Results 221-240 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Leaders' Questions. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach acknowledge that the great majority of residents of the Short Strand area in Belfast are horrified to have criminal butchers in their midst, hiding under the political banner of provisional republicanism, and that revulsion at the bestial murder of Robert McCartney, and the heroic quest for justice by his family, are challenging in an unprecedented way the insidious control...

Leaders' Questions. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: How genuine are this Government and the British Government in outing criminal intimidation when they tolerated it for so long? Years ago, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform spoke about things he knew happened but we have seen action only recently. The Taoiseach blew the issue out of the water in recent weeks because the political landscape changed. Calling the murderers of...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: Will the Taoiseach accept that the cost to his Department and to the taxpayer in the matter of the tribunals has been massively increased because for eight years he and his Government have included in their herd of sacred cows, with land speculators and developers, the elite of the barrister profession as untouchables whose greed they would not curb by putting control over their fees? Some...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: ——for which they paid €32 million and for which four years later they got €85 million in a speculative gain which I brought to the Taoiseach's attention. When a few barristers who are on their feet for a few hours charge €100,000, does the Taoiseach agree it is time to call a halt and that by not doing so much earlier he is putting a heavy punishment on taxpayers?

National Archives. (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach the number of files withheld by his Department from the National Archives in respect of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2797/05]

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (23 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 152: To ask the Minister for Finance the terms of any concessions made by his predecessor or Department to any of a number of companies (details supplied) with regard to taxation; and his estimate of the cost of these concessions up to December 2004. [6280/05]

Order of Business. (24 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: The gross exploitation of migrant workers is now clear to all. Can the Tánaiste be more precise this morning than the Taoiseach was yesterday regarding the timing of the employment permits Bill since current legislation is facilitating that exploitation? Will the Tánaiste confirm that more resources will be given to the labour inspectorate because it is completely under resourced?

Order of Business. (24 Feb 2005)

Joe Higgins: In the Minister of State's case it is talking that is dangerous.

Consultancy Contracts. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he has studied a recent report by Mr Dermot Quigley; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6512/05]

Legislative Programme. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach his Department's legislative programme for the current session of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1458/05]

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: In recent weeks a plethora of cases involving gross exploitation of Irish workers and, in particular, migrant workers in vulnerable situations by a range of employers have emerged. In the case of the Dublin Port tunnel, it was discovered that 40 Polish workers were being paid half the rate applicable to their Irish counterparts. The employees to whom I refer were also forced to work excessive...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: I did not name anybody.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: I did not name any firm. I referred to a case in Mullingar involving the gross exploitation of workers. As regards women in domestic service and those working in the care area, the Migrant Rights Centre has documented cases of low pay, excessive working hours, illegal deductions and the fear of deportation if these individuals come forward. There is a major problem in this area. Does the...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach rambled incoherently. I do not know what he was talking about.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach must withdraw that immediately. He is obviously completely ignorant and does not know what he is talking about. I will give him an opportunity.

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: I invite the Taoiseach to give the facts——

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: ——because he obviously did not listen to what was a general question about the position of migrant workers. On the complaint I raised two weeks ago, I am satisfied that this is being taken seriously, so I have not raised that today. However, the Taoiseach must withdraw the assertion that I have not brought the evidence I had to the attention of the official inspectorate, because that is...

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: In view of the fact that the Taoiseach-——

Leaders' Questions. (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: Yes, but the Taoiseach diverted. I was asking him about the position of migrant workers generally. The Taoiseach seems to say there is not a problem. Migrant workers, in some cases, are being treated as shamefully as our countrymen and countrywomen in a different epoch, when they were building the railroads in the United States or carrying the hod to the top of the London skyline. Some...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (1 Mar 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 215: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that residents of Clonsilla, Dublin 15, still cannot gain access to broadband on their Eircom telephone lines; and the immediate steps his Department will take to improve the provision of broadband in all parts of the country. [6901/05]