Results 1,781-1,800 of 35,129 for speaker:Seán Fleming

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator Lombard for raising the issue of the phase 2 work on the Bandon southern relief road. I am representing the Minister for Transport who has responsibility for overall policy and securing Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design and construction of individual national...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Projects (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I understand the point the Senator is making about the revised national development plan, which is scheduled to be published in early October. It is imminent. I am not privy to whether specific road projects will feature on a long list of individual projects or if there will be overall funding and thematic approaches, with the line Departments and TII then working out the specifics. I am...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank Senator McGreehan for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with regard to incentivising the purchase of electric vehicles as a sustainable option under the primary medical certificate. It is clear from listening to Senator McGreehan that she has done detailed work on her presentation and has worked on it with other people....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Senator for her second contribution. Budget 2021 introduced a new VRT charging table which reduced the rate for low-emission vehicles. Battery-electric vehicles now have zero tailpipe emissions and are therefore not subject to the nitrogen oxide surcharge. This, coupled with the relief, means that many electric vehicles end up paying no VRT at all. This complements a broad...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Food Industry (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I have been asked to take this on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment who cannot be here this morning. I thank Deputy Cowen for raising this important issue in the Tullamore-Killeigh area of County Offaly, as it relates to a long-standing business there. I also acknowledge Deputy Stanley for raising the matter, which affects the Laois side of the constituency because...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Food Industry (29 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: Deputy Cowen mentioned that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine should have a role as well as the local authorities in assisting in every way. I am quite sure there will be absolute determination in all Departments, including that my Department and Enterprise Ireland will assist. On Deputy Stanley's comments, as I mentioned earlier, it is hoped there will be no job losses...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (28 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He will be aware that this is a tax and customs issue which brings into the responsibility of the Department of Finance as the parent Department involved. Revenue has provided some general information that will help to explain the general situation as described by the Deputy. What he has outlined to the House certainly happened. There is no...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Postal Services (28 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: The issue of domain addresses is separate and I thank the Deputy for highlighting it. I inquired today about the phone calls and text messages people are getting about packages being delivered where the caller or correspondent claims to need information. I am told that issue is unconnected. It is a coincidence that a lot of it is happening at this time. This issue affects everybody...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Tomorrow I am meeting the organisation the Deputy mentioned along with Deputies from the constituency. The Government has issued an action plan for insurance. A key element has been the introduction of the new personal injury guidelines which came into effect before the summer. The Minister for Justice will produce a report on their...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla — Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Costs (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the issues raised by Deputies Whitmore and Brady regarding the difficulties being experienced by businesses in the leisure and outdoor recreational sector in obtaining public liability insurance, including the specific company that has been mentioned by the Deputies in the north Wicklow area. Such SMEs play a key role from an economic perspective and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla — Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Costs (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: As the Deputy has brought up the issue, I will not let it go, because what the Deputy said is utterly inconsistent with what his party spokesperson on finance said here last night. That is a reflection of the increased competition that we are seeing. However, both Deputies will know that I cannot comment on individual cases and speak to the insurance costs of individual companies due to...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla — Topical Issue Debate: Insurance Costs (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I will conclude as quickly as I can. I understand the comments being made. There a few points on which I would like to elaborate. Everybody knows that the insurance industry is regulated by the Central Bank. Nobody in the Department of Finance is trying to tell the Central Bank and individual companies how to run their individual policies. The Deputy across from me now would be the first...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Functions (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: 168. To ask the Minister for Health the legislative powers underpinning the office of disabilities appeals in his Department; the way decisions can be appealed from this office through the judicial system or by another mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45289/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Data Protection (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: 186. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1603 of 21 April 2021, if there has been an outcome to the inquiry by the Data Protection Commission which is referred to in the parliamentary question; if the findings have been issued; the actions that have been taken on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45330/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Functions (22 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: 187. To ask the Minister for Health the position in respect of the independence of the Office of the Disability Appeals Officer; if this is part of his Department; if there are senior persons in his Department over the office who can have an influence in relation to the way the office operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45331/21]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Credit Unions (21 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 42 and 67 together. The programme for Government includes a number of commitments relating to the credit union sector that the Government is progressing. The review of the policy framework is at an advanced stage. Since September 2020, the Department has held extensive engagement with credit union representative bodies to seek their feedback. During...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank both Deputies for those remarks. It proves the point that one of the main actions in the Government action plan for insurance is to promote competition. That is the office I chair. I insist that when people get their insurance premium, the first thing they must do is lift the phone and make an inquiry. Normally, we have found, when people make an inquiry, they get a reduction. If...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: Seeking to secure a more sustainable and competitive market through deepening and widening the supply of insurance in Ireland remains a key policy priority for the Government. It is my intention, along with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to work to ensure that the commitments outlined in the programme for Government are progressed in accordance with the Action Plan for Insurance Reform. One...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (21 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: I thank the Deputy for highlighting the situation for motor insurance policies and for van drivers. The man or woman with the van, as the case may be, is a key priority for the Government because they are the small employers or self-employed people who are the backbone of many industries in locations throughout the country. What I will say is that, in July, before the recess, we met with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 Sep 2021)

Seán Fleming: 186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding persons who obtained their driving licence for buses and lorries since 2013 and who are required to carry out a CPC course each year to renew their licence but in advance of this are required to do a theory test and do the procedures regarding theory tests apply to persons who had licences issued in earlier times...