Results 5,701-5,720 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----are not fully in charge of their Departments in terms of meeting the challenges? I ask, specifically, why the Chief Whip is also a Minister of State in the Department of Defence. We have a relatively small Army. Is it necessary to have a Minister of State in that Department, in addition to its redoubtable Minister for Defence? The reason has never been clear to me. Is it merely tradition?

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I always made sure to get delegation functions in writing.

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: That is the biggest fairy tale of all.

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: It has not been set up.

Order of Business (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Peter Bacon is cited on the website of NTMA - he uses that phrase too.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Absolutely.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: It was very unfair.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I refer to the Taoiseach's peevishness during Taoiseach's Questions and later during Leaders' Questions in which he seemed very out of sorts. Presumably, this was the result of meeting voters in various constituencies. This will go down in Irish history as the crony capitalism period that destroyed much of the prosperity achieved during the Celtic tiger years. Whether the Taoiseach likes...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I will address the Bill also. This debate is perhaps an example of the princelings of Fianna Fáil who have inherited seats and office not being able to be in attendance in the Chamber to discuss important issues. I say to the Minister that I get up early in the morning and spend hours trying to read this material and think about it. I occasionally-----

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I occasionally get to meet the Minister in the Chamber. His two predecessors, whom I-----

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: The Minister's two predecessors did attend finance committee debates. I return to the issue of the banks. Put simply, in the run-up to the budget, the Minister for Finance announced a recapitalisation programme that he said would work. For a period of four months, he was confident that recapitalisation would work. The sums involved were €3.5 billion for the Bank of Ireland and €3.5...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Perhaps it is people in different offices within the Minister's remit who are at war with each other. The Department of Finance, the regulator, the Central Bank and the NTMA all have a different scéal to tell about what is happening. I received a reply to a parliamentary question last week that informed me that PricewaterhouseCoopers was paid €3.8 million for the initial work it did in...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I do not think the Minister of State read the manifesto because he would have seen it there.

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 86: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of applicants each year and to date in 2009 for the warmer homes scheme; the waiting time for approval and participation in the scheme; if there are applicants who have applied in 2009 who will not be able to avail of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18779/09]

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the reported deal between the national broadband scheme operator and a company (details supplied) for satellite services; the number of households he expects to be provided with satellite broadband; if this number has changed since the announcement of the national broadband scheme; and if he will...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 163: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will set out the effective marginal tax rate for those earning €80,000 per annum or more once the Finance Bill 2009 has been enacted, assuming it is enacted unamended; his views on the recent ESRI study of the distributional impact of the 7 April 2009 budget which asserts that the effective marginal tax rate for higher earners has risen...

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 168: To ask the Minister for Finance the action he will take to ensure that mortgage lenders pass on European Central Bank interest rate cuts in full to mortgage holders on variable rate mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18985/09]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 197: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of Crumlin Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, and its future development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18541/09]

Written Answers — Health Service Properties: Health Service Properties (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 229: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if in view of recent reductions in rent for both residential and commercial properties across the country she has directed the Health Service Executive to seek rent reductions on properties that they rent; if such savings have been secured to date; the amount such savings are expected to amount to in 2009. [18827/09]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Question 313: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on giving carers social welfare stamps in recognition of the work they do; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18542/09]