Results 9,761-9,780 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Deputy McDonald may not have read far enough to have seen that this particular legislation is dealing with quite important environmental issues, including fines for using smoky coal in unauthorised areas, which is an important environmental issue. Second, it also includes regulations on the disposal of electrical waste, which is another important environmental issue.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Third, it extends the work and scope of the Environmental Protection Agency. Above all else, water is an environmental and health issue, as well as being an economic one.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: It is appropriate to discuss Irish Water in the context of other sections of the Bill which deal with water and other environmental issues.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: The legislation provides for the €100 payment for the water conservation grant. It is an important payment, particularly for people of limited means such as pensioners who are anxious and are paying their water charges.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: We provided some nine hours of debate on the legislation, which has been well flagged and detailed to the Dáil. Yesterday, several hours of debate were spent on one point. When the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan, flagged it to the Opposition, well in advance, she made it very clear that additional amendments would be introduced. A debate on it and on the Long Title of the Bill...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: In terms of this House and under the Constitution, the Comptroller and Auditor General has a specific role, including in regard to the oversight of NAMA. There have been three special reports on NAMA's activities by the Comptroller and Auditor General and they have been broadly positive in their assessment of how NAMA is managing what is a very complex business. I regret that NAMA ever had...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: There is a remedy available to Members of the House because the Comptroller and Auditor General is answerable to the Committee of Public Accounts. We have seen the committee examining reports the C&AG has brought forward on several organisations. I cannot answer individual statements the Deputy has made on particular cases. If what he is saying is correct, he should go to the Garda,...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: If that is the case, it is regrettable.
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Before I come to the Order of Business I wish to refer to another matter. I know people in Baltimore are grieving at this point in time and I wish to express the sympathy of the House to the families who have been bereaved in the drowning tragedy there - the Ryan family and Niamh O'Connor.
- Order of Business (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: It is proposed to take No. 33, Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 - Report and Final Stages, resumed; and No. 5a, Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that the Dáil shall sit later than 5.30 p.m. tonight and shall adjourn on the conclusion of the Topical Issue debate which...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: I am not aware whether the Deputy has ever had the opportunity to visit a community-based crèche or if she has any familiarity with the work that is done by my Department, where over the past three years there has been a complete revamp of community-based child care and we now have high-quality child care at affordable, discounted prices for people going to work. In regard to this...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: I am ambitious. The Deputy may not have had the time to visit, but I am ambitious to see child care in this country improved for all parents, because parents who are married deserve to have access to good child care as well.
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Instead of addressing the issue of all parents, this debate focuses on people with a particular relationship status. What about a couple, man and woman, both of whom are out working? Is child care of no concern to them? We want good child care-----
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Sinn Féin has a concept of a welfare country. Let me tell the Deputy about welfare. Jean McConville had 12 children and what did Sinn Féin's associates in the republican------
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: I am not familiar with the details of the particular case the Deputy outlined. The issue of the oversight of NAMA and proper procedures is important because NAMA was, in effect, a kind of bad bank for the explosion that happened in the Irish property market when construction and the financing of it fell apart. In regard to the arrangements made for NAMA, I suggest that if the Deputy has...
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: The building of social housing-----
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: The building of social housing was no longer regarded as an appropriate social commitment by Fianna Fáil at a time when the economy had never been stronger or boomier, so to speak.
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: In regard to the Deputy's proposal, first, I am going to go back again on what the solution is. We have to build more units and return to the development of social housing, which the Deputy's party callously abandoned when the people who need social housing-----
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: Second, as I just said, I regularly meet the organisations dealing with housing issues.
- Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2015)
Joan Burton: The market in terms of social housing is about 30% of the rental market.