Results 2,861-2,880 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The Minister is not here.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I may share time with Deputy Seamus Healy.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The debate has been thrown into confusion by the readjustment of time earlier. It is totally unacceptable that this important debate is being curtailed in this way. The Minister of State has not been here for the discussion and has not heard the points we made, yet he is responding for the Government. It shows complete disrespect on the part of the Government for the Dáil. Where is the...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: For the record, the United Left Deputies have tabled a formal amendment to oppose the section and should be called in precedence.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: The point I am trying to make is that an amendment has been tabled to oppose the section. The Acting Chairman will see the words "section opposed" below Deputy Stanley's amendment on the list.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Deputy Daly is leading in this debate.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Ar an gcéad dul síos, teastaíonn uaim a rá leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Ó Dubhda, nach ceist pearsanta é seo.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Ba cheart go mbeadh an Aire sinsearach sa Teach don díospóireacht seo. Ní dóigh liom go dtuigeann sé chomh tromchúiseach is atá an cheist seo. Tuigfidh sé é sara mbeidh mí Márta istigh. Is masla don Dáil é agus is masla dos na Teachtaí a thagann anseo chun ionadaíocht a dhéanamh é. Táimid ag iarraidh cás a dhéanamh ar son na cosmhuintire maidir leis an gcáin nua...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: It is an example of contagion. He is getting the "don't pay" bug.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Could we invite the Labour Party Deputies to come in for these motions? They could champion the plight of the downtrodden whom they claim to be concerned about.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Earlier, Deputy Mathews of Fine Gael made an interesting point that this country should make a protest by withholding €250 million from one of the bailout interest commitments. He reasoned this would signal to the IMF-EU-ECB the unhappiness of this country with how it is being treated. What the opponents of these household and water taxes — United Left Alliance and other Deputies —...

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Voting for amendment No. 2 will be no problem to the Deputy.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Yes, because of our income tax proposals.

Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: A sum of €20 million for Fine Gael Deputies.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Question 114: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 20 April 2011, the location in Dublin 15 that it is envisaged to locate the gaelscoil in 2012. [40164/11]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (14 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Question 136: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement; and the criteria for awarding same. [40081/11]

Industrial Relations (15 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I am sharing time with Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett only.

Industrial Relations (15 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: I am sorry about that.

Industrial Relations (15 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: Deputy Boyd Barrett submitted this yesterday. I shall continue and the Acting Chairman can consider this as a joint submission by all the Deputies concerned. I am glad the Minister for Finance is in the Chamber. What we would like to have with him today is a quiet measured conversation about the issue I raise which concerns 370 workers at EBS Limited, now merged with Allied Irish Banks....

Industrial Relations (15 Dec 2011)

Joe Higgins: That is a deeply regrettable response. For the Minister for Education and Skills sitting next to the Minister to be nodding his head in agreement is also rather ironic. The prohibition of bonuses in the banks is enthusiastically supported when it relates to the high flyers and the fat cats who devastated our economy with their reckless lending and gambling. Their bonuses ranged between...