Results 2,701-2,720 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Carbon Budget. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: The Minister is no fun. Now that he is the dauphin he has changed.

Carbon Budget. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: It could be done on the back of an envelope.

Order of Business (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I would like to propose an amendment to the Schedule to No. 5 on today's Order Paper, so that the reference to "Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 — Order for Second Stage" is deleted. This motion is similar to motions tabled in the House after previous general elections, seeking to restore to the Order Paper Bills which had commenced progress or had been published in the previous Dáil. The...

Restoration of Bills to Order Paper: Motion. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I move amendmentNo. 1: In the Schedule to delete "Tribunals of Inquiry Bill 2005 — Order for Second Stage". I am particularly conscious that in the previous Dáil the Green Party, in particular, strongly supported the position of the Labour Party with regard to the Tribunals Of Inquiry Bill. While there is a case for reforming the procedure of tribunals, it is inappropriate to put this...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I wish to share time with Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: Last year information given out before the budget stated first-time buyers paid up to €70 million in stamp duty, of which €66 million was on properties costing less than €635,000. The Bill's provisions grant absolute relief to all first-time buyers, regardless of the size of house purchased. Last year, the Progressive Democrats put forward proposals to abolish stamp duty for...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: That was the way the thing was structured, but there are people out there——

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: ——who have lost out as a consequence of taking the Minister at his word.

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage. (26 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: This is important in terms of the damage it will do to him as Minister for Finance. The defence of that position in his speech is not acceptable to reasonable people who acted in good faith on the advice contained in the statements he made. In the recent Finance Bill, on foot of amendments tabled by the Labour Party, the Minister agreed that abuses of stamp duty were taking place in regard...

Order of Business (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: Regarding proposals to amend legislation relating to tribunals, members of the Green Party are quoted in today's newspapers as saying the party has amendments to the legislation published by the previous Government and reinstated on the Order Paper yesterday. Have amendments tabled by the Green Party to the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill been agreed? The programme for Government mentions changes...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I move amendmentNo. 2: In page 3, before section 1, to insert the following new section: "PART 1 ANOMALIES IN THE STAMP DUTY REGIME 1.—It shall be a function of the Commission on Taxation to be established by the Government to examine anomalies in the stamp duty regime including the plight of families and individuals leaving properties such as apartments to trade up to an affordable family...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: The purpose of this amendment is to charge the proposed commission on taxation with examining the anomalies in the stamp duty regime. During last night's brief Second Stage debate, I had time only to refer to the situation of those people caught out by the backdating to 31 March. There are other anomalies relating to stamp duty, which I hope the Minister will review. One of these relates to...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I thank the Minister for his detailed response to the Labour Party amendment. On the construction industry in general and its critical importance to the economy, I remind the Minister that in March construction firms employing more than five persons reduced their workforce on an annualised basis for the first time in four years. Figures for housing starts dropped significantly for the...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: It is particularly acute in Dublin West because houses and apartments are cheaper there. South Dublin is more expensive and as the Tánaiste stated, he can understand the housing market there is extraordinary. However, Dublin West more closely resembles the rest of Ireland in this regard. Fingal is building more houses and is creating more affordable apartments. What does one do if the...

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: Did Mr. McDowell and the previous Government not start the debate?

Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I read the Taoiseach's announcement yesterday about the gallery of Ministers of State. On a personal basis everyone is pleased for the Members and their families. It is a signal honour to be asked to serve in Government as a Minister or Minister of State. We wish them well. The Department of Education and Science has five Ministers of State and one Minister. The Department of Health has...

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Second and Subsequent Stages. (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: He should have been a Minister of State.

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: I asked the Minister of State earlier about the Department of Education and Science, which now has five Ministers of State. Five Ministers of State for one Minister represents a complex structure. Will we be given a flowchart to indicate how the various responsibilities will be executed? I do not understand why a Minister who is deemed to be competent should need five Ministers of State....

Ministers and Secretaries (Ministers of State) Bill 2007: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Jun 2007)

Joan Burton: The Department of Education and Science has five Ministers of State. How will they find a table big enough to seat them?