Results 6,901-6,920 of 26,897 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We agree that it is disgraceful.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on calling on Aer Lingus not to proceed with suing SIPTU and a union official doing their duty, for a strike that never went ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15155/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 15. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a progress report on the tendering of orbital bus routes around Dublin and, in particular, the routes that serve the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15154/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 146. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding accommodation in respect of a family (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15610/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: So have I.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Chair. When I listened to what the witnesses had to say about the use of computers, it struck me that the comedy "Little Britain" was prescient when it depicted a customer being given the response "computer says no" regardless of what he or she asked. That seems more or less to sum up what the banks are at. I have to say that the bleak picture which has been painted by the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank all the attendees. I commend them on filling the gap in trying to help people to navigate through the crisis they are facing. A question I have on the big picture concerns the fact that there was, in effect, a ban on repossessions. Perhaps the banks had no great inclination to repossess at the outset of the crisis because property values and rents were on the floor. There was not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was just about to say that. On looking at the arithmetic, I believe there is a strong case for saying we have got to bring back the mortgage interest supplement because it would actually be cheaper for the State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Local authorities estimate that it costs approximately €800 per week to look after a person who becomes homeless.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I agree. Does Mr. Maguire think that is a conscious policy on their part to inflate the value?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the analysis of the 6,000 people that Phoenix Project Ireland has seen, Ms Sadlier gives a very shocking figure and estimates that 50% are likely to be evictions, be they so-called voluntary surrenders, which are not really voluntary; threatened repossessions; or repossessions in court. In our conversation beforehand, she said that the figure may be considerably higher. This is pretty...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: Discussion (2 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wanted to ask a question about that. The fact that Mr. Burgess mentioned construction workers is interesting because another thing that stares one in the face is the irony of the people who built all the houses being the ones who are facing the possibility of having their homes repossessed. If one lived in a rational world, one would ask why we would not get the construction workers to...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 6. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he is making to ensure that the EU is in no way a party to supporting neo-fascist or ultra nationalist elements in Ukraine in view of alarming reports of violence and intimidation against ethnic minorities and political opponents by these elements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15395/14]

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will discuss this issue in more depth later. I, and other Deputies, want to challenge the one-sided presentation of the very serious conflict in Ukraine. Russia is acting in its own interests and flouting international law. A referendum held at gun point is not legitimate and military incursions into another territory are not acceptable but equally, there are very dangerous elements in...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Again, we are getting the completely one-sided take on this. It is absolutely true that the demonstrations in Kiev were partly motivated by the corruption of the Yanukovych regime. Unquestionably, it was a corrupt and rotten regime. It is unquestionable that many Ukrainians - in certain parts of the country at least - may look towards Europe as against Russia but that is not the end of the...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That stuff is archaic but, none the less, Europe knew that. Crucially, now in the Kiev Government, which the Minister of State said he fully supports, there are extreme right-wing and fascist elements which are dangerous. We have seen some pretty horrific examples of the sort of stuff they are doing. These people have hijacked what may be a legitimate desire for more democracy in Ukraine...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I would start by understanding that there are different cultural and linguistic groups and that there is a history of tension between those groups. Any changes to the orientation of Ukraine must take those things into account if one does not want to spark the sort of disaster we saw in the Balkans. The unilateral recognition by Germany of Slovenia and Croatia sparked the civil war in...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It should have talked to all elements.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I said talk to all elements.

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (3 Apr 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It was not a democratic election.