Results 14,601-14,620 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I do not accept the Government's argument that establishing a genuinely independent regulator is somehow taking away the democratic imperative for people elected and accountable, as public representatives are, around policy and legislation. It is not what is being proposed. The point is to have some sort of genuinely independent checks and balances on that. The Minister and the Government...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am very disappointed the Minister of State is not accepting amendment No. 1, in the name of Deputy Ó Broin. It is because the Government essentially wants the flexibility to ram through big infrastructural projects without having them properly screened. I would like clarity from the officials because they said there are not 15 cases. A document by environmental consultants in...

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Privatised.

Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I strongly support Deputy Eoin Ó Broin's amendment on the need for us to have a report within at least six months on the Government's compliance with the European Union's environmental impact assessment directives and the Aarhus Convention. This issue has been drawn to my attention in recent weeks by environmental groups, specifically the Woodland League. I know that others are also...

Insurance Costs: Motion [Private Members] (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank Fianna Fáil for tabling the motion on an extremely important subject. Huge numbers of citizens are being ripped off by insurance companies. I primarily want to address the cost of motor insurance, but I will comment on the cost of health insurance initially. It is the biggest scam ever. I would never take out private health insurance on principle because in the area of health...

Topical Issue Debate: Surveillance Operations (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Following on from that, the emergency clause in the 2009 Act, which allows a superior officer rather than a judge to carry out these recording or tracking of people doubled between 2009 and 2010. Will the Minister explain what the hell was going on in that period? I have a direct question for the Minister. During her tenure or the tenure of Ministers for Justice and Equality in this...

Topical Issue Debate: Surveillance Operations (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It does not surprise me but it is completely scandalous that we have revelations from yet another Garda whistleblower alleging that innocent people's phones are being tapped. In one case, according to the allegation, a sitting Deputy had his or her phone tapped by An Garda Síochána, possibly as a result of pressure from a Minister. Certainly, the whistleblower believes it was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Taoiseach should respond to my specific question.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To put it mildly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 8. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress report of the partnership for Government. [23043/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: While Simon and Leo battle it out to succeed the Taoiseach-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government Implementation (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----and there might be a dark horse or two - God knows - the programme for Government commitments in the area that is most urgent for the citizens of this country are failing disastrously. The Taoiseach might say to Simon and Leo that they are to keep the campaign short and deal with this housing crisis, which the Taoiseach has helped create. I want to ask a number of specific questions...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wonder whether the African saying the lion roared but gave birth to a mouse might apply to the Government's great plans for Creative Ireland. When the arts were debated here, we heard noble words and fine aspirations from Government speakers who trumpeted their commitment to the arts. What is actually happening? What has actually been discussed in delivering on Creative Ireland? It is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a case of neoliberalism in the arts.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is unbelievable.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: James Joyce would have been banjaxed on that principle.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Submission: Age Action Ireland (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank Ms Feely and Mr. Moran of Age Action. I apologise for being late and missing their contribution but I read their statement. As others have done, I commend Age Action on its ongoing representation of, and advocacy for, older people in this country. A major issue which we all have heard about, and on which I have received representations, is the number of pensioners, particularly...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Submission: Age Action Ireland (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Has Mr Moran been hearing this from quite a few of his members?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Submission: Age Action Ireland (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: On the question of income supports, I may have missed this point, has Age Action outlined a figure of what it is looking for in terms of the increase in the budget?

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Submission: Age Action Ireland (17 May 2017)

Richard Boyd Barrett: While we are on the subject, there is obviously a big controversy in the area of public sector pensions at the moment. I presume that some of the members of Age Action are public sector pensioners. What is Mr. Moran's opinion on the moves being mooted, as I and many workers and unions see it, and on the talk of further eroding public service pensions? There is talk of increases being linked...