Results 3,081-3,100 of 27,236 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (20 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 975. To ask the Minister for Health to investigate the reason that there is no board of management for the medical primary certificate application office, resulting in the refusal of all medical primary certificate grant applications and appeals; to advise when this will be rectified to facilitate people with disabilities and brain injuries to drive; and if he will make a statement on the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Business of Select Committee (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I propose Deputy Durkan.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: One of the big debates as we head into the budget is around the fact we have a large surplus but we must be careful not to spend it because it may feed inflation. Although it is rarely stated upfront, most economists acknowledge that it is okay to spend more if it is covered on the other side by increased revenues. If people think that is true, it should be said. In other words, if we...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I just think it is important to stress. It is not in the language and it should be emphasised a little more. The problem from the point of view of ordinary working people and those on lower incomes and so on is that when we have budget deficits, they have to get it in the neck and when we have record budget surpluses, they still get it in the neck. Meanwhile, super profits are being...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There are a couple of other points that are worth clarifying in this debate and I want to see what the officials think. Capacity constraints are being mentioned quite a lot. A major factor, possibly the major one, is labour and skills shortages. The officials might accept it is a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation. I met a group of teachers today who said there are loads of people out...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes. My last point, and it follows from the previous one, but again I feel it is worth spelling out, is that one of the big ongoing current expenditures that is ballooning is the amount of money the State is forking out every year in housing assistance payment, HAP, rental accommodation scheme, RAS, and leasing arrangements. The same could probably be said about the outsourcing to the...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I do not know if the witnesses have any comment on this but on the mortgages point, and it is a Government decision, is there any reason we cannot just fix mortgage interest rates at a level that is sustainable for people? This is particularly when the Peppers of this world are lashing them up to 5%, 6% or 7%, which is crippling people. The Government has the power and should cap interest...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It always seems to be in the first bulletin at the beginning of the year. I never see it in the others.

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I always find that interesting because it can be seen year on year, basically since the recession, that net household wealth has dramatically increased. The most recent Central Bank bulletin I saw indicated such wealth was more than €1 trillion for the first time. That was net. That will come as a huge surprise to the bottom 50% or 60% who have a tiny proportion of that or, in some...

Committee on Budgetary Oversight: Pre-Budget Engagement: Central Bank of Ireland and ESRI (19 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Mortgage interest rates.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: RTÉ (Resumed) (13 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Chair and committee for allowing me in on this discussion. We are in a pretty grim and tragic situation. We are coming up to the budget, where I would like to argue – and will argue, despite all of this – that we are not putting enough public investment into arts and culture generally, including public service broadcasting. We are way below the European average...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: RTÉ (Resumed) (13 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Transparency of RTÉ Expenditure of Public Funds and Governance Issues: RTÉ (Resumed) (13 Sep 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Sorry.

Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statements (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Regional Group for allowing me to use their time slot and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for allowing that, too. I also thank all the Dáil staff, service officers, ushers, everybody in the canteen and everybody in here who keep us going during the term. I thank them for all their help and their great work, and wish them the best for the next few weeks. The Irish Government...

Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statements (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Never.

Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statements (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: On a point of order, Deputy Gino Kenny will take this slot and I-----

Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Statements (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----will take the Regional Independent Group's time after Sinn Féin's next slot, if that is okay.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 65. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she believes systemic issues such as advertising, commercial pressures and the funding model have negatively impacted on the public service remit of RTÉ and contributed to the controversy that has now emerged in the broadcaster; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34687/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Raidió Teilifís Éireann (13 Jul 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There has been much public fury about the secret payments in RTÉ, the pay cuts that were not pay cuts, secret accounts and so on. One of the things that has come across very strongly in all of this is how commercial activity and advertising have serious undermined and negatively impacted on the public service remit of RTÉ. Does the Minister agree that is a serious problem that...