Results 441-460 of 31,989 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: Are we not leaning on a reed to some extent if we expect the private sector and its demand for green bonds to shift the State's approach to big systemic challenges?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: I will come back in on one thing. It seems that some of the big opportunities include river catchments, forestry, peat wetlands and I am sure there are others. Those are off the top of my head. How do they stack up at the moment as regards getting into the sort of framework that will see fast track of investment for them? It seems from what we have heard that there is a great deal of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: Are they coming fast enough for us to feel confident?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: Essentially, what the citizens' assembly has presented us with, which is no surprise, is that this is a crisis situation. It does sound like those things are quite technical and complicated. As Mr. Owens identifies, when we drill down into a particular catchment, it is difficult to say exactly where the benefits and costs lie, and the risk is that they will want to grind so fine that we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: My very last question is whether Mr. Owens sees a role for State agencies. I know there has been a lot of criticism of Coillte and other State boards. It has been said that their mandate is not correct. On the other hand, if we want to see substantial private money coming in under some of these programmes, I cannot see anyone else providing the level of verification and oversight. When...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware of persons who were allowed to remain long-term on illness benefit when restricted duration was first introduced, but who now on reaching retirement age, find that the required paid stamps have increased to 520 paid stamps, and thus have no pension rights, whereas persons on invalidity pension who also have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for the delivery date of all proposed BusConnects routes serving the Swords area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46457/23]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Services Provision (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 214. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has taken steps to ensure that across the public service, there are alternative forms of access for those who are not equipped to use digital systems; and if telephone access alternatives with monitored speed of response and hubs in the community are part of a robust alternative. [46618/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 287. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration is being given to an Irish-medium secondary school to serve the Swords area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46458/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Pension Provisions (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 312. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an increase in payment to RTÉ pensioners is under consideration; if she will indicate how long has elapsed since the last increase; and whether the process for assessing this issue can be accelerated. [46641/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 426. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to increase the stipends to PhDs working on research for agricultural agencies, in line with the recent increases made within the higher education system. [46224/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Disability Services (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 443. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is satisfied with services being provided in St. Michael’s House across its various locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46456/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 562. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether additional incentives or pay increases are necessary for staff nurses working in bodies, such as St. Michael’s House, that receive direct funding from the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46455/23]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 598. To ask the Minister for Health how the recruitment embargo will be managed to protect front line delivery, while other cost control measures are evolved; whether measures such as exempting the appointment of dentists, while continuing the embargo on dental nurses are self-defeating as one requires the other to deliver service. [46572/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (24 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 635. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider extending the grants which are available on a means-tested basis towards the student contribution charged by Irish colleges, to cover Irish students studying in the EU or the UK who face similar charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46245/23]

Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (Resumed) (18 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: We are seeing a total tragedy unfolding before our eyes. We can see the pain every night on our screens and the fear and anguish in the faces of mothers in particular. It is there for all of us to see. The reality is that the decision by Hamas was a cold, calculated assault designed to kill citizens and create the sort of reaction we have seen. It was carefully planned. It was not the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Low Pay Commission Recommendations on the National Minimum Wage: Discussion (18 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: Does the commission have any data on who is on the minimum wage and the make-up of that group? In particular, how does migration bear on the composition of that group? One of the very good reasons for bringing in the living wage is to make sure we do not find people who are very vulnerable concentrated on the minimum wage, which creates a problem in itself. I am interested in having an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: I thank the witnesses for their very interesting presentations. What is wrong with the existing foundation of the law when it comes to describing the protection of natural environments? The suggestion is that we create a constitutional right over and above the existing law. I acknowledge Senator Dooley's remarks in respect of it being notoriously difficult to win a referendum. Although...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: Citizens Assembly Report on Biodiversity Loss: Discussion (Resumed) (17 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: We just heard Senator Black say that the Government is trying to deliver things like renewable energy and it is felt that the planning system is holding this endeavour back. Then there is the view that changing the planning law is an assault on people's rights. Both those contexts are trying to protect nature in different ways. Surely we have to articulate where the protections are and how...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (17 Oct 2023)

Richard Bruton: 216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the call for a national education strategy for gifted children; whether the current system for the allocation of resource teachers recognises the needs of gifted children; and if she will consider creating a strategy or issuing a circular to schools on the matter. [44697/23]