Results 2,941-2,960 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (14 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Does that mean that the property services regulatory authority Bill is effectively on ice until this committee has reported? People are being left inlimbo regarding property management companies. In a declining property market, we could do without people's title to their homes being questioned due to the management company relationship to the ownership of common land in the vicinity of the...

Written Answers — Local Government Reform: Local Government Reform (14 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of applications made by towns for town council status in view of the present examination of local government being carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28680/07]

Written Answers — Election Management System: Election Management System (14 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Question 77: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Government is planning changes to the law governing financial donations to politicians or political parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23690/07]

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: On the same issue, as I understand it, the judge in the Moriarty tribunal has indicated that there are to be no more public hearings and Judge Mahon has indicated that he will be in a position to wind up the Mahon tribunal and finish its work next year. The question arises as to what is the purpose of this.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: The Bill was originally published in November 2006. We did not hear much about it until the Taoiseach was going before the tribunals. At that point the former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform decided that the Bill was urgent and should be taken. At that stage, when the Labour Party objected, supported strongly then by the Green Party——

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: ——the Government decided correctly not to proceed. What is different now, other than that the Greens are sitting on the Government benches as opposed to the Opposition benches? Why is the Government proceeding?

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Many will see this as essentially a form of potential intimidation of the tribunal in the context of the Taoiseach being due to appear again in the near future.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Yes.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: I wish to make one final point on the Tánaiste's comments. Essentially, it is provocative to introduce the Bill at this time, given that the most important officeholder in the country, namely, the Taoiseach, is due to appear before one of these tribunals again shortly.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: I wish to ask the Tánaiste about the arrangements for the budget and the fact that budget day will now include Estimates. I raised this issue with him some time ago and neither he nor his Department has given any indication of what the detailed arrangments will be in terms of publishing along with the budget, a Book of Estimates. Will separate statements be available on the contents of the...

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: That is an abdication of responsibility.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: On the same issue——

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Before the budget reform process, output statements are supposed to be published. Is the Tánaiste preparing an output statement on the extra productivity we can expect from members of Government as a consequence of their extraordinary pay increases?

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Will that be given to the Dáil? Is that in his reform proposal? It is long overdue.

Order of Business (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Will the Tánaiste be giving it, because we would certainly debate that?

Energy Resources. (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Question 6: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures he is taking in view of his stated desire for a debate on nuclear power, to bring about this debate; his policies in regard to nuclear power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28985/07]

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (15 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Question 33: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding digital terrestrial television; his views on whether Ireland will be ready for the switch over by 2012; if he will report on the pilot schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28976/07]

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Question 47: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the way the most recent reported increase in inflation compares with the forecast he gave in his budget 2007 speech; the measures he will take to deal with the issue; the way he proposes to protect people on social welfare and lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29583/07]

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: Given his busy schedule, I do not know if the Taoiseach has had the opportunity to go shopping in a supermarket recently. The price of bread has increased by 7%, flour by 11% and milk by 8.2%. There has been a significant increase in the price of weekly shopping for an average family. One has little change from €150 for a family of three or from €200 for a family of four. What does...

Price Inflation. (20 Nov 2007)

Joan Burton: I am sure the Minister is aware that, even when one includes free schemes, a single pensioner's income does not amount to much more than €12,500. That is half of what Ministers each accepted in their recent salary increase of €25,000. How does the Minister expect to compensate people for the extraordinary increase in food costs? Poorer people spend more of their income on food. The...