Results 3,561-3,580 of 5,269 for speaker:Joan Collins

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: I agree it is shambolic that the Government has introduced the motion of confidence to the Dáil today, knowing that all the backbenchers will march in here and vote at the appropriate time to support the Government, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste.

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: The latest polls place Fine Gael at 19% and the Labour Party at 6%. We can compare this to the Red C poll of February 2011, when Fine Gael was at 40% and the Labour Party was at 20%. The Government is now as unpopular as the Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government which presided over the bank guarantee, the bank bailout, the economic crash and the troika bailout. That is some...

Confidence in Taoiseach and Government: Motion (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: Before the 2011 general election, the current Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, indicated that his party was not in favour of water charges and did not believe in a flat rate. He argued that everybody's home could not be metered. He and many backbenchers made that claim. Nevertheless, the Government introduced and implemented those water taxes, which affect...

Water Services Bill 2014: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: The Minister has said he is listening to the people, but he has not listened to them on this issue. They want a referendum and constitutional protection to prevent the privatisation of water services. The Minister says he is providing protection, but that is not the case. Holding a plebiscite is not good enough and it is not good enough under the terms of the Bill. We do not know what...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 421. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Sligo County Council has been incurring revenue deficits over the past six years and that the cumulative revenue debt now stands at €19.67 million while the council's long-term debt is in excess of €120 million; if his Department has received the council's...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Expenditure (9 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 423. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if it has been brought to his attention that Sligo County Council in its budget for 2015 has included a sum of €50,000 to help fund a golf tournament; if it is the intention of his Department to provide matching funds for the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47052/14]

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: This is the third attempt since the 1980s to introduce water charges. The first two ended in failure, as this will. The legislation is being introduced by the same political parties which introduced the charges twice in recent decades. Put simply, the water tax is dead and will not be accepted for a variety of reasons. The move from a situation where water services were funded by general...

Water Services Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: On a point of information, is a Member allowed to call another person “loony” in the House? Deputy Costello said Deputy Paul Murphy was the loony left.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 32. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding the privatisation of publicly owned bus services and in view of the debacle that was Greyhound, his views that TUPE is not adequate protection for Dublin Bus-Bus Éireann workers who will be transferred to private operators because of the Government-/National Transport Authority decision to privatise 10% of the bus market....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Data (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 185. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of voids there were in each local authority in 2013 and to date in 2014; the number that have been allocated to tenants in 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of voids that will be made available for tenants in 2015 and 2016. [46627/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (4 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 194. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will discuss the option of allowing Dublin Bus-Bus Éireann retain their current fleet-service and consider alternatives to so-called market entry for private operators. [46334/14]

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: I support the amendments. They are very important as they reflect whether what is said by Members on this side of the House or what the Minister says is correct. The recent UNICEF report only covered up to 2013, so it does not take into account the budget cuts of 2013 and 2014. It would be interesting to see how much those two budgets have impacted on the poverty outlined in the report....

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: That is fine. I have a question on the amendment itself and double insolvency. The Minister said that up to €12,000 of a pension would be 100% covered. Is there a progressively reducing percentage in cover above that threshold?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: I am unsure whether it is relevant but this morning the Minister made the point that it would be 100% up to €12,000 of a pension. Is that it? Is there provision for 50% over €12,000? If so these people would completely depend on the contributory pension or non-contributory pension, which would be very small and based on a means test. Is that the case? I seek clarification...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: Like the previous speaker, I do not oppose the Minister's amendment but I think more debate is required. Some offices are fortunate to have the staff and support to tease out these issues but some of us do not have this support so it is difficult to grasp how changes can impact on people's lives. This discussion is on the legitimate expectations men and women have regarding pensions that...

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: Are we not discussing the Bill?

Social Welfare Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: I will leave it at that as I made my points on pensions.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 120. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the total funding for the LCDP in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and a breakdown of the funds to each programme nationally. [46447/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 124. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that will be allocated for January to 31 March 2015 for the transitional period from LCDPs to SICAP; and if he will provide a breakdown for each programme nationally. [46483/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (3 Dec 2014)

Joan Collins: 125. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of funding that has been allocated for January to December 2014 for the transitional period from LCDPs to SICAP; and if he will provide a breakdown for each programme nationally. [46484/14]