Results 201-220 of 1,678 for speaker:Chris Andrews

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Chris Andrews: It would not cost an arm and a leg to establish such a programme. It would send a positive message to carers while costing almost nothing to deliver. I suggest that we draw on existing resources in Departments to create an interactive national website that is dedicated to family carers. We should support carers in such a cost-effective manner. We need to remind family carers that any...

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Chris Andrews: Which Minister of State positions would the Deputy abolish?

Pre-Budget Statements (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Chris Andrews: Which Ministers of State would have to go?

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (31 Mar 2009)

Chris Andrews: Question 343: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the measures, in view of the ongoing allegations of war crimes being carried out by the Israeli army in its recent war in Gaza, he will take to ensure that these allegations are fully investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13211/09]

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this Bill. Clearly we are in difficult and challenging economic times. The decisions we will need to make will be very difficult but they will need to be made. Of course it is never easy to take money away from people or reduce their income, but that will need to be done across the board, because we need to make ourselves more competitive...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: The State is seeking to ensure that children get quality child care.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: The aim of the scheme is to provide one year of quality preschool education to children for the year prior to entry to primary school.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: It is to provide quality child care.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: I believe the child care providers in the State are very good, particularly community child care providers. They provide quality child care to our children right across the community. A former Labour Party handler stated recently that any savings made from the cuts to the early child care supplement should be ring-fenced for funding quality half-day preschool places for every child for the...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: This is what we have done.

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: The scheme will benefit parents who would otherwise have paid for this service. It will also benefit disadvantaged children whose parents would not be in a position to pay for their attendance at preschool. The scheme also safeguards jobs in a sector that is likely to be hit hard by the economic downturn. Most facilities have small margins and low pay and are very vulnerable to a reduction...

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: The Deputy can take the argument up with Fintan O'Toole. He clearly believes -----

Social Welfare Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: If Members have a difficulty with what Fintan O'Toole said, they should raise the issue with him. I was interrupted when I said he said that if we had the commitment, we had intelligent government. He went on to say we could therefore expect to see a similar approach in other areas. I think that is true. We can expect to see a similar approach and innovative decisions being made. The...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (22 Apr 2009)

Chris Andrews: Question 659: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on putting a procedure in place in which tax exiles would have to pay for their children's primary, post-primary and third level education. [15221/09]

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]

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Chris Andrews: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Defence if reports that Irish troops serving in Chad have been ordered not to play football or other sports due to the risk of injury and that troops are being served cold meals because fuel supplies are low are untrue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17648/09]

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.