Results 22,141-22,160 of 26,960 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Those of us on the Left who have criticised the strategy pursued by the Government and European leaders have repeatedly pointed to an alternative strategy. When somebody talks about alternatives, the Taoiseach is obviously not interested. He denounces us for never having alternatives but when we try to talk about them, he does not listen. Our alternative strategy, which has been repeated...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I appeal to the media to scrutinise that statement. We are borrowing €12 billion or so every year and €8 billion of that goes towards interest on debt. Will the Taoiseach please acknowledge that fact? It would be helpful in having a serious debate. A total of €8 billion, which is two thirds of what we are borrowing, is being used to pay interest on debts. That is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Fair play to MicksGarage.com.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 14. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the European Council meetings on 14 and 15 March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18600/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Application (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 147. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will explain the way a joint owner of a house who has no communication at all with the other owner of the house should complete the local property tax form, when they are not in a position to follow the instructions in the booklet that read, if you are not the sole owner of the property, you should agree with the other owner(s) who is to complete and...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Staff Numbers (7 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 148. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons that are employed at the local property tax help line; the grade of these people employed; the nature of their contracts and if he will give details of the customer charter that applies to them. [21390/13]

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (3 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the end I will disagree with the central proposal of Deputy Pringle's Bill. However, I commend him on raising the issue and allowing for discussion on it because it is the most serious of issues and needs to be debated. We need to do everything we can to reduce the pressure on young women and young men to go into prostitution where they are forced to sell their bodies and sexuality for...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am putting a serious and concrete proposal to the Minister of State and Deputy Stanley did the same. I urge the Minister of State to ask for a meeting with the European Investment Bank and put a proposal-----

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I would be very interested to hear-----

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Such a proposal conflicts with the policy as set out in June 2011. I look forward to the Minister of State announcing that we will reduce the waiting list of 100,000 by providing social housing directly, either through taking existing stock into public ownership or through a new social housing building programme. That is what is required to provide housing for those who so desperately need...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Everybody else discussed what was not in it.

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It was all relevant. It was all about the lack of social housing and NAMA. One could go through the list. None of those speakers was pulled up. We are discussing housing.

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes.

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am simply pointing out, a Cheann Comhairle-----

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Housing is what I am talking about. That is fair enough, a Cheann Comhairle. I obviously was not going to talk about aviation.

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I do, a Cheann Comhairle.

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I would join in the general hilarity but the issue is too serious. As I said, it is extraordinary that two years into the term of office of the Government, the housing crisis – there is no other way to describe it – has escalated. That has not been addressed in any substantial way in the Bill. We must remind ourselves – although the Minister of State might not need...

Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Two years into the Government's term of office, we finally get to discuss housing and a housing Bill. However, it is a one-page, apparently technical, Bill. This is extraordinary. As everyone knows, we are an economic mess. Week in, week out, the Government states it must cut people's pay and conditions, impose brutal austerity on public services and sell off State assets because we have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Harvesting Rights: Discussion with Irish Timber Council (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is Mr. McNamara-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Harvesting Rights: Discussion with Irish Timber Council (2 May 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I want to clarify that some of the questions I am asking about Coillte come from the perspective of utterly opposing the sale. The witnesses and others outlined some of the problems. Whatever difficulties there are, they will be made worse if we sell off the harvesting rights of Coillte. The point I am trying to get at is that some of the underperformance of Coillte is related to the fact...