Results 2,761-2,780 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I wondered what it was all for when he repeated merely the platitudes of nine months ago. When he said the Government would do all it can to protect the most vulnerable, our children, the sick and the elderly, can I ask him to agree he is guilty of the most monumental hypocrisy since yesterday the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform attacked the children, the sick and the elderly in...

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I never said we should carry on regardless. In fact, I asked for a major change of policy. The Taoiseach will not bring the country out of the depths into which it has been plunged by this crazed system in four years. Austerity will make matters far worse. Surely he should have learned this from the plight and suffering of the Greek people. He did not answer the question. Why does he...

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: -----and parents with three and four children. It attacks the weakest in society because it has made a political choice that the wealthy who back Fine Gael will not be touched.

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Instead it takes the easy option of attacking the poor and working people. Does the Taoiseach agree that is to the shame of the Government and the Labour Party? Does he agree that critically the investment needed-----

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: -----to create the jobs which he said was the priority in his address will not come from current circumstances? The extra wealth in society needs to be used to create tens of thousands of jobs and remake this broken society.

Leaders' Questions (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Yes, the Government is bailing out European speculators.

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Hit the workers instead.

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Hit the disabled instead.

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: No, it is not.

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The Government could drive anyone to drink.

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: What about a tax on speculators in Europe?

Budget Statement 2012 (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: We did not hear too many objections from Fine Gael.

Financial Resolutions 2012: Allocation of Time: Motion (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: No.

Financial Resolutions 2012: Allocation of Time: Motion (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Yes. I appreciate that much business needs to be done, but the time frame for some of the resolutions is ten and 15 minutes. I will agree to the motion provided that an undertaking is given to the effect that the opening contributions of the Government and the two main Opposition parties will allow sufficient time for the United Left Alliance and Independent Deputies to make short...

Financial Resolutions 2012: Allocation of Time: Motion (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Exactly, but one or two Deputies could talk out the entire time and not give the rest of us an opportunity.

Financial Resolutions 2012: Allocation of Time: Motion (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I agree on the basis that the understanding is adhered to by all parties.

Financial Resolution No. 1: (Tobacco Products Tax) (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The last time I was a Deputy, the parties in government engaged in this ritual hypocrisy each year by introducing more taxes on cigarettes and pretending that it was a health measure. The Taoiseach's predecessor, Mr. Bertie Ahern, used to go on about it ritually. This is a revenue raising measure of some €45 million, the bulk of which will come from working class people and poor people....

Financial Resolution No. 1: (Tobacco Products Tax) (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Whose ideology is warped?

Financial Resolution No. 3: Carbon Charge on Mineral Oils (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The best thing I can say for the Tánaiste and the Government tonight is that we have been spared the hypocrisy going on that this was another critical environmental measure. I am sure if the Greens were still in Government we would have been lectured tonight about how important it is to lash on extra taxes on oil and petrol for the environment. Of course it is not. Using increased taxes...

Financial Resolution No. 4: Value Added Tax (6 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The Tánaiste can agree to it now. He is the member of the Government in the Chamber. He can give us ten minutes which can come off the time allowed for the next debate.