Results 22,601-22,620 of 26,960 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Leaders' Questions (5 Mar 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Bill for the Government's so-called property tax - in reality the home tax it plans to inflict on hundreds of thousands of ordinary struggling householders - is having its final Stages rammed through this House with yet another guillotine this evening. Just as the Government imposed a guillotine in the debate before Christmas, it is doing so again to foreclose proper debate and scrutiny...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (5 Mar 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total cost of Failte Ireland spending on promoting the English language sector sector in 2011 and 2012 and if he will provide a breakdown of that spending; the range of initiatives including direct marketing campaigns to raise awareness of Ireland as an education destination they took in 2012 and will take in 2013. [11205/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (5 Mar 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the education missions and events Fáilte Ireland took part in in 2012 and which they plan to in 2013; and if he will specify the work done with the relevant institutions/providers to increase their capability and potential to attract international students in 2012, and the plans for 2013. [11206/13]

Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (1 Mar 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I join Deputy Catherine Murphy in protesting in the strongest possible terms at the imposition of the guillotine. Many of us would like to speak for a considerably longer time because there is a lot in this Bill. The Tánaiste put on a display of political cynicism when we was questioned on this matter yesterday. It beggared belief that Government Deputies were chortling in their seats...

Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It refers to matters connected with SOLAS's functions.

Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is strange the word "education" is not mentioned. That worries me. There is a reason for being worried about it, given the result of the setting up of these super-quangos in the past, such as, for example, the HSE, which we all know turned into an utter disaster. The HSE replaced the health boards. While there is no question the health boards had major problems, at least they were more...

Further Education and Training Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have had a lot to deal with this week, with the week that has been in it, so my examination of this issue has been somewhat rushed. While I have not fully scrutinised every aspect of this important legislation, I feel I need to speak on it. A number of issues of considerable concern regarding this package of legislation - the Bill before the House and a related Bill that we have discussed...

Order of Business (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Not agreed.

Order of Business (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is bad enough that the Government plans to impose a tax on homes which will put an intolerable burden on hundreds of thousands of families already blighted with unemployment, mortgage distress and income cuts but it is nothing short of sabotage and manipulation of the democratic process that it will guillotine the most important Bill to come before the House this year. There is a clearly...

Order of Business (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Remove the guillotine and we will stay until 9.30 p.m.

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Budget 2014 (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Finance if, following the recent Irish Bank Resolution Corporation/Promissory Note deal, it is his intention to pass on the benefit of the claims that one billion euro in savings in the form of a less severe budget adjustment in Budget 2014; if so, if he will quantify the amount of any such new adjustment target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10630/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Corporation Tax (28 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Finance if given Eurostat figures that put Ireland's implicit tax rate at 6.8%, he will consider establishing a minimum effective corporation tax rate of 12.5% on the full amount of corporation pre-tax profits; if he will provide figures/projections on what such a minimum effective rate would yield in extra revenue to the State; and if he will make a statement on the...

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister of State can say that about the banks too and that is why he should assert some control over them.

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: He does not exert any control over the banks and cannot even give them the instruction to write-down unsustainable mortgages. I certainly do not trust him to ask the banks to manage our forests for us.

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Look at the heckling.

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We are asking the Government to keep these assets in public ownership and develop them the way they are developed elsewhere in Europe. Switzerland is half the size of Ireland with roughly the same acreage under forest and it has 100,000 forestry-related jobs. We could do that. We could get money from the European Investment Bank to do it. It is money in the bank and it would protect our...

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I hope I will get the Ministers' attention for this last few minutes, as the author of this motion. A great deal of work has gone into it. It is a very serious issue. I thank my colleagues in the United Left Alliance and other Independent colleagues who signed the motion and spoke so well and passionately on it. I also thank Members on all sides of the House who have spoken on it and...

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: He and his group have collected over 30,000 signatures in opposition to the sale of any part of Coillte harvesting rights or any other asset. The reason there is such a broad coalition of opposition to the sale of Coillte harvesting rights is itself indicative of how many different reasons there are for opposing the sale. Every sector and stakeholder and anybody who has any concern with...

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have read it, and it is contradictory. The Government agreed it last June and now it is being considered. I am glad the Government is shifting its position. I believe it is doing so because all the evidence is piling up, as is the public pressure. The Government knows there is no justification for doing this, except to meet the targets of the troika to pay off the gambling debts of...

State Forestry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (27 Feb 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister had his chance to speak. By definition those entities are not concerned with public access. That is not their job. I am not making a moral statement, just an objective statement of fact. They are interested in making money. Public access, maintaining biodiversity, meeting climate change targets, creating jobs for the economy or creating revenue for the State will not be...