Results 41-60 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Topical Issues: Regional Development (17 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy Deasy for raising the important issues of how Ireland's strategic investment fund will be managed, its remit, its mandate and how it will deliver balanced development for our country. I note to the Deputy that I have a foot in both camps in this context as a Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and at the Department of Finance. I wear both hats...

Topical Issues: Regional Development (17 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Establishing the strategic investment fund is a key component of the medium-term economic strategy published in conjunction with our exit from the EU-IMF programme. The stated objective of the plan is clear. It is to return the economy to full employment by 2020. The strategy recognises that an essential ingredient of economic success in job creation is the availability of financing and...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. She is aware that the Government established the Commission on Credit Unions in May 2011. The Government also published an agreed final report in March 2012 and has accepted fully the commission's recommendations. Over 60 of its recommendations are being rolled out under the Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act. The...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Lots of things have happened. The legislation has only gone through a while ago. As I said in my speech, we have already had two very substantial consultations and we have now reached broad agreement about the tiered approach required. There is absolute support in Government to make this a reality. The proof is the very lengthy and good discussions that we have had on the matter at all...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Absolutely.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: As I said in my reply, a task force chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, has been established to review all these issues. Teagasc, the IDA and all industry representatives are involved. If there has to be movement on this as set out by the Senator, it would have to come from that task force. I will ensure that the Senator's contribution to this debate will be sent to the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Diplomatic Representation (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: On behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the issue of the appointment of a US ambassador to Ireland. The former ambassador, Mr. Dan Rooney, completed his mission to Ireland on 14 December 2012. Pending the nomination of his successor, the deputy head of mission at the US embassy is acting in the capacity of...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Forestry Sector (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank Senator Sheahan for raising this matter. The Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, is, unfortunately, unable to attend for which he send his apologies. It is important to clarify what services are available to those affected and to set out what actions have been taken to date by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the damage caused by the February storm....

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Deputy's suggestion that all the relevant agencies come together is a good one. It is worth putting on the record that we reckon that the cost of raising the road in the area, which could alleviate this problem, would be somewhere between €20,000 and €50,000. It is obviously a matter for the county council. It is also worth saying that we are clear in our view that...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Funding (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: Mine too.

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Funding (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy. It is clear there is a responsibility on the Department to provide training. If we are asking people to move from level 4 to level 5, there is some obligation on funders to provide support to people as they go about that journey. I can confirm that an additional training budget to facilitate the completion to level 5 in child care will be made available. It is...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy Carey for raising this very important matter. As he knows, I am aware of the flooding problem at Ballycar Lough because he has raised it with me on a continuous basis. I understand that road flooding prevents access to a few houses in the area but that the substantive issue has to do with the flooding on the Ennis to Limerick rail line. I am advised that the cause of this...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Care Services Funding (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Minister with responsibility in this area, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is well aware of the issues the Deputy has raised. As I stated in my previous presentation, the gap last year between expenditure and income was approximately €62,000. That has to be plugged. The lead agency in bringing together other agencies is the Child and Family Agency. FÁS, Pobal and the HSE will...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes Funding (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I apologise on behalf of the Minister, who is unable to respond to this matter today. She has asked me to thank Deputy Fleming for raising it. She will examine it closely again on foot of the Deputy's remarks. In response to the Deputy's question, the Department of Social Protection is consolidating and improving the provision of training and work experience for community employment, CE,...

Topical Issue Debate: Child Care Services Funding (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank Deputy McGrath for raising this very important issue. I am aware of the integrated child care service at Darndale-Belcamp, and as he rightly informed the House, it is a terrific centre and the work it does in that community is much regarded, not just locally but also as a pilot for communities in other parts of the city and country. I apologise that the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald,...

Topical Issue Debate: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I also thank them for their kind remarks concerning the staff who operate SUSI. I apologise that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, is unable to reply on this issue in the House today. Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions...

Topical Issue Debate: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: That this issue has arisen is probably an unintended consequence of the fact that more people are being naturalised. Thanks to the efforts of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, many more people are being naturalised as Irish citizens. He has broken the bottlenecks that existed in the system and, as a consequence, the issue the Deputies have raised might well have been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Properties (16 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Commissioners of Public Works sold 0.69 acres of a site on the Navan Road to Tesco Ireland Ltd. for €1,702,800.73 inclusive of VAT. This site was part of the Department of Social Protection local office and was surplus to their requirements. The proceeds from the sale of the site were paid over in full as an Extra Exchequer Receipt to the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Museum Projects (15 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: The response that I provided to the Deputy is response to a similar Question on 11thMarch 2014 (Question No. 184) outlined the position, which I confirm for the Deputy, is unaltered.“Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will specify the provisions that have been made for the residents of Portobello, Dublin 8, in respect of the potential risk...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (10 Apr 2014)

Brian Hayes: I visited Portrane in late January of this year to see at first hand the coastal erosion issues in Portrane. An application by Fingal County Council for funding under the Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was approved in February 2013 for a Coastal Erosion Risk Management Study for Portrane/Rush. The approved funding of €57,800 was fully...