Results 1,681-1,700 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Last week, they lost a golden opportunity to unmask a blatantly dishonest posture. Rather than encouraging further posturings by wall-to-wall coverage——

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: This is the same Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who, three nights ago, stood up and dared to attack me and Independent Deputies as being supporters of a slump coalition. I would not worry about his sensitive nature.

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach take responsibility for the monstrous costs involved in these tribunals because he failed to curb them, does he admit that the scandal of cost was raised with him and the then Tánaiste, the Minister for Health and Children, many years ago by myself and other Deputies and what does he propose to do to allow the investigation into corruption, which must be unmasked, to...

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: What has the Government concluded as regards the planning tribunal, for example, in terms of how long more it should run? Has this been discussed and has a decision been made by Government in this regard? How is it proposed to curb the legal costs? The Taoiseach has not given the House notice of any specific measure to place a limit on the legal costs which are bearing down on the...

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Merchant ships between Ireland and England are grossly exploiting crew members and abusing them seriously.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: I have. As we sit here, International Transport Federation inspectors are barricaded aboard the Merchant Brilliant.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: This is most important for workers' rights. There are two proposed Bills, namely, the criminal justice Bill and the protection of employment Bill, under which the Government might move in an emergency fashion to protect the workers concerned.

Order of Business (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach have anything to say about the pirates plying the seas around this country?

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of a residency application for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22. [6092/07]

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 347: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent of the prevalence of the clostridium difficile bacteria in hospitals here; and the measures she is taking to prevent patients becoming infected. [6376/07]

Written Answers — Services For People With Disabilities: Services For People With Disabilities (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 337: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the Development Plan 2007 to 2012 devised by Aspire, The Aspergers Syndrome Association of Ireland, which aims to address the deficiencies that currently exist as regards services for people with Aspergers syndrome; and if she will make funding available to enable implementation of this plan. [6322/07]

Ministerial Advisers. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach yesterday maintained that the communications unit within his Department was totally apolitical. That could certainly not be stated in any sense with regard to political advisers. Is there a role for these political advisers after the Taoiseach dissolves the Dáil and between then and the general election specifically? Are they stood down for that period or do they continue to...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach the progress made by the cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and PPPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1607/07]

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: The crucial role of the committee is to assist in resolving major infrastructural problems. What role has the sub-committee played, leading up to the decision by the Government to pay €600 million to National Toll Roads to buy out the M50 toll bridge? Is the sub-committee fully aware of the daily torture endured by tens of thousands of working people as they try to cross the Liffey at the...

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: The key question is this——

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Why does the State believe it should stand by a deal concluded over 20 years ago, involving a gallery of rogues, to be quite honest——

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: In fairness——

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach referred to this issue and I want to get to the nub of the matter. Contracts have to be fair and equitable. Is it anything other than an unfair contract or gangster capitalism that a private corporation can build a bridge for the equivalent of €38 million and then hold the taxpayer to ransom for €600 million to buy it out?

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: It relates to the critical issue of infrastructure.

Interdepartmental Committees. (21 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: It relates to the role of the interdepartmental sub-committee on housing, infrastructure and public private partnerships.