Results 5,681-5,700 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: My third issue relates to the proposal contained in the previous budget to merge the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority. This matter is in the Tánaiste's Department. Mr. Eddie Hobbs tendered his resignation to the National Consumer Agency, NCA. What does the Tánaiste propose to do? A series of quangos were to be merged, but we have heard nothing more about it. What...

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I have two questions. Will the Government send a Minister to Vietnam to sort out the issue, as that is what is required?

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: The Government has no legal authority to set up a shadow NAMA agency, which will dwarf the cost-----

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----of all other proposals that any Government has entertained.

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: It will cost the taxpayer between €25 billion and €40 billion.

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Has the Tánaiste received legal advice on the shadow NAMA authority?

Order of Business (Resumed) (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Those dogs are still running.

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 26: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he has taken to improve the drinking water infrastructure that is not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18102/09]

Water Quality. (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 43: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take in response to the Environmental Protection Agency Report on the Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report for the Years 2007 to 2008, which, according to the EPA, indicates Ireland needs sustained investment in infrastructure to deliver clean drinking water, this...

Child Care Services. (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I hope the Minister of State has more positive news on this issue than on the previous matter. A long-standing, successful community child care crèche has operated at the Mountview Family Resource Centre, Whitechapel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The Government has said repeatedly child care is a priority and providing child care opportunities for low income families and parents is a critical...

Child Care Services. (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: That is not true.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Why is there an increase of 10% in the allocation for consultancy services under subhead A7 given that the Minister for Finance announced last July that all expenditure by Departments and agencies on consultancies, advertising and PR was to be reduced significantly for the remainder of this year and by at least 50% in 2009? There are significant increases in the allocations for office...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: In view of the general unease people are feeling about how the Government is running - or not running - the affairs of the country and the cost the tribunal has thus far incurred without ever producing an interim report, the possibility of further extended hearings in order to call back a collection of witnesses, particularly civil servants, is scary. Given the importance of the Moriarty...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: With regard to the proposed retirement scheme for public servants, is there any kind of Cabinet sub-committee or monitoring process to discover the number of public servants likely to retire? Has the Taoiseach any figures for his own Department as to the number of civil servants wishing to retire early under the scheme and civil servants who have sought to take leave under the scheme...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----it is possible that some of the best people will go? I ask in particular about the Taoiseach's own Department. Is he concerned that people whom he did not envisage leaving, may leave and others whom he thought might take the offer are not doing so? Is he concerned at the widespread reports that senior members of the Garda Síochána are actively considering early retirement because of...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Were all the Ministers of State appointed given delegated functions by the Ministers in charge of their Departments, specifically in the Taoiseach's Department? Do both Ministers of State have delegated functions? I assume the Chief Whip does, as very obvious duties are assigned. In many other cases one gets the impression that Ministers of State are a bit aimless unless they have a nice...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----Government in Ireland?

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: The former Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, pointed to an appalling situation-----

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----where the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government-----

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, appeared to be unfit for purpose. Given that Deputy McGuinness has been on the Committee for Public Accounts for a long time and is somebody who knows a fair bit about the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on inefficiencies in the public service, is the Taoiseach concerned that what he had to say simply confirmed fears that...