Results 24,781-24,800 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That was a question. Did the Taoiseach discuss with the Chinese dictators the fact that they are putting poets in prison for calling for peaceful protests and demanding democracy?

Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I always behave myself.

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Since the original draft of the Bill issued, the Bill has been very substantially amended and rewritten and what we are now looking at is a different Bill. It is not the same Bill as was debated in the Dáil last week. We are getting less than an hour - 7.54 p.m. to 8.45 p.m. - to discuss what is effectively a new Bill with considerable changes, such as the spreading out of social welfare...

Estimates for Public Services 2012: Messages from Select Committees (24 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a different Bill now.

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I remind the Deputy that just because someone is paranoid does not mean they are not out to get them.

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Deputy is missing the point I understand Deputy Catherine Murphy to be making. Whatever one might have thought about other treaties passed within the European Union - quite a number of Members have opposed many aspects of those treaties and campaigned against them - there is at least a countervailing democratic mechanism. There are avenues through which the citizens of this country,...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Perhaps the Tánaiste might explain it to me.

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have read it several times and moreover, I have it to hand. The cheap shots should be avoided, as the Tánaiste and I simply have different takes on it. There is no such mechanism and one should be clear that the paranoia, as the Government may perceive it, of Members on this side of the House has considerable evidence to back it up. I refer to the comments of Chancellor Merkel at the...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will respond to the Tánaiste's point about the democratic component, as he is being somewhat disingenuous in his reference to the role of the European Parliament. Paragraph 5 of Article 12 states: "The President of the European Parliament may be invited to be heard". The phrase is "may" rather than "will be". That is the extent of the involvement of the democratic part of the European...

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It states: "The President of the Euro Summit shall present a report to the European Parliament".

Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012 - Committee Stage and Remaining Stages (20 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes, it is an account of what is being done. We can like it or lump it. National parliaments are talking shops in my interpretation of Article 13, which states: As foreseen in Title II of Protocol (No 1) on the role of national Parliaments in the European Union annexed to the European Union Treaties, the European Parliament and the national Parliaments of the Contracting Parties will...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Question 33: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain his rationale for the proposed closure of small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19492/12]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Question 40: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has had any reports on the impact of the cuts to special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19491/12]

Private Members' Business. Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I find it utterly incredible that anyone could have suggested - as have a number of Deputies - that this Bill is premature. It appears incredible that 20 years have passed since the X case. I first became active in politics about that issue around that time and my views on the issue were not then formed. I did not really know what I thought but when the X case emerged, my views became very...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----how will the installation of water meters result in the decontamination or rehabilitation of the decrepit waterpipe infrastructure? Water meters do not have that effect. They have one effect only, that is, to allow the Government to charge for the provision of water. Why is the Government going to waste a year and a half installing water meters instead of putting thousands of people to...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Private companies will be able to take the Government to court if it does not allow for open, private competition in the area of water services if it becomes a revenue producing service. The only way to prevent the privatisation of water is not to charge for it and to fund the rehabilitation of our public services through progressive taxation on wealth and income.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: As jovial as those on the Government benches are, it is a serious issue that requires a debate if this House is to make any claim to represent the concerns of citizens.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The possible introduction of water charges is literally striking fear into the hearts of the elderly and vulnerable sectors of our society, with the prospect of up to €600 in property taxes at the beginning of the next year.

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: At the very least, the people of this country are entitled to see a full, detailed debate take place on these issues and to have the Government clearly set out its intent-----

Order of Business (19 Apr 2012)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----to give them some type of reassurance. Do we want a situation where pensioners and vulnerable sectors of our society will be afraid to turn on the taps-----