Results 3,261-3,280 of 26,843 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Does the deputation not believe a cooling off period of approximately two years following a period working for NAMA would be appropriate?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I am referring to working for companies engaged it that business.
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Not agreed.
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I object strongly to the proposal to take the motion without debate. Everybody knows that the public is angry about what they are being made to face. They are required to count every cent and they are fearful of what they may lose.
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: People are fearful about the forthcoming budget and every cent is being scrutinised. Many are living in poverty. It is understandable that the public should demand full transparency and accountability for expenditure relating to this House.
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Independent Deputies have attempted to raise serious issues about expenditure on staff and allowances from which party members can benefit but Independent Members cannot. These issues should be debated and scrutinised in Dáil Éireann in full public view.
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Why are expenses not vouched?
- Order of Business (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Why are expenses not vouched?
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a positive thing that we have had this debate. Deputies on all sides need to take part in good faith in a serious debate about the desperate plight we are in and what we can do to get out of it. Most people find it pretty galling that these troika people come along every three months to tick all the boxes and tell us how well we are doing. If we are honest, we will admit that it...
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: What is the alternative to this? It is hard to explain in three minutes, but I will say this. First, the debt is unsustainable. Our debt was €25 billion in 2007. That is our debt. All the rest is odious debt which results from the crisis and the recapitalisation of the banks. We cannot pay it and we should not pay it. We should tell Angela Merkel we cannot pay it and we will not...
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, if they will not give us a deal. We default and we are left with a deficit of €3.1 billion to cover. Can we cover a deficit of €3.1 billion? The answer is "Yes", through progressive income taxation on wealth, on profits and on higher incomes.
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: We would increase the effective tax rate on incomes over €100,000 from the current levels, ranging between 33% and 39%, to a range from 35% up to approximately 60% at the top-----
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: No; an effective rate of 60% at the top. That is more reasonable than attacking people on social welfare, the disabled or people on low incomes because, by attacking them, the Government has depressed the economy as well as pushing them into poverty. Why is it unreasonable to take €100,000 more in tax from somebody who earns €500,000 while it is not unreasonable to attack...
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes. A 2% wealth tax on the top 5%, excluding the family home and over a threshold of €1 million, would raise approximately €3.2 billion.
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To house people in empty houses to would save us €500 million in rent allowance and generate rental revenue for the State. We should assert control over the banks so they write down the unsustainable mortgages of 160,000 people who are on mortgage relief, for which they have been recapitalised, and dictate their investment and lending policies in order that money starts to go into the...
- Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It can be done if there is a will. Will the Government even discuss it?
- Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the interests of the welfare of the children at Angels Quest in Glenageary, County Dublin, if she will request that the staff and funding be made available to ensure that the 24 hour emergency service is maintained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46734/12]
- Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Services for People with Disabilities (25 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the threatened closure of the 24 hour emergency service at Angels Quest, the plans she has to ensure that children will not be adversely affected by cuts to essential services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46736/12]
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functioning of AIB: Discussion (31 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I am still trying to work my way through this substantial amount of information. Our view is that we need write-downs because forbearance, restructuring and the various models the bank is developing or has put in place are not enough to deal with the issue of mortgage arrears. The witnesses have made it clear that write-downs are not on the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functioning of AIB: Discussion (31 Oct 2012)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I reject the argument that by coming to an arrangement with people that enables them to just about manage, AIB is somehow offering a solution to the damage to the economy that is being caused by the fact that so many people are in mortgage distress. I understand the logic of AIB's point of view, but I do not understand its rationale from the point of view of the economy as a whole. Even if...