Results 37,281-37,300 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (27 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Question 32: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the pending review of local government and the revision of local election boundaries, he will introduce regulations in regard to election spending in local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8040/08]

Proposed Legislation. (27 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Question 18: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Government is planning changes to the law governing financial donations to politicians of political parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7734/08]

Order of Business (27 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: To avoid paying stamp duty, while first-time buyers and those trading up are being fleeced.

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Question 58: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on the impact of the decline in the construction sector on the economy; if he is satisfied that the budgetary framework of revenues and expenditures set out by him in Budget 2008 remains viable in view of the changed international financial environment and the revised downward projection of housing construction and GNP...

Economic Forecasts. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Question 17: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his Department's forecast for the expected level of economic growth for the full year of 2008; the way this compares to the forecast he gave in his budget speech in December 2007; the way this compares to the forecast given to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7856/08]

Economic Forecasts. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Did I hear the Minister correctly when he said that the Taoiseach spoke at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce in approximate terms about growth? His growth indicator was half a point below what the Minister and his Department had previously indicated. Is this a new language? When there is a dramatic change in the growth forecast, the Taoiseach is speaking in approximate terms. Presumably,...

Economic Forecasts. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: I asked the Minister about the difference in forecast between the Minister and the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach's forecast was half a point below the Minister's when he spoke recently to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. Bearing in mind the steepest declines in tax revenues since the early 1990s, the highest increases in unemployment since the 1980s and the fact that we are now facing a budget...

Economic Forecasts. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: The Minister should concentrate on his views, not mine.

Economic Forecasts. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: The Minister should concentrate on answering about what the Government proposes to do.

Fiscal Policy. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Given what the Tánaiste said about maintaining capital growth and the national development plan, is he concerned about recent probes by the Garda and the Competition Authority into a €2.5 billion fraud on the taxpayer relating to capital contracts, including those procured through the Office of Public Works, OPW? While the Tánaiste shouted about the Opposition's alternative policies, I...

Fiscal Policy. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Has the Tánaiste been briefed on the story of a €2.5 billion fraud?

Fiscal Policy. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: If the economy is to get back on track we cannot afford to allow contracts to be rigged, as this story suggests. The investment in the national development plan is the centrepiece of future growth towards competitiveness. We cannot afford to have up to 110 construction firms involved in ripping off the taxpayer by inflating contract prices.

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: What does the Minister expect will be the impact of the Government's proposals in regard to the use of bio-fuels and does he consider, in the context of UN and other reports, the movement to bio-fuels, in many cases, is resulting in hoarding and huge price rises for commodities such as wheat and other foodstuffs? Is the Minister satisfied that Government policy in this area continues to be...

Tax Code. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Is the Minister concerned that the growing scarcity of and demand for bio-fuels, in the way he has outlined, is expected to lead to very significant increases in the cost of foods in Ireland and in other EU countries and particularly for poor people in the developing world? Has the Minister had an opportunity to look at some of the assessments of the impact of bio-fuels both on inflation and...

Tax Relief. (26 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister agree to introduce a system whereby all landlords who receive rent payments from the State must supply a full PPS and tax number and that this tax number is made available to the Revenue Commissioners, that landlords who are obliged to register with the Private Residential Tenancies Board should also have to include a tax number on their registration, as they are meant to...

Vaccination Programme. (21 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: The BCG vaccine was last available in the middle of October last year. I was advised by the HSE on 3 December last that a new stock of vaccines would not become available until mid-February. I understand, however, that vaccines may not be available until the end of March, if even then, while tens of thousands of children are waiting on vaccinations and being potentially exposed to...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (21 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of inspections carried out under the Nitrates Directive; the number of staff allocated within local authorities for the years 2006 and 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7089/08]

Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (21 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: I begin by responding to some remarks of Deputy Peter Power which he attributed to my Labour Party colleague, Deputy Rabbitte. I have had an opportunity to discuss with Deputy Rabbitte his approach to this Bill. He used the judgments of the Supreme Court to remind this Chamber that the basic difference between the Government and the Labour Party on these issues relates to the question of...

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: That is the Tánaiste's view.

Order of Business (21 Feb 2008)

Joan Burton: What is the position on the Minister for Education and Science's continual references to the establishment of VEC-sponsored primary schools, which she acknowledges will require legislation to be established?