioners, I recommend that he do so. There is no doubt that the Revenue Commissioners have enhanced powers - every year we enhance their powers - and they will pursue any company that is abusing its position. The wider...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The Finance Acts provide for anti-avoidance measures and the Revenue Commissioners execute those. They have the powers to deal with them effectively. Those powers have been enhanced every year, in every Finance Bill over the years. If additional reform to the Finance Acts is necessary, it is open to the Deputy to bring forward such amendments, but in respect of the existing Revenue...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for raising this. Coming from my previous job where we were concerned to speed up the development of the south west, I am in no doubt that infrastructure such as this is very important. I understand the project has a strong cost-benefit ratio and that reflects its strategic importance. It is one of the projects that have been singled out in the transport plan...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: I am not in a position to identify what will be in the 2017 Estimates. I can give the Deputy some reassurance that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform recently announced to the House, as the Deputy knows, that the capital envelope is being increased and the specific commitment to a €4 billion fund that was in the programme for Government will be raised to €5 billion....

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The courts have to decide who is responsible for abuses and to what extent that responsibility is shared by those who are in a position of trust. That cannot be decided by the Oireachtas; it has to be decided by the courts. The State has recognised that people have been extremely damaged and hurt and in respect of that we have made payments and we will continue to make payments under an ex...

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: Courts decide these issues. The issues of responsibility that the Deputy has raised-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: The issue the Deputy is raising is that people have been damaged and where the responsibility for that lies. Obviously that lies-----

Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2016)

Richard Bruton: -----in the primary instance with the individuals involved. Then the question is: does that extend to others? It is for the courts to decide where those responsibilities lie but the State has recognised that such people need to be supported.