Results 34,521-34,540 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: Assuming that a certain noble Member of the House shows up as we expect - we do not know where he is yet but presumably he will arrive, otherwise the Ceann Comhairle may have to call a sos to allow people address their phones properly and find out what exactly is going on. Our vote is principally due to the fact that this Government arrangement is something of a charade, but we may learn more...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: Two deeply conservative parties have ended their pretence of civil war and done a deal.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: However, it is a tawdry deal on a number of levels that carries the real risk of undoing the hard won progress made since Fianna Fáil collapsed the economy. I have been honoured and privileged to serve in various coalition Governments with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. In those Governments the member parties worked together and compromised in the nation's and the people's interests.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: That is what coalition is about. There was a unity of purpose and trust, which is essential to the operation of a Government. Without a unity of purpose, a sense of direction and trust, the Government has a limited prospect of either reform or duration. This coalition of convenience is very different. As the leader of Fianna Fáil has just made clear, Fianna Fáil effectively will...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----reject whatever it wishes and collapse the arrangement whenever it chooses to do so. Let us not be fooled by Deputy Micheál Martin's convenient and, presumably, limited pledge to support Fine Gael for a period. Fianna Fáil will pick its time, regardless of what deal has been done. Until then, as we have seen it will put its interests ahead of the national interest every...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----although Deputy Micheál Martin has already downgraded it. Of course, the reason it was his priority was to protect his political hide from Sinn Féin.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: In so doing and in Fine Gael's disappointing cave-in to Fianna Fáil's reckless demands-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----the coalition of convenience has all but ensured Ireland will have to wait for the top quality water and sewerage infrastructure that it desperately needs. All Members of the House know this.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: This is not an abstract price that will be paid. Homes and businesses will pay the price in the coming years. Will today's coalition of convenience give an assurance to the law-abiding, honest citizens who have paid their water charges that they will be fully refunded and, if so, when? That is the least law-abiding people deserve, that their abiding by the laws of the State is respected by...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----for a dedicated pension scheme-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----to ensure all workers have supplementary pension provision.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: A Cheann Comhairle, I have not interrupted anybody and I understand-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----that people over here are smarting at the indignity of some of the things that they have agreed to, but I did not interrupt them and I do not expect them to interrupt me.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: That roadmap for supplementary pension provision is now ready. It can be implemented by the new Government. Older people and people at work need proper pension provision. We have improved pensions. We brought back the Christmas bonus - while you guys cancelled it - but it is not enough for people to live on an income and supports of roughly €250 a week. We all know that. We have...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: So how come it did not even merit a look at? It is very disappointing if we are ambitious for a fairer and progressive Ireland.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: I doubt that the Eight Amendment will now be repealed or even offered and put to the people during the course of this Government's term in office. The coalition of convenience has cynically kicked the issue to touch. The issue is when people will get a right to express their views on a needed change and a needed review of the Constitution. By contrast, if there is a problem that the...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: Nobody can say this has been happening in recent weeks. Perhaps some of the Independents can be excused on the basis they are new to this. Some of them chanced their arm and got away with it. In some ways they are unable to believe their luck, provided the talks finish at some stage. For Fianna Fáil, however, there really are no excuses. All Members know how Fianna Fáil...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: However, for Fine Gael to sign up to this fairly tawdry arrangement is an entirely new and unwelcome departure. One hundred years on from the Rising that lit the road to independence-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: -----the people deserve better from the two Civil War parties. They have ended their Civil War politics all right but only to concoct, as I stated, this coalition of convenience that it appears will put citizens' interests last. I stress the Labour Party's vote today is not a personal reflection of the Taoiseach, who is an honourable man and hard-working leader. Over the past five...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Joan Burton: In the future, the Labour Party will look at the issues on a case-by-case basis and when there is merit in supporting them, we will do so. While recovery has not yet been felt by everybody, there has been a huge amount of progress. It is difficult for Fianna Fáil to acknowledge that it left a ruin. There has been a significant amount of recovery, including unemployment figures showing...