Results 1,721-1,740 of 1,823 for speaker:Chris Andrews
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: I wish to share time with Deputy Curran.
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: I am delighted to have the opportunity to debate the Finance Bill, which is welcome. It introduces supports for business, makes the tax system fairer and lightens the burden on low and middle-income earners. The principal aims of the Bill are to support enterprise and innovation, to advance sustainable development and ensure a fair tax system. As a member of the Joint Committee on...
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: Only today, the Minister, Deputy Martin, announced a â¬60 million growth fund operated by Enterprise Ireland which will help secure new jobs in Irish firms. The fund will support investments in staff, equipment and technology in order to increase competitiveness and encourage new exports. Such supports are to be welcomed, particularly in a more competitive environment. The Finance Bill...
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: One of the ways in which the Bill protects the less well-off in society is by creating a fairer tax system. The Social Welfare Bill made significant improvements to social welfare payments, including pensions and carer's allowance, among other measures. The Finance Bill aims to reward those at work. It does so by giving increases in personal tax credits and tax bands to ensure that low...
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: The old system has been replaced by an exemption of â¬125,000, a 7% rate on the next â¬875,000 and a 9% rate on sums above that. A measure which is often overlooked but which will create more flexibility for individuals is the reduction in the stamp duty claw-back provision for new residences and for first-time buyers from five to two years. The Bill also prioritises the environment....
- Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: The Opposition would have been only too glad to have been able to court the Green Party but, again, they were unsuccessful. They have not come to terms with that fact. The Bill will make the business expansion scheme more accessible for recycling companies and also provides for a reduction in the VAT rate applicable on certain supplies used for the agricultural production of biofuels from...
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (5 Feb 2008)
Chris Andrews: Question 530: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make it a requirement for schools which receive public funding to make their enrolment policy publicly accessible and not only available upon request as is currently the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3343/08]
- Vaccination Programme. (19 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this issue, which affects parents, grandparents and anybody connected with children. Everybody is concerned about the eradication of the invasive pneumococcal disease, a life threatening disease that can cause pneumonia, septicemia and pneumococcal meningitis. A significant number of countries throughout the world, including the United...
- Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: I wish to share time with Deputy Finian McGrath. I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. In recent years, the health system has been the subject of widespread debate. I have great sympathy for anybody who works in the health services because morale must be extremely low. We all know people who work in the health services but anybody who admits to doing so inevitably...
- Written Answers — Military Medals: Military Medals (12 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 66: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of applications received to date for official replacement certificates for 1916 and War of Independence medals lost, stolen or destroyed; the number of certificates issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34029/07]
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will ask Irish Aid to strengthen its relationship with the Defence Forces on its UN peace building missions, increasing the money available to assist the beleaguered communities in Kosovo, Chad and other places where the Defence Forces serve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34030/07]
- Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (12 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 177: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will grant compassionate leave to remain to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34453/07]
- Social Welfare Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed). (12 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: I fully support the changes being introduced by the Minister, Deputy Cullen, in the Social Welfare Bill 2007. The increase of â¬900 million in next year's social welfare support package will benefit more than 1.5 million people â one third of the population of the State â and will bring total social welfare expenditure to a record â¬17 billion in 2008. I am proud to live in a country...
- Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (11 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 216: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date the first child will be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease; the person who is responsible within the Health Service Executive for making this happen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33219/07]
- Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (11 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 889: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for asylum for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33835/07]
- Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (11 Dec 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 896: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for naturalisation made by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34033/07]
- Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (28 Nov 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she plans to establish Education Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31470/07]
- Despatch of Defence Forces Personnel: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)
Chris Andrews: In October I welcomed the nomination of Lieutenant General Pat Nash to head up the EU-led UN force in Chad and the Central African Republic. Today, the Dáil will complete approval of the EU force within the special triple lock mechanism, with Cabinet and UN approval already secured. During the debate on the motion in October, the House heard an array of statistics on Chad and its neighbour,...
- Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (27 Nov 2007)
Chris Andrews: Question 604: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of an application for residency for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30917/07]
- Young People: Motion (Resumed) (21 Nov 2007)
Chris Andrews: I thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for sharing time. I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on this important issue. It is safe to point out that we were all young once, even if some people got older quicker. In recent years, Fianna Fáil-led Governments have placed great emphasis on the role of young people in society, as evidenced in the establishment of the first Ombudsman for Children...