Results 22,961-22,980 of 26,986 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The people in the NTMA are the experts. Do they not advise the Government on how to deal with these matters?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have one more question but Mr. Corrigan might answer the question I asked about the Rothschild Group and other consultants and asset management companies the NTMA might be paying or enlisting for advice, support or assistance in the management of our debt, funds and so on. Does the NTMA have responsibility for Coillte about which negotiations are ongoing for the sale of its harvesting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Economy and Funding Requirements: Discussion with NTMA (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the National Treasury Management Agency for attending before the committee. As we speak, the headlines are already appearing that the NTMA is saying we are going back to the bond markets. That is symptomatic of the superficiality of much of the media coverage of the debt crisis. It is assumed that it is a great step and that it should be our high aspiration and a cause for...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: What about energy ratings?

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Hold on a second. The NTMA is charged with investing the National Pensions Reserve Fund in a safe way to protect that money and get some return for the State. What could be safer and better for the economy than investing some of that money in a major direct-build social housing programme or refurbishment of NAMA, houses to make them suitable? This would put people back to work and would be...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I remind the Minister of State that in the 1950s, when Ireland was virtually a Third World country, 50% of the housing in the State was provided by the State.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: No, I do not mind a bit of engagement on this issue, because it must be debated.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is not an excuse. I will not get into the debate on the debt but notwithstanding the rights and wrongs of how much Ireland is paying out, borrowing and all the rest, it still has investment funds, albeit perhaps not as much as one would wish. Nevertheless, such funds exist and the NTMA has money. As for going to the international markets to borrow money, I note that at present,...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: However, notwithstanding that debate, we could go to financiers or even to the credit union movement, which has indicated it has a couple of billion quid it would like to invest. At present, the credit unions are obliged to invest this money out of the country because of various rules. The credit union movement has stated it would not mind investing in community or social projects. Why...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thought I could go on for as long as I wished.

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to mention one measure to the Minister of State that the PRTB should be doing. It is a legal requirement that after January 2009, any dwelling that is rented should have an energy rating. However, this requirement is not being enforced. The State is training people in this area of energy rating, installation, retrofit and so on, but while 30 or 40 such individuals in my constituency...

Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I support many aspects of the Bill. A key provision is on the significant problem of deposit retention whereby landlords refuse to return deposits to tenants. It is very welcome that we should strengthen the law in this area to ensure landlords do not abuse tenants in this way. The biggest category of cases brought to the attention of the Private Residential Tenancies Board is deposit...

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: As the Minister of State mentioned, we have discussed much of this matter. However, I wish to underline a point in challenging the notion that this Bill will bring stability, as the Title suggests. I want to cut through the myth that the money in question is, for the most part, being invested in the Greek economy to make it function and to provide funding for services and citizens. This is...

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Not agreeing.

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Committee and Remaining Stages (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Title is a misnomer as it is entirely incorrect to suggest the agreement will enhance the stability of the euro area. It will do precisely the opposite by further destabilising the Greek economy. It is likely that a slightly different or modified version of the model used here will be applied to Ireland in the near future. All of the models put forward thus far have failed because...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Employment Rights (24 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to deal with situations in which companies go into liquidation and workers, such as those in a company (details supplied) are left without wages or redundancy payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3310/13]

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: If not the Deputy's blind optimism.

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We have the wrong kind of guillotine here.

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Let us get the guillotine.

Euro Area Loan Facility (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 Jan 2013)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The problem is where they are investing it.