Results 22,861-22,880 of 26,986 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Similarly, the criteria surrounding the judging of refugee applications and appeals, and the manner in which people are selected to adjudicate on appeals, is not being made available and Anti-Deportation Ireland is being blocked from getting information on that process.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Also, information on deportations and the rules and regulations surrounding them, and complaints that might be made by deportees about the process, is not being made available.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I welcome Anti-Deportation Ireland. I thank the committee for agreeing to see the witnesses and I thank them for making the request to come here. I know their concerns are much broader than the issue of freedom of information. Hopefully, one thing that will come out of this first engagement with the Oireachtas is that they might go on and try to be heard by other committees dealing with...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Will our guests comment on the particular areas where journalists have been prevented from obtaining information and in the context of which it is important to obtain such information in the public interest? I am particularly concerned with regard to commercial sensitivity being used as a catchall mechanism to prevent all sorts of information which I would have thought to be in the public...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Are our guests in a position to provide examples of where commercial sensitivity is used to prevent the disclosure of information, particularly in the context of semi-State bodies?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I take the point on fees and I completely agree that we should get rid of them. However, I am referring to exemptions and how they are used. I would like our guests to provide some examples. Ms O'Kelly has already provided one such example which is shocking. Will our guests elaborate on how exemptions are used?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank everyone for attending. The witnesses are the experts here so I want to learn from them. I agree there should not be any fees or restrictions on access to information and no disincentives. We must open up the State to full scrutiny by journalists and others. The disadvantages faced by freelance and regional journalists were outlined. I am not defending the fees, which I think...
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to get to the heart of the Bill so I will put my question in its simplest terms. The promissory note was about us promising to repay €30 billion of debts to Anglo Irish Bank. Is it true that this Bill means we will promise to repay the European Central Bank? That is what is happening with the Bill. The substantial deal is being done now in order to promise the European...
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It is contained in section 12, which deals with the transfer of assets and liabilities.
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It is in the speech. It is in the second paragraph.
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To whom do we owe the money if Anglo Irish Bank no longer exists?
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: We were informed earlier that the transfer of undertakings that would normally apply to employees in a situation like this, will not apply to ordinary bank workers in Anglo Irish Bank who, as of tomorrow, will have no jobs. It will be at the whim of NAMA or the Government to decide which of those employees, if any, still have a job tomorrow. It is deplorable that the Minister has not, at...
- Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: The key substance of the Bill is that whereas previously the promissory note was owed to Anglo Irish Bank now this money will be owed to the Central Bank and the European Central Bank. In the first case there was some chance for us to repudiate a debt which is not ours, but once we do this and once these assets and liabilities are transferred to the Central Bank there is simply no way we can...
- Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will revoke the deportation order in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5662/13]
- Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Refugee Status Applications (6 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will grant refugee status in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5665/13]
- National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to share time with Deputy Mattie McGrath.
- National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: I would have not been the greatest fan of the national lottery when it was first established and I do not generally subscribe to the idea of encouraging gambling habits as a way to finance the State.
- National Lottery Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: It is not the best way to finance the State. Studies recently done by lecturers in University College, Cork, have suggested that the national lottery is socially regressive as the least well-off play it most and pay the most, although they do not receive the same amount of benefit as expended on lottery tickets. The good causes which the lottery finances do not adequately compensate for the...
- Order of Business (5 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: The Taoiseach is aware of the growing concern, criticism and outright outrage about the plans to dispose of the harvesting rights for Coillte. Is the forestry Bill going to deal with this issue? I understand negotiations are ongoing on the disposal of these harvesting rights.
- Order of Business (5 Feb 2013)
Richard Boyd Barrett: There are serious questions about value for money for the State. Is the Bill going to deal with this or will the Taoiseach allow for statements in the House on the plans surrounding the disposal of Coillte's harvesting rights?