Results 1,801-1,820 of 2,940 for speaker:Séamus Healy

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Mortgage Arrears Rate (17 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: 14. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of local authority mortgage arrears, including the number in arrears of more than 90 days, more than 180 days and more than 365 days; if a process is in place for dealing with such arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34313/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Motor Tax Rates (17 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: 21. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will reduce the penal additional charges paid by motor tax customers who, due to financial constraints, may only tax their vehicles for three and six month periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Provision (17 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: 25. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when he proposes to introduce a new local authority house purchase scheme; if he will give an outline of the main features of the scheme; if he will include approved housing bodies (voluntary housing agencies) in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34314/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Meters Installation (17 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: 33. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of water meters due to be installed on a county basis; the total number installed to date by county; the total number of houses that will not have a water meter installed at the end of the process; the way it is intended to deal with apartments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34316/14]

Water Services (Exempt Charges) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (18 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: Water is a right and this water tax is an outrageous attack on families who will be unable to pay it. The MABS report issued today states that families have a disposable income of €9 per week after bills are paid. Even at this late stage the Government should reverse this charge which will be opposed tooth and nail right across the country. I support the Bill and it is outrageous...

Order of Business (30 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: In June, some weeks after the local elections, the Taoiseach came to the House and agreed that his Government would restore medical cards to people who had lost them. These were people who had held them on discretionary medical grounds. The process was to take three weeks. It is now four months later and there are still thousands of people who have not had their cards restored. When will...

Direct Provision for Asylum Seekers: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this debate, and I compliment Deputy Pringle, who tabled the motion. He has been interested in this issue for many a long year and he is supportive of a change in the direct provision system. That view is becoming more widely accepted. The system is detrimental to families and individuals and, in particular, children. I am particularly...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Séamus Healy: 569. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of 17 September 2014, in which he states that he expects some 6,000 social housing units to be delivered across the range of programmes in the calendar year 2014, if he will provide a breakdown of this delivery by number, in each category; if the 6,000 contains the number of...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: I am sharing my time with Deputy Catherine Murphy. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014. The word "lobbying" conjures up all sorts of images, including bribery, corruption, brown envelopes, secret decision-making, undue influence and cronyism. All these concepts are in the public mind when the word "lobbying" is used. That is not surprising at all,...

Registration of Lobbying Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (1 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: There is evidence to suggest that even where the public appointments process has been used, the vast majority of appointees have been and are connected to political parties. This legislation is certainly welcome, but we need every i to be dotted and every t to be crossed. There are obviously areas that need to be examined, and significant amendment will be needed during Committee and...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: I wish to focus on the staffing crisis at Teagasc. The public sector embargo on recruitment and promotion has had a huge impact on the ability of Teagasc to deliver education and advisory services at a time when demand is growing on a daily basis. The number of people enrolling at agricultural colleges has rocketed and the need for innovation in the agri-sector is growing rapidly. Teagasc...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Budget Statement 2015 (14 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: The Irish Constitution commits Irish Governments to safeguard with special care the economic interests of the weaker sections of Irish society. That constitutional provision has been breached every year for the past three years by this Government and is again being breached today. Regressive austerity budgets have given to the rich and powerful in our society and taken from low- and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Preparedness for Ebola Virus in Ireland: Discussion (16 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: I thank the Minister, Dr. Holohan and the officials for the briefing. Obviously, it is very important for us not to be alarmist on the issue. However, we need a high level of preparedness. For clarification, as we have already said, we need to say very clearly that suspect cases should not attend their general practitioners. I take it that also means they should not attend accident and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Preparedness for Ebola Virus in Ireland: Discussion (16 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: Is it appropriate for them to go to an accident and emergency department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Preparedness for Ebola Virus in Ireland: Discussion (16 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: All the general hospitals of which I am aware take admissions only through their emergency departments. I do not know whether that is a good system.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: This is the fourth regressive budget in a row introduced by the Government, which is deeply disappointing. It is a slap in the face to families who simply have had enough and who cannot make ends meet. As previous speakers said, according to Social Justice Ireland, the gap between rich and poor has widened by €499 a year. This measures the gap between the disposable income of a...

Irish Water: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Oct 2014)

Séamus Healy: This water tax is the ultimate hypocrisy. During the course of the last general election, the Labour Party opposed water charges. In the final days of that election campaign, the Labour Party produced the infamous Tesco advertisement which I have in my hand and which reads, "Look what Fine Gael have in store for you. Fine Gael - every little hurts". The advertisement includes a statement...

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2014)

Séamus Healy: The Government gave an additional €200 million to Irish Water.

Finance Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2014)

Séamus Healy: This Finance Bill, the budget and general Government policy is based on spin, hype and, indeed, the Government's lie that this country is broke.

Finance Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Nov 2014)

Séamus Healy: If the Government does not like that word, let us call it something else.