Results 33,101-33,120 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: As my party's finance spokesperson, I am already spending hundreds of euro on trying to get information from the Department of Finance. As a Member of this House, I should be entitled to receive that information. The policy being operated by the Department essentially involves a complete clampdown on the vast bulk of my serious and reasonable freedom of information requests.

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: The Minister does.

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: The Minister sets the policy of the Department. He can decide to release this information.

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: The Minister sets the policy.

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: The Government has disemboweled the freedom of information legislation.

Freedom of Information. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: That is exactly what the Minister and his party have done.

Labour Market Participation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Is the Minister aware that approximately 440,000 people, one third of whom are men, are unemployed? It is a national disaster. The figure I have given does not take account of emigration, which has resumed at a strong level among people who had previously migrated to this country and at a high level among young Irish graduates. People in the latter group are going anywhere in the world...

Labour Market Participation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Does the Minister——

Labour Market Participation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: I accept that as a mea culpa from Fianna Fáil for economic policy from the year 2000 onwards, when almost all the cost rises in the Irish economy were led by increases in Government charges as an alternative to reforming the tax system in a fair and balanced way. As for competitiveness, does the Minister agree there is indeed a sheltered private sector? For example, I have yet to hear of...

Labour Market Participation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: The Minister has answered regarding competitiveness, which is important.

Labour Market Participation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: However, most of the lack of competition occurs in areas that were controlled or organised by Fianna Fáil in government from the year 2000.

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: I refer to the Minister's investment of €7 billion on behalf of the taxpayer into Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks through this preference share structure. Is the dividend on these preference shares a cumulative preference dividend so that the dividend rights accrue until such time as the banks ever pay a dividend, when that dividend comes first? Under the new arrangements announced...

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Does it accumulate?

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Normally in most companies it does accumulate.

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Does section 3 of last night's document mean the NTMA now makes the decision?

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: Section 3 states that the NTMA is now managing the Minister's shareholding.

Banking Sector Recapitalisation. (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: It also has responsibility to the National Pensions Reserve Fund.

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: On the same issue, we were given a very innocuous one-page press release last night from the Department of Finance and the Minister on this subject. I do not know but it seems to me as though the ducks are being put in a row to provide for the full or almost full nationalisation of the banks by this structure. It is being done with almost no discussion provided for in this House. Everybody...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: ——is being passed to the National Treasury Management Agency. According to the press release, a "draft delegation order is currently being discussed with the Attorney General's office". Under law — as the Taoiseach well knows, because it was his predecessor, Charlie McCreevy, who set it up — the NTMA is at quite a distance from this House and is largely exempt from freedom of...

Order of Business (3 Feb 2010)

Joan Burton: This is one of the most important financial decisions that will come before the House this year. The Minister for Finance is delegating substantial responsibility for banking to the NTMA. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the Government will provide for a full debate in the House on the implications of this statement, or are we now sidestepping the Department of Finance and the Minister...