Results 7,621-7,640 of 26,897 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Energy Prices (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 161. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason consumer gas and electric bills have not fallen, in view of the fact that the latest wholesale market report from Irish energy supplier Vaya claims there has been a 30% drop in Irish wholesale gas prices year on year and in view of the fact that a new EUROSTAT report shows that Ireland has the fourth most...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Staff (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 175. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the following information regarding Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council which has not been made available by the chief executive of the said council despite the request being made by an elected councillor via a council question to the CEO at the council meeting of 7 July, the number of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: NAMA Social Housing Provision (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 176. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of properties that were offered to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council by the National Asset Management Agency that were accepted; the number refused; the reason these properties were refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31954/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Semi-State Bodies (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 311. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 19 December 2013, if the mentioned legal action has been completed; if the outstanding moneys have been returned to the Harbour Company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31950/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the witnesses for their presentations and for all the work they have put into their submissions, which are very helpful in informing our views for the upcoming budget. My first question is addressed particularly to SJI - I congratulate it on all its detailed work on these matters. While I agree with much of it, I am concerned that SJI includes the €500 million to be garnered...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I understand the complications of budget submissions but do the witnesses think water charges infringe people’s right to water?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I take that point, which is a fair one but there was a major campaign across Europe about the right to water. If there was a line one could not cross that prevented water being used to generate revenue because people must have it, governments would have to find the money elsewhere, through corporate tax, financial transaction tax or tax on high incomes. Perhaps SJI does not wish to state...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will agree to disagree slightly on that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Chairman will have to wait till the right to water campaign takes off.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Even when these allowances are given initially they tend to disappear. That has been the experience. There is a big danger of opening the door to a punitive tax. I shall ask three or four questions and hope to get one reply from each of the relevant people. A minimum effective corporate tax rate is something that we have championed quite significantly, and figures of 6% and 9% have been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Sorry; I did not realise the agency would be here. However, I ask the witnesses to make some quick comments on housing. The next topic is rural links. Do the witnesses think planning issues, particularly planning permission for multiple discount stores, have an impact on small towns and villages? Dún Laoghaire is on the edge of Dublin but it has too many large supermarkets and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is that the case even if it takes away from smaller businesses and displaces one job for another?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I hope the witnesses will give a couple of quick responses on the other issues. Can the Chairman tell me how much time I have left?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When other witnesses are responding, can they also comment on the housing assistance payment scheme? Some people have talked about it in positive terms while others are concerned about whether it will work, given that landlords seem to be moving away from rent support systems.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will have to agree to disagree on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Pre-Budget Submissions: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I just know it will be privatised once it starts charging for water.

Interdepartmental Report on the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (17 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The horror we have learned about regarding what happened in the mother and baby homes represents another dark chapter in a pretty bleak history in the State's treatment of children and women. It is a history of abuse, mistreatment, discrimination, and needless death and mortality. These are the most serious of failings by the State imaginable. Some of the facts that have been revealed...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Exploration Licences (17 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the recent review of gas and oil licensing terms, his views that conditions regarding local employment, the benefit to the local economy and security of supply are adequately catered for; if not his plans to ensure they will be catered for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31647/14]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Wind Energy Generation (17 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 33. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there has been a thorough examination and analysis of the economic and employment benefits that might be derived from large-scale onshore and offshore wind farms; if he will publish the results of any such examinations and analyses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31648/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (17 Jul 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine the case of staff in Blackrock College who have no public service pension entitlement and are not paid by the State but are private employees of the college, and yet subject to the pension levy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32875/14]