Results 121-140 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Business Regulation: Business Regulation (19 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 276: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views in respect of amending the Companies Acts to remove the statutory audit requirement from all companies limited by guarantee with an annual income of less than €100,000 in view of the fact that the fee for such a statutory audit is an enormous financial burden on many voluntary groups struggling to survive on...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (19 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 354: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the rights of workers made redundant by a nursing home (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29267/12]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (26 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 345: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the poor level of broadband connectivity in an area (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and the adverse effects the lack of service has on local business; his position on developing such broadband services following a commitment to work with a range of telecom companies to...

National Cultural Institutions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: I am fortunate to represent the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny and to have held the position of chairperson of the special policy committee on arts, heritage and tourism for several years while a member of Kilkenny County Council. For this reason alone I am a major supporter of the arts. Of all the sectors in society in Ireland today, the arts, culture and heritage sectors are the only...

Written Answers — Cultural Property: Cultural Property (27 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 126: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether membership by Ireland, to date, of the International Centre for the study of preservation and restoration of cultural property is of benefit to the country in the promotion of skills and capacity in heritage promotion and preservation; if he supports the continuation of Ireland's membership of ICCROM;...

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: I propose to share time with Deputies Dominic Hannigan, Kevin Humphreys and Patrick O'Donovan.

Microenterprise Loan Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this extremely important issue. I cannot proceed without first expressing my frustration at some of the points made by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. He chose not to finish the story about the little boy with his finger in the dyke, but most of us know that, in the end, he kept his finger in so long that he was the saviour of Holland....

Domiciliary Care Allowance (28 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: I ask for an update on the position of domiciliary care allowance and the way it is to be administered. This is a monthly allowance which is paid to the parents or guardians of children under the age of 16 who have severe disabilities which require continuous care and attention. I recently met three women to learn about the plight of their children. They also outlined to me the changes they...

Domiciliary Care Allowance (28 Jun 2012)

Ann Phelan: I warmly welcome the response of the Minister of State and I warmly congratulate the Minister for Social Protection on her plans for this review. One of the best things set to happen under the review is the fact that the new working group, which will be staffed by the most appropriate people, will meet parents and guardians of children. Legislators may form the law in Leinster House but the...

Written Answers — Home Help Service: Home Help Service (3 Jul 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 608: To ask the Minister for Health if he will now review the entire casual employment trend of home help and home care service in view of (details supplied) and replace it with a proper and sustainable foundation in the public interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31899/12]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jul 2012)

Ann Phelan: Question 54: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will clarify if there is an exemption for full income tax on pension amounts less than €50,000 for persons over the age of 70 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34155/12]

Personal Insolvency Bill: Second Stage (Resumed) (18 Jul 2012)

Ann Phelan: I warmly welcome the opportunity to speak on this important Bill before the House today. This is possibly the most important legislation that we will pass in this House over the course of the Government's lifetime. It will deal with the appalling legacy of the previous Administration and highlights how banking regulation must be of paramount importance. The Personal Insolvency Bill...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Penalty Points System: Discussion (19 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Chair and thank the witnesses for their presentations. I take on board all the points made, which are extremely sensible. A particular hobbyhorse of mine is the driving test. One day a person is a learner driver with L plates displayed. He or she sits the driving test and can drive on the motorways as if he or she had years of experience of motorway driving. The television...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Penalty Points System: Discussion (19 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: A corollary to that point of view is that a smoker could rush from one point to another in order to get his/her next fix. I do not believe that any pilot smokes now. A number of years ago when they did, their management did not encourage them to give up smoking.

Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I thank the Minister for initiating it and bringing animal welfare legislation into the 21st century. As many Members on the Government side have spoken about agriculture and animal husbandry, I will concentrate slightly more on the domestic and companion element of the Bill. I am confident the Bill will provide a shift from merely outlawing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: EU Energy Policy: Discussion with EU Commissioner for Energy (20 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: I welcome the Commissioner to Ireland and thank him for his direct and pragmatic approach. I take on board all the points he made, particularly the point that our energy infrastructure has not kept up with other advances in technologies. What data exists on wind energy and its efficiency in terms of a cost-benefit analysis of setting up wind energy turbines as they feed into the grid? Is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan for Ireland: Discussion (26 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: I apologise for missing the presentation and forgive me if my question has been answered. Broadband is now a basic need for anyone setting up in business. The point has been made that high speed broadband is a major consideration in deciding where to establish a business. To what extent has our landscape mitigated against trying to lay the fibre? Have we missed an opportunity in not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan for Ireland: Discussion (26 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: What does Mr. Henry sees as the future for broadband? We are at the third generation. What does he see as the next generation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan for Ireland: Discussion (26 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: Since fibre is so important, it has considerable implications for planning, especially if there is ever to be a housing boom again in Ireland. Sometimes we close the stable door after the horse has bolted. If we had planned for fibre broadband, it would have made life particularly easy. Australian planning guidelines require the installation of updated technology before houses are built....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: National Broadband Plan for Ireland: Discussion (26 Sep 2012)

Ann Phelan: I am very happy to hear about the mapping process because policy and future developments should always be based on accurate data. However, the issue of most interest to me is next generation broadband, the roll-out of 4G systems, next generation mobile services and spectrum options. What role will the Government have, if any, in setting parameters? Will it have any role in the roll-out of...