Results 5,041-5,060 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: We have a chronic crisis in every virtually aspect of housing in the State. There is a catastrophic failure by the Fine Gael-Labour Party Government, building on the failure of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party before them, to resolve the desperate need for homes. Incredibly, 90,000 families or individuals are on local authority waiting queues nationally. It springs from the crazed...

Social Housing and Homelessness Policy: Statements (Resumed) (3 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: -----and then go for progressive taxation. We have shown again and again how a few extra percentage points on the corporate profits on the super-wealthy in the State would yield billions in terms of extra taxation and put that into the construction of the homes we need. Tá géarchéim uafásach ann maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta sa tír seo -...

Order of Business (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: The health reform Bill promises new structures for the health service. Fine Gael is planning to hand the public health service into the control of private for-profit insurance companies. Only last night, we learned that the Fine Gael supporter and financier, honorary doctor and billionaire O'Brien has now taken over a major private hospital, the Beacon. Will there be anything public about...

Order of Business (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: What plans has the Government for real public health reform?

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Administration (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: 382. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of money spent on the rental accommodation scheme in each of the local authority areas for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [16493/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: Why did the chief executive, Mr. Brown move the mortgage arrears section of Ulster Bank to Scotland?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: So it is not the case of creating a situation where there is much less empathy for the householder who is in difficulty with arrears by putting it at such a distance from the country? These people are much more removed from the daily circumstances of life in Ireland. Is that not putting people who want to talk to the bank about problems at a significant disadvantage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: There are legal proceedings in the case of 1,487 buy-to-let properties. How many buy-to-let properties have the bank taken possession of and sold off or got rid of in one way or another?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: When this situation arises for tenants, it puts them in a very vulnerable position. There is increasing stress among tenants of landlords who are dealing with Ulster Bank and other banks. How does Ulster Bank treat the tenants and does it given them a guarantee or solace in regard to the stressful position? In a situation, in which receivers are being appointed to properties, the tenants...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: In the case of an owner-occupier, when there is what the bank calls a voluntary agreement to sell, then the property is sold at the current market rate. Why then does the bank adopt the arrogant stance of not looking at a general write-down to today's value when in fact that is what happens in individual cases? Can the bank not be part of a general national solution with other banks to try...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: Some of the so-called viable solutions involve split mortgages, which means that the millstone of debt will follow people to the grave. It is not a solution. What is the total number of owner-occupied negative equity mortgages on the books of Ulster Bank?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: Could Mr. Brown put a monetary figure on it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: How many billions of euro?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: When Mr. Brown arrives at that figure, let him put it against by how much the parent bank was bailed out by the British taxpayer. Why does the bank adopt this position with regard to the unfortunate victims of the blackmail, profiteering and speculation that was occurring in the property market given that it was, according to the Financial Times, subject to the biggest bailout in history at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: Is it a case of saying, "Bail out the banks and to hell with the unfortunate victims of the property splurge."?

Leaders' Questions (9 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: I thought symbolism was very important. We have not heard anything else over the past two days.

Central Bank Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: I am totally opposed to the Central Bank Bill 2014 which proposes to compel the sale of €1 billion in mortgages and €1 billion in matching mortgages of ICS Building Society. The Minister of State said the Bill would support new entities in entering the Irish market and increase competition to ultimately benefit the consumer. That is palpably a false premise on which to base...

Central Bank Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: Who called for a North Korean banking model?

Central Bank Bill 2014: Second Stage (9 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: I am just curious. Who called for a North Korean banking model?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Joe Higgins: 55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will make an assessment on the impact of the lack of availability of the back to education allowance for students training to be secondary teachers in view of the fact the course has the status of a masters level qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16872/14]