Results 20,881-20,900 of 26,953 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Government Decision on Exiting Programme of Financial Support: Motion (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is quite extraordinary. We got this motion yesterday at 4.50 p.m. and amendments were to be in by 9.30 a.m. this morning. That was before we got to hear what the Minister had to say about the bailout exit. How are we supposed to make an informed response to this motion without actually hearing what the Minister has to say? That is ridiculous. This is a bogus debate. It is an utter...

Other Questions: Unemployment Levels (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 12. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will explain the unusual anomaly recently highlighted by his Department, where growth has failed to match forecasts but the employment/unemployment situation has apparently improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49254/13]

Other Questions: Unemployment Levels (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister's officials pointed to this anomaly at a pre-budget briefing. We do not have growth, but the Minister is claiming an improved position in terms of employment and unemployment. The ABC of economics says if we have more people working, it is contributing to GDP. How can the Minister claim there is an improvement in the employment position when we do not have the growth to match...

Other Questions: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The sheer length of the Minister's reply and the level of detail provided tell a story. On leaving the programme, Ireland will be subject to just as rigorous a regime of budgetary surveillance, monitoring and debt and deficit reduction as it endured under the programme. Behind all the jargon, technocratic language and interesting names for the various programmes lies the fact that we will...

Other Questions: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I understand that the information is not new but the issue is not being clarified for citizens. As the Minister correctly stated, if growth does not materialise, Ireland will be in deep trouble because, unlike every other country in Europe, we have a debt-to-GDP ratio of 120% and a debt-to-GNP ratio of 150%. The requirement to pay down €200 billion in debt that is not ours will be a...

Other Questions: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 6. To ask the Minister for Finance the position on Ireland's obligations under the fiscal treaty and other EU rules in terms of debt and deficit reduction, budgeting and monitoring following an exit from the troika programme; the implications of these obligations for future budgets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49253/13]

Other Questions: EU-IMF Programme of Support Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister has been celebrating his plan to exit the troika programme. Some of us believe this is a complete mirage, particularly in the light of the various budgetary surveillance and monitoring and post-programme monitoring rules that will be applied by the European Union and the troika. Furthermore, we will also be obliged to meet requirements to reduce our deficit and pay down huge...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 19. To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to ask the corporate sector to make any extra tax contribution to assist economic recovery, particularly in the area of funding, training, education and employment programmes for young persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49255/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: IBRC Mortgage Loan Book (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 26. To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank, mortgage holders regarding plans to dispose of these mortgages as part of the wind-up of IBRC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49256/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banks Recapitalisation (20 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 31. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has drawn to the EU's attention, the fact confirmed in EUROSTAT figures, that the average cost per Irish citizen of the European bank bailout was €8,981 whereas the average cost per EU citizen was €192; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49252/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I hope that will happen before the Forestry Bill is completed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Can we request that it happens before the Forestry Bill is completed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have gelled around some of the things the delegation has said. Ireland aims to reach a target of 17% forestation which is pretty modest given the fact that we have a capacity to grow trees pretty fast but a desperately low level of forest cover. Given what the delegation has said to us, is there any chance that Ireland will ever reach its target? Coillte seems to be saying that it cannot...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is there a realistic possibility that will happen anytime soon?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We need to plant between 15,000 to 20,000 ha. My following comment is not directed particularly at Coillte.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am talking about a national policy issue. In Mr. Britchfield's opinion, is there any chance that Ireland will reach the target in the foreseeable future and if things continue as they are?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In a nice way Mr. Britchfield has said "No". Perhaps he feels constrained due to his position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Could Coillte achieve it if it were given the mandate to do so?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There are obvious limits to what the witnesses can say. They seem to be indicating that the current mandate that Coillte has as the biggest publicly owned forest estate manager in the country means it cannot afforest, although it is a stated national objective to reach a 17% target.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Annual Report 2012: Discussion with Coillte (19 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is an anomalous position.