Results 31,401-31,420 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Public Procurement Policy: Public Procurement Policy (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Question 193: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that may be caused for the small and medium enterprise sector as a result of the appointment by the national procurement service of a single supplier of office products; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that this could cause significant lay-offs in the indigenous SME sector;...

Written Answers — Banking Sector: Banking Sector (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Question 224: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount of senior and subordinated bonds outstanding in Anglo Irish Bank as at 29 September 2008; the amount of senior and subordinated bonds outstanding in Anglo Irish Bank as at 30 September 2008 which were covered by the Government guarantee; the amount of senior and subordinated bonds in Anglo Irish Bank which matured between 30 September...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Like many Members of the House, when parents and citizens stop me in the street, they generally tell me about their worries for the future. They worry for the future of the country but, above all else, they worry for the future of their children. Most of us here are parents and we all went to see the best for our children. We want to believe and we want our children to believe that they...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: It depends on how it is counted. Like the hamster on the wheel, people have given all that sacrifice to find out that after all the promises of green shoots and turnarounds from this Minister, and all the bag of tricks in regard to the cheapest bank bailout in the world and everything looking rosy in the garden, this particular gardener did not really do the spade work of laying the ground...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: The Cabinet will make the budget decisions and will have to live with their consequences. Nobody can have any sympathy for the plight of this Cabinet. Members should read the report by Messrs Regling and Watson. Mr. Regling is now the man with the money in the stabilisation fund. He said that our problems were "home-grown". He has laid out the scale of the policy errors of the years...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: The point is that our difficulties are not unique. If one decides to follow the deficit hawks and kill the economy, one will not gain kudos from the bond markets. What they really want is a twin-track approach. Whatever option is chosen has immense risks. As the Taoiseach is fond of saying, we are where we are. It is where he and the Minister have brought us. The Minister does not like...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Ministers insist that public spending cuts are vital to protect confidence in the country until our debts can be repaid. The other issue is that the negative impact of these cuts will be compensated for by a surge in private sector activity. How can that happen if business remains so deep in the doldrums? There is a simple equation being considered, particularly in right-wing circles, to...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: I am sure it did not escape the Minister's notice that the individuals to whom I refer are earning handsome salaries and are doing a very good job spinning matters on his behalf. The tax code requires a major overhaul in order to yield the additional revenue that will be needed to meet our debts and for investment. For over a decade, the tax code has been infected by the poison of the type...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Why is it the case that when I - I am sure the other Opposition spokespersons did the same - inquired about-----

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: -----the Croke Park agreement, no figures could be provided? Why did the officials not state that they are driving the process relating to the agreement?

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: The Minister and his absent colleagues are the leaders of the various Departments.

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: When we met the officials, we were informed that there are no real plans. Ministers are meant to lead their Departments. They are supposed to inspire civil servants and encourage them to develop ideas. I am quite convinced that there are many ideas and a high level of capacity among civil servants. However, the staff of the Minister's Department have been allowed to become utterly...

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: It states "Far better would be a state development bank along the lines of Germany's KfW." The Minister is averse to new ideas and changes because he is addicted to whatever happened in the salad days of having money to throw at everything. That may have been new centres in Punchestown or the Bertie Bowl. Those days are gone but we need realistic and fresh hope to turn this economy around....

Macro-Economic and Fiscal Outlook: Statements (27 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: So was our friend, President Sarkozy.

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Question 36: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to claims made on a television programme (details supplied) on 26 August regarding the Irish Red Cross; his views on whether these claims require independent investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38089/10]

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Question 17: To ask the Minister for Defence the discussions he has had with the new chairman of the Irish Red Cross; the advice and instructions he gave the new chairman; the way he perceives the chairman's remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38088/10]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if, in considering deductions to the carer's allowance, he has taken account of the additional costs to the Exchequer which would follow from persons, currently in the care of their families, transferring to institutional care and if he will put an estimate on the amount [38231/10]

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: On the Order of Business, in regard to the proposals for the debate next week, will the Tánaiste indicate if the Government intends to give the Government's indicative growth figures because it is not possible to construct an economic plan without the Government's indicative growth figures?

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: This is about next week.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2010)

Joan Burton: With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, this is about the arrangements for next week. The Government put in place a mechanism for briefing the Opposition. I spent two and half hours on Monday in the Department of Finance, for which I thank the Minister. However, the Department of Finance later took me and Deputy Noonan through a set of scenarios, which it presented as the Department's scenarios....