Results 401-420 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (24 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 409: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the Irish hare initiative which states that at some coursing events actual hare deaths may be as high as 48% of the hares caught for coursing. [17019/05]

Written Answers — Hare Coursing: Hare Coursing (24 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 410: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will refuse further licences for hare coursing in line with the precautionary principle advocated in the recent report from the Irish hare initiative. [17020/05]

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress to date in implementing An Agreed Programme for Government. [15216/05]

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: I graciously accept your apology, a Cheann Comhairle. On the timescale for the delivery of the commitments in the programme for Government, what is the Government's view on how flexible it is? The Taoiseach is completing the third year of his second term of office, a total of eight years, and has two years to go. Assuming the second term continues for the full five years, 60% of the time has...

Programmes for Government. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: I have to illustrate briefly the point I am trying to make. Does the Taoiseach envisage that in two years there will be no persons languishing on trolleys in hospitals? That is a question on the timescale. There is also the question of class sizes and other issues.

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the progress made by the cross-departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15215/05]

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Has the cross-departmental team conducted any fundamental review of the very concept of so-called public private partnerships, considering public projects to be delivered in this way will be much more expensive for the taxpayers than need be the case? In regard to construction and housing, did that recent meeting to which the Taoiseach referred, discuss the delivery of the thousands of social...

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: What about housing?

Public Private Partnerships. (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: When will we see houses?

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí Neamhspleácha as ucht a gcuid ama a roinnt. The proposal to privatise Aer Lingus, the national airline, arises for one reason only, from the right-wing, neo-liberal economic policy of this Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Government. The Government is fully in tune in this sense with the EU Commission which would like to destroy every vestige of...

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: ——and then uses that as an excuse for the privatisation of our national airline.

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: I am not being disingenuous. Please explain it.

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: That is as a result of legislation this Government introduced. The legislation should be changed to make investment possible. The Minister for Finance explained how unforeseen terrorist attacks and global downturns can cause problems. Why should the State not protect a vital national strategic asset when international capitalism, for example, enters a global downturn? It is an inevitable part...

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: There is no reason it cannot be kept in public ownership.

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: By whom?

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: If the Government has capital it should put it into Aer Lingus.

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: This is a vote of no confidence in public ownership.

Aer Lingus: Motion (Resumed). (25 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Exactly.

Decentralisation Programme. (31 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the decentralisation programme as it affects his Department. [15217/05]

Decentralisation Programme. (31 May 2005)

Joe Higgins: What percentage of the Taoiseach's staff does that number comprise? How does it compare with other Departments? It is a high take up, given that the Taoiseach does not have a huge number of staff, apart from all the advisers and media professionals at his elbow. Have the staff been transferred? If not, when will the transfers be effected?