Results 26,161-26,180 of 26,986 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Question 9: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the name of his external consultants; if they are being paid at an hourly rate or temporary contract basis; the amount they are being paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20371/11]

Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Why are consultants from the private sector regarded as having special qualifications in public sector reform? The EU and IMF seem to be dictating what is happening in terms of so-called public sector reform, although I believe they are simply savaging our public services. What is the precise point of bringing in consultants given that the EU-IMF deal dictates our actions? While there is a...

Consultancy Contracts (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I agree that people want public sector reform and social reform generally. However, is the real source of their anger not the massively overpaid top civil servants, politicians, bankers, who are now effectively public servants because they are paid pretty much with public money, and executives in the private sector, including those in private consultancy firms, etc.? People want reform to...

Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The case the Minister makes for having to impose the "adjustment" as he calls it of €3.6 billion, which means, as he acknowledges, such severe austerity for ordinary people in the country is that we must deal with the deficit problem and that we have no choice but to borrow the money. As an aside, although I do not think the Minister will agree with me-----

Departmental Expenditure (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is it the case that if we repudiate the private banking debts the markets might consider lending to a State that would be in a much better financial position? Setting aside this question, which the Minister might answer briefly, is it the case that much of the deficit results from the fact that 350,000 extra people are unemployed? As a result, the burden on the State's finances adds up to...

Residential Institutions Redress (Amendment) Bill, 2011: Second Stage (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The abuse of many thousands of young people in institutions run by the Catholic Church and essentially allowed by State authorities over such a long period is a great cause of shame for this State. We owe a major debt of compensation to people whose lives were utterly ruined. Listening to the tales of the suffering people endured in the industrial schools and Magdalene laundries, it is...

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I welcome the Tánaiste's announcement which followed the comments of the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on putting the Children First guidelines on an legislative footing. Will this legislation provide for full implementation of the Children First guidelines?

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I want to clarify whether the legislation will deal with the issue set out in the guidelines on neglect by omission when it comes to the failure of State agencies to provide the necessary educational and intellectual stimulation to all children.

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: How will this legislation be tallied-----

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----with cuts and quotas in the area of special needs which could cut across legislation in that regard?

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am asking about full implementation of a Bill.

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I asked about legislation.

Order of Business (14 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When will the legislation be taken?

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Government just does not get it.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Deputies opposite get obfuscation, smoke and mirrors and justification but they do not get the issue or the concerns expressed by parents of the most vulnerable children in our society. The reason there was a protest tonight is that the Deputies in the Technical Group have been inundated with calls from desperate parents since we were elected to Dáil Éireann. The parents, some of whom...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In my area, a school that sought three additional SNAs was given a cut of three. It is down six SNAs compared to what it needs. This Government does not get all of the nonsense about cuts, quarters and caps. Some 10,000 additional children come into our education system every year. Either we provide for them and for their education as a matter of right or we use excuses about the EU-IMF,...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Members opposite can keep heckling because they do not care about the parents or the children. They just want to heckle and score political points.

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the Children First guidelines, which the Minister says the Government will implement as a matter of legislation, it says that neglect can be defined in terms of an omission "where the child suffers significant harm or impairment of development", including intellectual stimulation or a lack of. It continues: A child who consistently misses school may be being deprived of intellectual...

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, stated: It is not an exaggeration to say that the range of supports offered to children with special educational needs in this country is nothing short of scandalous. Despite new legislation, many commitments, new funding and promises of better co-ordination between Departments, we are still a long way-----

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (13 Jul 2011)

Richard Boyd Barrett: They do not want to hear their own words. That is the problem. This is another U-turn. Just think about the devastating consequences on the lives of young children whose education is a right. Our society will pay the price for this. Deputies opposite are not listening but if they think we are stirring it up now, they should wait until they see what is coming.