Results 22,241-22,260 of 26,960 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Bank Charges: Discussion with Central Bank and ISME (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Could Mr. Fielding respond on that point? There seems to be a suggestion that we are possibly exaggerating the potential impact of this on small and medium enterprises. How serious a problem is increased bank charges for small and medium enterprises among the many problems they face, be they lack of lending from banks, contracted demand and all the other things impacting on this sector?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Bank Charges: Discussion with Central Bank and ISME (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There was a time when, as Deputy Stanley mentioned, employees were paid in cash. There was quite a bit of discontent when many employers, particularly the State, moved to paying people through their banks precisely because people guessed that the banks would take advantage of that and use it as an opportunity to gouge people with charges. Does Mr. Fielding think paying people in cash or at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Bank Charges: Discussion with Central Bank and ISME (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the delegates for attending but, as ever, when we discuss the activities of banks at this committee, I find myself more shocked-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Bank Charges: Discussion with Central Bank and ISME (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: As ever, when we discuss the banks at this committee and learn more about their activities, we become more shocked by their behaviour. My first question is for Mr. Sheridan. We seem to be hearing that the wider economy, particularly SMEs and ordinary citizens, is being screwed yet again by the same banks that screwed the public finances because of their requirement for a bailout. They are...

National Lottery Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The points have been largely made. Regulators dealing with market forces deal with a different type of regulation and we could certainly examine issues in this regard. One must think carefully when giving market forces freer rein in sensitive or critical areas or sectors of the economy or society. The reason the Minister needs a regulator in this instance is precisely because he is moving...

National Lottery Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister is linking the regulator to it.

National Lottery Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The fact the Minister is setting up an office of regulator really is the giveaway that the Government is going for privatisation of the lottery. His line on this legislation and on this new development in terms of the lottery is that not a great deal is changing except that the State will get money up-front for the children's hospital but the setting up of the office of the regulator belies...

National Lottery Bill 2012: Report Stage (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We debated this matter at length on Committee Stage. I restate my opposition to what the Minister is doing. There is no reason to change something that has worked well. Gambling is not something I endorse or promote. When the lottery was first introduced, many of us were concerned about the State's involvement in promoting gambling, but at least it was controlled and the proceeds of the...

Order of Business (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yesterday, the Taoiseach received a stinging rebuke from the trade unionists of this country to his pay proposals. Lo and behold, today the Taoiseach seeks to ram through the Dáil what appears to be a pre-emptive strike to cast in stone, before any negotiations or reflections, his agenda for imposing pay cuts on public sector workers. Any Revised Estimates that have a bearing on the...

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Hardly out of existence.

Leaders' Questions (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Instead, the Government taxes the poor out of existence.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reversing the pupil teacher ratio and lifting the cap on student numbers in colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17580/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (17 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the impact that the changes in the pupil teacher ratio will have on colleges of further education on teaching jobs and on opportunities for young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17581/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Does the Taoiseach agree the decision by members of SIPTU to reject the Croke Park II deal represents an earthquake of opposition in the labour movement to the policies of austerity? I ask, given this is a union that, wrongly in my opinion, has gone along with partnership deals with the Government for many years. In this case, while it recommended this deal, on the Taoiseach's...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs last met. [15012/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Economic Management Council has met since this year's Budget. [15014/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach the number of times that the Cabinet sub Committee on Health has met in 2013. [15015/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach if the Economic Management Council intends to meet the banks in the coming period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15016/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach when the Economic Management Council will next meet. [17263/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Apr 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on meetings he has had with Church organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15011/13]