Results 4,821-4,840 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will guarantee that Dun Laoghaire institute will not be privatised; his views on private funding interests for the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology. [3922/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the staff pension fund in Dun Laoghaire Institute and a guarantee that the staff pension fund is safe. [3923/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Measures (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 373. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans in respect of youth unemployment following the British Irish Council. [53720/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (29 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 118. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support the granting of a generous free allowance of water in the water charging scheme for those with Crohn's disease and other conditions that require use of additional water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure (29 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 135. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount paid nationally by local authorities to private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will list the amounts by each local authority area. [4516/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the concerns of residents will be accommodated in the plans for the new EirGrid pylon network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4495/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: As the Minister will know, many communities are extremely concerned about the huge pylon infrastructure. Their concerns are all very well-grounded in terms of its huge effect on the environment, fears for their health and its impact on people's daily lives. Is the Minister concerned that many of these groups are unconvinced by the commission that he has established? They view it as a way...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: There is no question about the eminence, independence or competence of the Minister's panel. That was not the point that I made. I made the point that there are two formidable personalities on the panel who are driven by right-wing neo-liberal philosophies. That is bound to have an effect on the outcome in regard to the balance between ordinary people and the needs of the establishment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: 86. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the research paper written by Professor John Fitzgerald and Dr. Edgar Morgenroth for his Department in relation to the establishment of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: I am seeking the Minister's views on the research paper written some time ago by two professors of the ESRI. Will he comment on the proposals in the paper and its estimates on water charges and savings in water supply?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Minister claims repeatedly that the setting up of Irish Water, Uisce Éireann, will save €2 billion up to 2021. He gives the impression that some kind of magic efficiency is involved. This is the most cynical mendacity. Will he confirm today what Irish Water has confirmed, namely, that the figure of €2 billion will in fact be accounted for by water taxes on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: It is a damning indictment of the Fine Gael party, which was in government in the 1990s and again in the last three years, and its predecessors in Fianna Fáil, that 40% of expensively treated water is leaking into the ground. That is because successive governments have failed to invest in our water services or to give adequate funding to the local authorities to fix our water network...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Government is going to start charging for water from October but will not tell people what the water charges will be until after the local elections.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: Billions has been paid that the people never owed. Is it any wonder that the Minister is short?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: 4. To ask the Taoiseach if he intends to propose reforms to Seanad Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50126/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: I suppose the Taoiseach would agree that his life would be much simpler if he could do things along the lines of his newly acquired Saudi Arabian friends – just threaten to cut off people’s heads if they do not agree with the governing party. He would then have no problem.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach agree that he should have carried the referendum to abolish the Seanad with a landslide vote, considering how totally undemocratic is the manner of its appointment, but that he lost it because the people did not trust him or the Labour Party, mainly because of all their broken promises? Coming to the House with one proposal, namely, to extend the franchise to graduates in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: Yes, for 40 years, including when the Taoiseach was appointing his pals to it 30 years ago.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Government has a majority in the Seanad. Why does it not do this?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Reform (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: Who is blocking all of this?