Results 23,641-23,660 of 26,986 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Services (8 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the review of accident and emergency service at St. Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48890/12]

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, and that was outrageous. People actually believed their bankers were responsible people who knew what they were talking about and did that. I suspect there were many people who were like that and were not of the speculator variety. Certainly those people should be given a chance to restructure those debts. I equally take the point about small businesspeople. Such a person might be...

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the cordial spirit we are discussing this, the Minister has made some reasonable points about the threshold.

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I still think, however, that the figure of €3 million is hard to justify. It is reasonable to say there were those who were not speculators who bought a property, often on the advice of the bank, as an investment for their old age. They were not profiteers in any way but just did not know where to put their small savings and the bank advised them to invest them in that way.

Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I add my support and the support of the United Left Alliance for this amendment. We should all be on the same page, that the purpose of the legislation is to lift the burden of unsustainable debt from the backs of ordinary people who found themselves in difficulty through no fault of their own, simply because they were trying to put a roof over their heads in a market that had gone out of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is it not the case that the growth forecasts are radically wrong? We have gone from 3% down to whatever the figure will be, although it is likely to be under 2% and may be under 1%, in forecasting growth next year. In one year we have gone from the forecast of 3% to this. How did the Department get it so wrong?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: What is the witness's view of the IMF's recent statement that the negative multiplier effect on the economy is three times worse than it and the Department believed? We have €8.6 billion in cuts to make over the next three years and the IMF has indicated if growth is 1% less than projected - it may be worse than that - there will be another €1 billion per year in required cuts....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We shall see. If the multiplier proposed turns out to be the general figure, our debt position would be unsustainable. Mr. Moran believes that it is currently sustainable. An unsustainable level will require a much larger level of cuts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We will find out which is the case. What role does the Department have in the Clearing House Group and what lobbying has come from commercial and private interests with regard to the financial transaction tax and the attitude towards corporation tax? Does Mr. Moran have any thoughts on the potential revenues forgone by not imposing a financial transaction tax and on the very low effective...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is it Mr. Moran's advice to the Government that we should not touch it? Does he have any thoughts-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It came from the answers given by the Department.

Topical Issue Debate: Teaching Qualifications (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I understand that the Minister of State is working from a prepared script, which is fair enough, but I need him to address the issue. I understand the current position, but a dispensation is necessary. In the case I raised, and I suspect many others, the necessity of registering was not clear to teachers in 2006. A large number of teachers who have been working for many years, who possess...

Topical Issue Debate: Teaching Qualifications (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was not being critical.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have loads of questions and there definitely will not be time for the Secretary General to answer them all.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, exactly. He should come back soon. In the Secretary General's opening statement, he set out five goals. In fairness, they probably really could be narrowed down to two goals. Two of the goals pertain to meeting the troika debt and deficit targets and balancing the public finances, while the other ones are about jobs, growth, investment and improved living standards. Is it not the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Secretary General has been very efficient in implementing the cuts to meet the deficit targets. Hats off to him on his success in this regard. Objectively, however, and this is not a matter of opinion, living standards have not risen, employment has not increased and growth has not occurred. In fact, the Department has been obliged to downgrade its growth forecast, even within the last...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Mr. Moran's predecessor, then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Statement of Strategy 2011-2014: Discussion with Department of Finance (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will not labour the point except to state it surely is the case that under the improved living standards and employment criteria the Department has set for itself, it has not delivered as there is no sign whatsoever of progress on those two fronts.

Topical Issue Debate: Teaching Qualifications (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am optimistic this issue is an oversight or an anomaly that the Government can rectify. It should not cost money to do so, which should provide some relief, as it is simply a matter of trying to sort out a problem faced by teachers, particularly those in vocational education committees. It was brought to my attention by teachers in the VEC in Dún Laoghaire but I understand it may...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battlegroups (7 Nov 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To ask the Minister for Defence the cost of the Irish Army participation in the EU Battle Groups; the cost allocated for training and participation if they are actually dispatched to take part in a war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44912/12]