Results 5,041-5,060 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: My concluding word is this. It is despicable and it shows calculated contempt by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform that they did not grace for a single minute three hours of debate on this critical issue of policy within their remit.

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: People find the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, a very nice and personable man. That he has been sent in from an entirely different Department to read a script that was put into his hand as he arrived shows the most calculated contempt. The people should take note of that as well.

Written Answers — Scoileanna Gaeltachta: Scoileanna Gaeltachta (25 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 84: To ask the Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cén fáth go bhfuil ardú de sheachtar dalta, ó 76 go 83 á éileamh do scoileanna ceithre oide sa Ghaeltacht i gcomparáid le scoileanna lasmuigh den nGaeltacht ina bhfuil ardú de bheirt á éileamh, ó 81 go 83 nuair a chuirtear san áireamh na deacrachtaí faoi leith sna scoileanna Gaeltachta leanaí a mhúineadh trí Ghaeilge nach...

Promissory Notes: Motion (Resumed) (25 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: I have to object to the Government's attitude to this Private Members' motion. It is simply not good enough that it was panicking to round up a Minister of State from the highways and byways of the Dáil in order to fulfil the norm. If the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform were taking this issue seriously, they would be in attendance.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 352: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons affected by the increase in the minimum contribution for single tenants. [3603/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 353: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the social impact the increase in the minimum contribution for single tenants is having on many people's living standards. [3604/12]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 354: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to revise pension and social welfare entitlements for self-employed workers who are not due a payment as their partners are still in employment yet are struggling to pay bills. [3605/12]

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 500: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will make available to a person (details supplied) all and any notes, memoranda, communications and correspondence, in whatever format they exist, touching upon and concerning any deliberations, meetings or communications and the outcome of any investigation by his Department regarding the matter at issue. [3493/12]

Private Members' Business. Promissory Notes: Motion (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Hear, hear.

Private Members' Business. Promissory Notes: Motion (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Correct.

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: The point is that when the Government takes €3.8 billion out of the economy in a single year and when it drives down the living standards of middle and low-income workers, it is achieving precisely the opposite of that to which the Taoiseach states it aspires. Moreover, the Government's labour activation measures, which is a despicable term, are designed to put pressure on people who have...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: That is in the event the Government does not consider, for other reasons, that there should be a referendum. There is nothing which bars the Government from holding a referendum. The people have experienced three years of ongoing austerity, cuts, attacks on their living standards and the stripping down of services in the pursuit of a ruinous policy of bailing out bankers and financial...

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: What will the Taoiseach say at the summit about the ruinous promissory note covering the €30 billion that was channelled through Anglo Irish Bank to speculators? It will cost €47 billion with straight interest, but some say it will eventually cost €70 billion to €75 billion if this insanity is not changed. This is growing more urgent by the day.

Order of Business (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: In the event that the European Union summit agrees a fiscal compact on Monday and in the event that the Attorney General states that it necessitates a referendum, what will be the Government's timetable in this regard?

Order of Business (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach have any contingency plans?

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 16: To ask the Taoiseach his objectives arising from the EU Summit on the 30 January 2012. [3674/12]

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 17: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report back on the EU summit dating back to the 9 December 2011. [3676/12]

EU Council Meetings (24 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 18: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions he has had with Chancellor Merkel since the last EU Summit. [3677/12]

Disadvantaged Status (19 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 9: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all previously proposed cuts to DEIS schools have been abandoned; and in view of his public comments on seeking cuts elsewhere in his budget in which he is planning to make such cuts; the areas that he is examining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2941/12]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Joe Higgins: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he still intends to press ahead with cuts to learning support teachers under the general allocation model; if so, if he will detail those planned cuts and the timescale for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2940/12]