Results 28,661-28,680 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (11 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Information relating to a claimant’s address is not currently coded to the geographical location of the address. As such it is not possible to accurately report persons on the live register living in a particular area at present. Location information in respect of people on the live register is however recorded on the basis of the local office/Intreo centre which is used to serve...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Home-makers Scheme (11 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for State pension contributory (SPC) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or incapacitated people, to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being calculated for pension...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Data (11 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collated in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pension (Contributory) Numbers (11 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and has been requested. The Department will contact the Deputy directly when the information becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Departmental Offices (11 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The Intreo Centre in Parnell Street caters for well in excess of 10,000 clients, many of whom have regular engagements of various types with the office. In the context of such a large clientele, the amount of complaints received concerning the office is minimal. The most recent statistics available show that in the last 3 months there has been less than 10 complaints received via the...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I have previously put it on the record and I will repeat it again. The connections to and from this island are vital. They are vital for us and for Irish people around the world travelling to and from the island. They are vital for foreign direct investment, which has been significant in Ireland. Furthermore, following the effective devaluation of the euro, we expect a further improvement...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: That Government sold off three quarters of Aer Lingus. The Deputy was a Senator at the time and an enthusiastic backer of that particular proposition. This is how the country ended up having a minority, but significant, stake in Aer Lingus, at 25.1%. Under the takeover rules, the Government must examine any offers. Mr. Walsh is coming before an Oireachtas committee this afternoon. I am...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I presume the Deputy will be in a position to ask some of those questions himself of Mr. Walsh

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I will repeat what I said earlier. We have to be aware of the takeover panel rules, but there are critical factors in the evaluation of any offer. Fianna Fáil decided, in its wisdom, to sell 75% for €289 million. It obviously struck a very hard bargain. What happened to the €289 million? It increased the level of resources Fianna Fáil had available to it at the...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: The 25.1% stake which remains is going to be subject to examination in respect of connections to and from this island. As I have just stated, and I will say it again - perhaps the Deputy does not agree - the connections are important for Irish people coming to and from the island, for investors and for people doing business in and out of Ireland-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----and the connections are extremely important for tourism, particularly in the west of Ireland in the context of the development by this Government of the Wild Atlantic Way. This remains the key issue, along with employment in Aer Lingus. As the Deputy knows, there is significant employment in Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports and in the head office structures. They will be the key...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: First, in our democratic system it is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate crime. Second, we have an independent Judiciary.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: Gardaí have to be free to investigate crime without political interference of any kind. That is why it is exclusively a matter for An Garda Síochána to decide, in accordance with the law, who is to be arrested and detained as part of any investigation. Equally, it is a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether people are charged and matters are...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I uphold the Constitution. Like any member of the Government, I am required to do so. I respect the independence of the Judiciary, the independence of the Garda and the availability of an independent complaints system. It is important for anyone who speaks on these matters in this House not to reflect in any negative way on the independence of these institutional and constitutional...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I would like to refer briefly to the events at Fingal County Council the other evening. Like other Members of this House, I served as a member of that county council for a period. I regret what happened to the Fianna Fáil Mayor of Fingal County Council, Councillor Mags Murray, whom I have known over a long time. When she wanted to leave the council meeting to visit her daughter who...

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: As part of a protest, certain people prevented her from getting to her car in order that she could visit her daughter in hospital.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: All I will say is that they are not representative of people who have political issues and opposition to the whole issue of water charges.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: They are not representative of how politics has generally been conducted in this State. The people in Fingal the other evening held a mother back from going to see her sick daughter in hospital for an additional hour or two.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: I suspect their actions had nothing to do with water-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joan Burton: -----or with the vast majority of people who have concerns and who have protested-----