Results 3,141-3,160 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: It is a damning indictment of the Fine Gael party, which was in government in the 1990s and again in the last three years, and its predecessors in Fianna Fáil, that 40% of expensively treated water is leaking into the ground. That is because successive governments have failed to invest in our water services or to give adequate funding to the local authorities to fix our water network...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Government is going to start charging for water from October but will not tell people what the water charges will be until after the local elections.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: 86. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the research paper written by Professor John Fitzgerald and Dr. Edgar Morgenroth for his Department in relation to the establishment of Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: I am seeking the Minister's views on the research paper written some time ago by two professors of the ESRI. Will he comment on the proposals in the paper and its estimates on water charges and savings in water supply?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Water Establishment (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Minister claims repeatedly that the setting up of Irish Water, Uisce Éireann, will save €2 billion up to 2021. He gives the impression that some kind of magic efficiency is involved. This is the most cynical mendacity. Will he confirm today what Irish Water has confirmed, namely, that the figure of €2 billion will in fact be accounted for by water taxes on...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: 331. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action an employer may take at an organisation where community employment workers are employed (details supplied) if overtures are made to the CE workers by a representative of another organisation to switch their CE placement to that organisation. [5195/14]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Remit (4 Feb 2014)

Joe Higgins: 367. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will support the proposal from Waterways Ireland to increase the cost of the annual mooring permit, houseboat permits, and the introduction of fixed penalty notices and District Court fines for those unable to pay; his views on the matter with particular reference to the impact on tourism; and if he will make a statement on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: As the Minister will know, many communities are extremely concerned about the huge pylon infrastructure. Their concerns are all very well-grounded in terms of its huge effect on the environment, fears for their health and its impact on people's daily lives. Is the Minister concerned that many of these groups are unconvinced by the commission that he has established? They view it as a way...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: There is no question about the eminence, independence or competence of the Minister's panel. That was not the point that I made. I made the point that there are two formidable personalities on the panel who are driven by right-wing neo-liberal philosophies. That is bound to have an effect on the outcome in regard to the balance between ordinary people and the needs of the establishment...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Transmission Network (30 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way the concerns of residents will be accommodated in the plans for the new EirGrid pylon network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4495/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (29 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 118. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will support the granting of a generous free allowance of water in the water charging scheme for those with Crohn's disease and other conditions that require use of additional water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rental Accommodation Scheme Expenditure (29 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 135. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount paid nationally by local authorities to private landlords under the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will list the amounts by each local authority area. [4516/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: I want to ask the Taoiseach about an alternative take on the Haass talks. Mr. Haass, in his previous life, was a key adviser to George Bush Sr. The Taoiseach might remember they launched the criminal Gulf War. He was also a key adviser to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was one of the key architects of the criminal invasion of Iraq, and was the one who did a lying dossier about...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 2. To ask the Taoiseach if he has met recently with Dr. Richard Haass; and if he will report on the matter. [45917/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland Issues (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: 21. To ask the Taoiseach if he has discussed with the First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness the outcomes of discussions with Dr. Richard Haass. [2211/14]

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: Advance Pitstop had a cohort of interns who finished in the summer of last year. Having taken a cooling off period of six months, the company has now returned to the market seeking another 28 interns. If the Minister had not facilitated the exploitation of young workers through this cheap labour scheme, Advance Pitstop would have been obliged to hire workers at real rates of pay. The...

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: I want real jobs at real wages.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: We need policies that create jobs.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: Only 20% of them are hired by the companies they work with.

Other Questions: Job Initiatives (28 Jan 2014)

Joe Higgins: The Minister did not address the issue of Advance Pitstop with good reason, because this blatant exploitation calls her bluff and bluster on the JobBridge scheme. Advance Pitstop is the Irish arm of a major multinational tyre company. Advertising for 28 interns on JobBridge provides for a displacement of proper, full-time jobs, and that is quite clear. The advertisement by Advance Pitstop...