Results 2,981-3,000 of 5,216 for speaker:Mick Barry

Covid-19 (Education and Skills): Statements (13 May 2020)

Mick Barry: I want to make some points about the position facing the leaving certificate students of 2021, the current fifth-year students, but first I want to look at the reason the leaving certificate exams were cancelled. No doubt the official record will show that they were cancelled due to logistical problems related to organising State exams in a pandemic, the need for PPE in the exam halls, the...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (7 May 2020)

Mick Barry: I note the Taoiseach's comment on opinion polls but he swept that one under the carpet quite quickly. His Government meets the Irish Second-Level Students Union, ISSU, and recognises it as in some way a representative voice for secondary school students. The ISSU conducted a poll to which 24,000 students responded. What they said does not count for nothing. It was not 51%, 52% or 53% who...

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (7 May 2020)

Mick Barry: They are distressed. The certainty they seek is that the leaving certificate exams will be cancelled. Will the Taoiseach give those students a commitment in this House today that the Government will cancel the leaving certificate exams and find a fair and just alternative?

Covid-19 (Taoiseach): Statements (7 May 2020)

Mick Barry: I want to ask the Taoiseach some questions about the leaving certificate. There is clearly now a crisis of democratic legitimacy around this year's leaving certificate exams. Some 79% of nearly 24,000 leaving certificate students polled by the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, ISSU, want cancellation and a mere 15% want the exams to go ahead. These young people feel that they are being...

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (6 May 2020)

Mick Barry: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for fighting for my corner.

Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (6 May 2020)

Mick Barry: We are an island nation. We cannot have a fully rounded discussion on tourism without discussing the aviation industry and air connectivity. Questions on that must be directed to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport first and foremost, but I wish to raise some points during this debate as it is greatly relevant to tourism. Two key airlines in this State, Ryanair and Aer Lingus,...

European Council Meeting: Statements (6 May 2020)

Mick Barry: Last week, the International Labour Organization stated that 50% of the global workforce are in immediate danger of having their living standards destroyed by the coronavirus. "Destroyed" was its word, not mine. In some ways, that statement is only half correct because to be fully correct, it would state that those people's living standards will be destroyed by the coronavirus in the...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I understand. The greatest way to disrespect any person is to force him or her to do something he or she really does not want to do. That is what the Minister is doing to the majority of the students facing the leaving certificate examinations in the period ahead. Will the Minister cancel them?

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I will leave the Minister plenty of time to answer that question. The Minister said earlier in the debate that there has been a collaborative approach but he also said there has been a consensus in the House on the issue of the leaving certificate. That is not correct. There is no consensus in this House on the issue of the leaving certificate. Solidarity, along with People Before Profit,...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (Resumed) (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: Some 20 years ago, 80% of nursing homes in the State were in public ownership and 20% were private. The position now is completely reversed, with 80% in private ownership and 20% public. This has been the result of 20 years of Government policy incentivising the development of the private nursing home sector. I will not go into that now but it means that the majority of nursing home...

Irish Economy: Statements (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: According to this morning's edition of The Irish Times,"There is growing concern in the Department of Finance that current unprecedented State supports are unsustainable in the medium term." I think that refers to the wage subsidy scheme but the particular subject of the article was the Covid-19 payment of €350. That payment is key for huge numbers of Irish people at the moment to...

Irish Economy: Statements (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: Socialism.

Health (Covid-19): Statements (23 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I start by offering solidarity and my sympathies to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones. I offer sympathy also to all of those who are sick, and solidarity to workers on the front line. I will direct my more health-specific questions to the Minister for Health later today. The main points I wish to raise now relate to the crisis, the question of jobs and the approach....

Social Protection (Covid-19): Statements (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I did not intend to return to this subject but I have no real alternative, given the comments of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Josepha Madigan. I made the point earlier that democracy is more important in the middle of a national emergency than it is in normal times. Deputy Boyd Barrett gave examples from the World Health Organization to back up that point....

Social Protection (Covid-19): Statements (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: The business we are here to transact requires openness and transparency. I am concerned that if a press conference was held this morning with material handed out by officials and where no questions were allowed from journalists-----

Social Protection (Covid-19): Statements (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I conclude on the matter by saying the two issues go hand in hand. Whether it met remotely or there was a sitting in this Chamber, there had to be a session of the Dáil this week. We must see an end to this type of approach. This must be open and transparent. I will go on with my points about social protection. The drivers at Dublin Bus have been instructed to take a portion of...

Health (Covid-19): Statements (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: I wish to start by expressing sympathy for all those who are sick and offering deep condolences to all those who have lost loved ones in recent weeks. On the Order of Business, during a national emergency the accountability of Government is more important than in normal times. Allowing the voice and concerns of constituents to be heard is more important during a national emergency than in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: In private.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2020)

Mick Barry: The Dáil should meet next week. I do not accept the proposal of the Business Committee. It is not non-essential work for Deputies to come here and raise the concerns of their constituents, and to question and hold to account the Government - or should I say the caretaker Government. I will be voting against the proposal.

An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála Eile Ar Mhaithe Le Leas an Phobail), 2020: Céim an Choiste agus na Céimeanna a bheidh Fágtha - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (19 Mar 2020)

Mick Barry: On a point of order, it is clear from what has been said that there is not a majority in this House in favour of the renewal provision being laid before the House on 9 May and that the majority believe that if it is to be renewed it should come before the Dáil for decision.