Results 3,141-3,160 of 26,842 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (23 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 939. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost of ensuring that the maintenance grants for both undergraduate and postgraduate students are doubled, and that the adjacent rate is reduced to 24km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24080/23]

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: You want us to join a military alliance headed up by the United States. We co-operate with them daily. That is what PESCO is about-----

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: -----but you do not draw the distinction. What is Irish neutrality? It is not clearly defined but it is apparent from our history what it was and from the people who set up the Irish Neutrality League, namely, Connolly and Pearse. The First World War was key in motivating the leaders of the 1916 rebellion to instigate that rebellion. They wanted Irish independence and freedom long...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: That is the truth about neutrality. The Tánaiste talks of security threats but my strongly held view is the best protection Irish troops and this country have is our reputation for being a former colonial country that has opposed war and imperialism and is not part of any of the big imperialist blocs. If we become associated with US, UK or European foreign policy, it will seriously...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I honestly believe that this security and neutrality forum the Tánaiste is setting up is part of a sustained campaign by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to dismantle Irish neutrality and that this agenda of undermining, eroding and dismantling Ireland's neutrality is a long-standing objective of the two major parties in government.

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: They are cynically using the utterly horrendous situation in Ukraine and the barbaric invasion by Russia of Ukraine to advance a project within NATO and the European Union of ratcheting up the militarisation of the European Union, developing a European army and moving closer to United States foreign policy in a way that is probably the greatest threat to Ireland's security. Of course, the...

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I did not interrupt the Tánaiste.

Consultative Forum on International Security Policy: Statements (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We are clearly co-operating, as we are through PESCO, the battle groups, interoperability with NATO, structured co-operation and, of course, in the context of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, it was confirmed by the then Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, that we have attended three meetings at NATO military bases to discuss the situation in Ukraine. It was very interesting to see the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I want rent controls. The Government is not going to do that. I think the Minister of State should but he has set his face against it. We need public and affordable housing to replace HAP but, in the meantime, there is a problem. In Dún Laoghaire today, three one-bedroom units are available for €1,895, €1,507, and €1,900 per month, respectively. The rents for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Schemes (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There are a couple of issues I wish to raise with the Minister which, again I believe, are practical suggestions. We need a portal where people can get the information about cost-rental and affordable housing. Many people just do not know what is out there, where they go for it, how they apply for it, and all that kind of stuff. A one-stop shop where all of the cost-rental and affordable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 83. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government what actions he intends to take to close the gap between HAP thresholds and market rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23566/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Argument aside, I do not believe that anybody could doubt that there is a very significant gap between the housing assistance payment, HAP, threshold limits and the actual rent being charged out there. The highest homeless HAP rate in my area is €1,950. The normal highest rate is €1,755. The average rent in my area is now €2,586.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We should not have to rely on HAP. It is €1 billion a year into the pockets of landlords but until we have the level of public and affordable housing necessary, sadly, we are going to end up relying on it. It is not the case that reliance on it, in my area, is going to decline when we consider the housing targets. The delivery plan for my area is 2,318 houses by 2026. There are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister of State told us about a lot of stuff that we already know. It is a new suggestion that we develop a grant scheme, particularly for those who do not have the resources to do it, to build attic conversions and extensions that would create additional bedroom space and so on, in the face of a very severe housing crisis, one aspect of which is very severe overcrowding. It is not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: A new idea has been suggested, so I ask the Minister of State not to just repeat what the Government is already doing. I know there are SEAI grants for insulation. One of the problems with them is that they are only useful to people who are already fairly well off. The proposal that has come to me, which is a good one, is that we have a grant scheme particularly directed at lower- and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 81. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has considered grants for mid-to-low-income households that wish to expand their bedroom space through extensions or attic conversions to help address the current housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23569/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Housing Policy (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Whatever about the debates, no one doubts the continuing severity of the housing and accommodation crisis. In this question, I am relaying a suggestion that came to me and that I believe is worth considering. It is not by any means the panacea to the housing crisis, but might we consider making grants available, particularly to low-and-middle-income families, to do attic conversions and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 40. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she intends to take to boost support and funding to improve the provision of facilities for community sports, particularly in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23581/23]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 18. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has read the recently published report on the section 481 film tax credit produced by the Budgetary Oversight Committee, particularly its recommendations that vindication of the employment rights of film crew under fixed term workers legislation, and the I.P rights of performers under the copyright directive, be fully...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (18 May 2023)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 25. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will agree to an all inclusive film industry stakeholders forum, as recommended by the recently published budgetary oversight committee report on the section 481 film tax credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23580/23]