Results 21,041-21,060 of 26,960 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I raised an issue extensively with the Minister at the pre-legislative stage. He certainly cannot accuse me - perhaps he might - of being-----

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----anti-State or anti-public body.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Indeed. We need to protect, expand and develop public enterprises, which is what I prefer to call them. To my mind, even the language "commercial semi-State" and the Minister's concept of what these bodies entail are deeply problematic. I am not quite sure about from where the term "commercial semi-State" came. They are bodies that are 100% owned by the public. They are public bodies...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Indeed. I will cite an example of where the Minister's argument falls down, that being, housing. Local authorities provide a desperately inadequate amount of social housing, yet it is still significant. They do so in a commercial market, if one wanted to put it in these terms, in that there are private providers of housing. Using the Minister's logic, local authorities should not be...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There is a public service obligation in the case of transport and one can walk through the forests which are vital parts of our heritage. Saying something is a commercial operation and, therefore, the catch-all term of "commercial sensitivities" should insulate it from public scrutiny is unacceptable, particularly when there are major question marks over what is happening in Coillte or, in...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the first instance, there should be no exemptions; there should be a presumption that public bodies would provide information. If the Minister wants to bring forward as an argument for not doing so that private entities would then have an advantage over public bodies, my belief is that what is good for the goose is good for the gander in any given market.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I move amendment No. 6: In page 15, to delete lines 9 to 14 and substitute the following:“(3) Every order or regulation under this Act shall be brought before each House of the Oireachtas for approval by both Houses and if a resolution approving such regulation or order is not passed by both Houses, the regulation or order shall be annulled accordingly.”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is handy for her.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: One could argue the exact opposite. The fact that one of the richest women in Britain - the Queen - is not subject to freedom of information legislation is problematic. One could argue that including the Office of the President in the legislation would assist in maintaining the integrity and dignity of the office because it should be open, transparent and representative of all the people....

Other Questions: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: On a point of order, I have a question that is almost the same word-for-word as those tabled by Deputies Wallace and Troy. Why was it not grouped? The Department makes the decision. Why were these questions not grouped together? It is exactly the same question.

Other Questions: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister's Department makes that decision.

Other Questions: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I would like an explanation from the Minister. If she cannot give it here, could I get an explanation as to why they were not grouped? They should have been grouped. For a child to be taken from their parents, which is the most extreme course of action, the child must be assessed by qualified professionals such as social workers or psychiatrists as being at imminent risk of harm. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the witnesses for the presentation and I wholeheartedly agree with the closing sentiment that we need development in the marine area that is sustainable. What is the witness's view on whether this Bill ensures the sustainability aspect in the full sense of the word? This follows on from the questions I asked the people from An Bord Pleanála. Does the witness have any concern...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is the witness concerned about that? For example, in Norway there is a specific greater level of protection for the foreshore area, covering 22 km. That country views the foreshore as requiring greater and more robust protection than what is further out. I have a concern, which seems to be reinforced by the witnesses, that the specific protection for the foreshore is not included in this...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: If I heard them correctly, the witnesses are somewhat concerned by the vagueness or lack of clarity around public consultation and the lack of an appeal.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to ask a quick question. I must run somewhere for a few minutes at 2 p.m. How long will the opening statements last?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Great. Thanks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Will Ms Kelly speak about the public consultation and appeal elements and specific protections for the foreshore as distinct from areas further out?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am party to a detailed submission on this. I am involved in the Save Our Seafront group and we raised a number of concerns about the Bill. I have also raised the issue of the Providence Resources oil rig application on the foreshore off Dublin Bay at the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions and I was referred back to this committee for discussion. I am, therefore,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Heads of Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2013: Discussion (12 Nov 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a detailed question. Providence Resources has a licensing option to explore further out from the shore but it was required specifically to make an application to put an oil rig on the foreshore. If the legislation is passed, will the company get around the requirement to conduct an environmental impact assessment relating to the oil rig because it has the licensing option for the...