Results 1,661-1,680 of 1,895 for speaker:Chris Andrews

Unemployment Levels: Motion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Chris Andrews: I refer to the business improvement district scheme, BIDS, payments the council applies to small businesses; these should be reduced. While BIDS is a very good scheme-----

Unemployment Levels: Motion (Resumed) (17 Jun 2009)

Chris Andrews: ----- it is not of the greatest urgency at present. The most urgent measure that must be taken is to ensure that small business costs are reduced. I advocate pausing BIDS payments, as well as measures such as the fats, oils and grease charges that many small food outlets must pay, which are crippling them. I hope that Fine Gael and the Labour Party will address such charges. Deputy English...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (16 Jun 2009)

Chris Andrews: Question 196: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action she will take to protect vulnerable tenants on rent supplement who are being taken advantage of by their landlords by not granting them a reduction in rent commensurate with the reduced rent supplement and allowance since 1 June 2009. [23518/09]

Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Bill 2009: Second Stage (16 Jun 2009)

Chris Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this matter. Last September, the Government announced that it would increase the statutory limit for the deposit guarantee scheme for banks and building societies from €20,000 to €100,000 per depositor, per institution. Subsequent to the Minister's announcement, the European Commission issued a discussion document on updating the EU directive on...

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (11 Jun 2009)

Chris Andrews: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is difficult to adequately express in words the sadness and shame I felt on reading the Ryan report, which highlights one of the darkest and upsetting periods in our history. As a citizen, I feel ashamed that we, as a nation, could allow the perpetration of widespread, long-term abuse on some of our most vulnerable young people...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: I am delighted to speak on this Bill. The vast majority of Irish people are decent and law-abiding and are entitled to live without fear of being the target of criminal activity in any form. As legislators, it is up to us to do everything we can in the fight against crime. We have all been shocked by the increasing brutality of crime and the way criminal gangs carry out business....

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: I thank Deputy Kitt for sharing his time with me. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill which the Minister published last week. It gives effect to the measures announced in the emergency budget of 7 April. As the Minister has stated, the Bill strikes a difficult balance between the need to show a credible way forward for dealing with our structural problems and...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: The last number of months has seen much finger pointing and accusation about who is to blame for our economic problems. Mistakes were made but the reality is that over the last ten years we dramatically cut the national debt and invested significantly in infrastructure and services, which remain in place and which will put us in a very good place when the turnabout comes, which it inevitably...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: One need not look too far. Dublin was almost like a derelict site some ten or 15 years ago.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: It has been transformed. In the docklands, not far from here, we see the new bridge coming in for Macken Street. It is a huge investment. People ask where the money was spent. In 1997 we had approximately 200 special needs assistants; now we have almost 10,000.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: They have made a difference to people's lives and to young people trying to get a start. The Opposition can wave a hand and dismiss that but that investment has made a difference.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: The supplementary budget was one of a series of budgetary measures that will ensure Ireland's future stability.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: By taking these steps now, we can realistically aim to recover by the year 2012 or 2013 and I welcome some very positive measures introduced. In this Bill, the Government has spread the burden as fairly as possible and has ensured that those who can afford to pay the most will carry most of the pain. For example, the plan to close a potential capital gains tax legal loophole allowing Irish...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: The first is concerned with addressing the banking situation to restore credibility nationally and internationally and get credit flowing. The establishment of the NAMA is necessary and critical to restoring our damaged banking system. There is a case against the establishment of the NAMA, but the case in favour of it is stronger. This measure will restore the credit flow to businesses...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: We have put in place measures to deal with that and ensure credit is flowing and will flow.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: There is no silver bullet or magic wand. It will have to be done carefully and in a manner which is not like a rush of blood to the head, which Deputy Bannon would recognise.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: We need stable government and a stable banking system, and this is being done.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: The fourth pillar is concerned with investing in those who are out of work so they can return to employment as soon as possible. Measures outlined to support people who have lost their jobs include enhancing access to the back to work enterprise allowance scheme, which will facilitate almost 1,400 additional claims and encouraging further education through earlier eligibility for the back to...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: The view on Ireland and the rest of Europe is that because we entered it later than the US we will not emerge until next year. However, the important thing to remember is that we will inevitably emerge from this recession. I believe in and support the steps taken by Government to ensure that we in Ireland are well positioned to take full advantage of that upturn.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (6 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: Question 85: To ask the Minister for Defence the major equipment purchases planned for 2009 and 2010; the progress being made in sourcing new equipment and vehicles; if the global economic downturn is resulting in a reduction in equipment prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17649/09]