Results 361-380 of 24,382 for speaker:Seán Barrett

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: I assume I should speak until 7 p.m. and then follow on tomorrow.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: While sitting in the Chamber for the past hour or so awaiting my turn to speak, I have been listening to speaker after speaker on the other side of the House stating that sacrifices must be made and the books must be balanced. While that is all great stuff, at whose expense? This budget is a complete cop-out. I had the pleasure of serving in the Cabinet a couple of times and anyone who...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: The Deputy should remain quiet.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: The Government has copped out from taking the hard decision to cap salaries or have a pay freeze and to deal with reform of the public service. Instead, almost 85% of the total budgets of the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science go on salaries. Consequently, those who wish to make cuts without touching salaries will be obliged to fiddle around with 15% of the budget....

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: How will this system work? What constitutes a couple? In the case of a married couple in which the wife has no income, will she be regarded as having an income of €36,400 in order that she and her husband can earn up to €1,400 per week? Alternatively, is it someone who has independent means? What happens if one of them dies? Does the other partner lose his or her medical card?...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the expenditure by her Department on advertising and awareness activities since January 2008; the amount spent on same for the period January 2007 to January 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34496/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: Question 157: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the measures that prevent workers continuing to claim jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit, despite not being resident here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34497/08]

Written Answers — Nursing Home Subventions: Nursing Home Subventions (21 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: Question 253: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the decline in the housing market, and in estimates of imputed rental income from house property, she will enter into negotiations with the Health Service Executive with a view to reviewing the mechanism used in determining rental income levels for nursing home subvention purposes and seeking a downward adjustment...

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: An Oireachtas sub-committee is working to ascertain how to deal with the failure to have the Lisbon treaty passed. It appears that nothing has been done to improve our communications with the public regarding what is happening in Europe. Two documents relating to proposals for Council regulations regarding fishing have been laid before the Dáil. In addition, there is a proposal for a...

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: How do we expect the public to understand what is happening in Europe if documents are just laid before the Dáil and never discussed publicly in this Chamber? Are we serious about communicating with the electorate? When will time be made available on a regular basis for all these proposals to be debated in this Chamber, where they should be debated? These matters eventually become law,...

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: That is a second question and it is very important.

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: We need to communicate on a regular basis what is happening in the Dáil Chamber and its committees.

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: What about the televising of the Dáil?

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: I did not hear that.

Order of Business (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: It is a matter of deep concern for the public in the context of the Lisbon treaty.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: It is difficult to get into the mood to discuss the budget following such a heated debate. One must be very careful. When I adjourned the debate yesterday evening, I was addressing my criticisms of the Government in failing to tackle the big picture. That failure has led to a series of silly cutbacks, which will cause untold harm and political damage to the entire system. I appeal to the...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: Yes, one must spend €1,500 at the start, then find money for books, to dress oneself, to pay bus fares and to feed oneself. Given the cuts, it is hypocritical to state that we are trying to give everyone a chance to attend a third level institution. The cuts are due to the fact that the Government failed to see the big picture. As the Minister will admit, 80%-85% of the education budget...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: I ask Deputy Gogarty to continue playing with his laptop until I finish my contribution. He will have a chance to respond to my comments when his turn comes. In the meantime, I ask him not to interfere with my train of thought. I see no reason that Baldonnel cannot be used for internal flights. It is located off the N7, close to the M50 and convenient to developing areas in Kildare and...

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: I did not refer to an international airport.

Financial Resolution No. 15: (General) Resumed (22 Oct 2008)

Seán Barrett: There is a great difference.