Results 34,841-34,860 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Absolutely.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: It was very unfair.

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I refer to the Taoiseach's peevishness during Taoiseach's Questions and later during Leaders' Questions in which he seemed very out of sorts. Presumably, this was the result of meeting voters in various constituencies. This will go down in Irish history as the crony capitalism period that destroyed much of the prosperity achieved during the Celtic tiger years. Whether the Taoiseach likes...

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I will address the Bill also. This debate is perhaps an example of the princelings of Fianna Fáil who have inherited seats and office not being able to be in attendance in the Chamber to discuss important issues. I say to the Minister that I get up early in the morning and spend hours trying to read this material and think about it. I occasionally-----

Finance Bill 2009: Second Stage (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I occasionally get to meet the Minister in the Chamber. His two predecessors, whom I-----

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: That is the biggest fairy tale of all.

Leaders' Questions (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: It has not been set up.

Order of Business (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Peter Bacon is cited on the website of NTMA - he uses that phrase too.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----it is possible that some of the best people will go? I ask in particular about the Taoiseach's own Department. Is he concerned that people whom he did not envisage leaving, may leave and others whom he thought might take the offer are not doing so? Is he concerned at the widespread reports that senior members of the Garda Síochána are actively considering early retirement because of...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Were all the Ministers of State appointed given delegated functions by the Ministers in charge of their Departments, specifically in the Taoiseach's Department? Do both Ministers of State have delegated functions? I assume the Chief Whip does, as very obvious duties are assigned. In many other cases one gets the impression that Ministers of State are a bit aimless unless they have a nice...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----Government in Ireland?

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: The former Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, pointed to an appalling situation-----

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----where the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government-----

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, appeared to be unfit for purpose. Given that Deputy McGuinness has been on the Committee for Public Accounts for a long time and is somebody who knows a fair bit about the Comptroller and Auditor General's reports on inefficiencies in the public service, is the Taoiseach concerned that what he had to say simply confirmed fears that...

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: -----are not fully in charge of their Departments in terms of meeting the challenges? I ask, specifically, why the Chief Whip is also a Minister of State in the Department of Defence. We have a relatively small Army. Is it necessary to have a Minister of State in that Department, in addition to its redoubtable Minister for Defence? The reason has never been clear to me. Is it merely tradition?

Ministerial Responsibilities. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I always made sure to get delegation functions in writing.

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: Why is there an increase of 10% in the allocation for consultancy services under subhead A7 given that the Minister for Finance announced last July that all expenditure by Departments and agencies on consultancies, advertising and PR was to be reduced significantly for the remainder of this year and by at least 50% in 2009? There are significant increases in the allocations for office...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: In view of the general unease people are feeling about how the Government is running - or not running - the affairs of the country and the cost the tribunal has thus far incurred without ever producing an interim report, the possibility of further extended hearings in order to call back a collection of witnesses, particularly civil servants, is scary. Given the importance of the Moriarty...

Departmental Expenditure. (12 May 2009)

Joan Burton: With regard to the proposed retirement scheme for public servants, is there any kind of Cabinet sub-committee or monitoring process to discover the number of public servants likely to retire? Has the Taoiseach any figures for his own Department as to the number of civil servants wishing to retire early under the scheme and civil servants who have sought to take leave under the scheme...

Child Care Services. (7 May 2009)

Joan Burton: I hope the Minister of State has more positive news on this issue than on the previous matter. A long-standing, successful community child care crèche has operated at the Mountview Family Resource Centre, Whitechapel, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The Government has said repeatedly child care is a priority and providing child care opportunities for low income families and parents is a critical...