Results 8,881-8,900 of 26,897 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am taking seven minutes and my colleague is taking three. The Government has ignored all of these issues and the sword of Damocles now hangs over taxi drivers because of the plan to cut the pandemic unemployment payment tomorrow. That will also affect other workers. I have just come from a demonstration of events workers. Some 22,000 taxi drivers and their families and 35,000 events...

Taxi Industry: Motion [Private Members] (16 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will be moving my amendment to the motion. I will be sharing time with Deputy Barry. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing forward its motion. I agree with everything in it and I hope Sinn Féin agrees with the additions I propose to make to it. These include a very specific step-down subsidy for taxi drivers to allow them to return to work without losing their pandemic...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 7. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with transport will next meet. [22339/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 9. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with the economy will next meet. [22651/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have questioned the Taoiseach and appealed to him extensively, including today, on matters relating to taxi drivers and the public transport system. As we discussed earlier, there was a major protest involving taxi drivers today. The Taoiseach has expressed sympathy but has not given a clear commitment. When will he make a decision on the key demands being made by taxi drivers, because...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee that deals with health will next meet. [22338/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was at the taxi drivers' protest during Leaders' Questions, so I have not fully studied the roadmap, but I want to know what the strategy is, as do the people. Specialists in public health, immunology, infectious diseases and so on are saying that we should be pursuing a zero Covid strategy as against what appears to be, in this plan, a roller-coaster strategy, going up and down and up and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 2. To ask the Taoiseach the number of special advisers he is planning to hire in his Department. [23666/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When the Taoiseach was leader of the Opposition, he would regularly get up and berate the then Taoiseach, who is now the Tánaiste, for excessive reliance on special advisers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: He definitely did.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: He lambasted the Tánaiste weekly for reliance on PR and accused the then Government of being a Government of spin. It is quite extraordinary to have 21 advisers, including three press secretaries. On top of that, there was an announcement this week that a PR firm will be employed to mediate between NPHET, the public health advisers, and the Government. It will be a buffer which will...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This roadmap is pretty much the most-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We have had a very serious announcement about public health restrictions. I think it is crazy that the matter is not being debated this week in the House so that it can be explained. I wish to register the ongoing opposition of Solidarity-People Before Profit to the changed speaking arrangements which were, in our view, deliberately designed to minimise the voice of the smaller parties....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I welcome the withdrawal of the crazy suggestion, which seems to have come from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, of removing taxi drivers from bus lanes. We need more than vague commitments. We need very specific commitments. Subsidies have gone to other industries that have lost 20% or 30% of turnover. Taxi drivers have lost 40% or 50% of turnover. The more drivers return to work, the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: For the Government's roadmap on Covid-19 to be effective and gain public support it needs to be clear, consistent, to make sense and to embrace the principle of fairness and all of us being in it together. To date, the Government's measures and proposals have failed on those counts. The signs are that today's announcements from the Government are failing in that regard. I want to focus on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 13. To ask the Taoiseach the Cabinet committees and working groups or units he has set up or is planning to set up in his Department. [22340/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Tests (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 62. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to ensure consistent and regular testing of all healthcare staff in view of the fact that the instance of Covid-19 among health care workers here is higher than in any other country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23665/20]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Appeals (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 135. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a series of submissions by campaigners (details supplied) regarding the upcoming agriculture appeals (amendment) Bill 2020 will be examined in order to improve the processing and quality of decisions and appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24049/20]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide a further extension to driver licence renewal dates as previously to allow staff to process the large volume of renewals due or overdue in order to ensure drivers are not left without driver licences while waiting; if he is addressing the issue, in view of the fact group 2 or other drivers must present in person to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (15 Sep 2020)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional immediate supports that will be provided for the students of a school (details supplied) while a building is being sourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23269/20]