Results 4,821-4,840 of 5,216 for speaker:Mick Barry

Questions on Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: Not at all.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: The programme for Government allows for the establishment of an Oireachtas committee on water services. We are given to understand the expert commission will hand its report to the committee next Wednesday, 30 November. I watched the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, on the television last night. As he sought to defend water charges, he said, with an arrogance that was reminiscent...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (23 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: The Ceann Comhairle is right on time because I am about to ask my questions. How long will the expert commission report be with the committee and for how long will the committee meet? When it has concluded its deliberations and presented its report to the Dáil, for how long will it be the property of the Dáil? In other words, when are we going to have the vote on whether to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I would appreciate a written response to my questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (22 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: 11. To ask the Taoiseach if he has made contact with the President-elect of the United States of America. [34863/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I am keen to hear from the Taoiseach whether he discussed the issue of corporation tax and corporation tax rates on this island with the First Minister, Arlene Foster, and, for that matter, the deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. With the support of all the parties in the Executive, the Northern Ireland Assembly has, under the Fresh Start agreement, been granted by Westminster the...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Rent Controls (17 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: 34. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce emergency rent controls in view of the fastest increase in rents on record in reports (details supplied) predicting further large increases over the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35471/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists (17 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: 43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he anticipates that the current housing needs assessment will result in an increase or decrease in the numbers on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35472/16]

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: This legislation proposes to make several changes to the law on risk equalisation between insurance companies, to regulate the health insurance market and - this is the main element of the Bill - to increase the health insurance levy on health insurance premiums by 10% from April of next year. I understand the Minister wrote to the insurance companies to plead with them not to pass on this...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: Okay, the Minister did not write to them, but he made an appeal over the airwaves asking them not to pass on the increase to their customers. I would say the executives of the health insurance companies probably cracked up laughing when they heard that appeal. As a result of this Government's refusal to introduce price freezes or ban the private health insurance companies from passing on...

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I think it is glaring hypocrisy. The reality is that the impending health insurance price hikes demonstrate the need for pay increases for all workers.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: Trade union action on behalf of working people in the public and private sectors is fully justifiable, given the pay cuts of recent times and the sharply rising cost of rent, car insurance and, as we are debating tonight, health insurance etc. This Bill underlines the urgent need to establish an Irish national health service to provide universal health care that is free at the point of use...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: The post office network has sharply declined in this country under both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-led Governments. How many post offices have closed since 1984? Approximately 1,000. The Irish Postmasters' Union clearly fears that many more may face closure next year. To allow this to happen would be an act of social vandalism. Apart from anything else, there are 3,700 people...

Topical Issue Debate: Office of Public Works Properties (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I hear what he is saying. This issue relates to the assembly of a site on Anne Street in Wexford on which are now built important public offices for the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection. Alleged serious irregularities in the process of assembly require detailed answers and action from the Office of Public Works, OPW, and Wexford...

Topical Issue Debate: Office of Public Works Properties (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I note in his reply the Minister of State states that "[t]he commissioners are not aware of irregularities pertaining to this matter and are happy, as has always been the case, to make their records available". Will the Minister of State immediately instruct the OPW to arrange the meeting to which it committed and to release all of the files relating to its involvement in the assembly of the...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Health Service Reform: Hospital Groups (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I would like to revisit the issue of unrealistic stretch income targets. The programme for Government states: "Service providers who fail to meet their targets and who do not engage fully with the new unit will be obliged to use their own budgets to ensure targets are met with the assistance of private sector providers." Hospitals basing themselves on an income stream from the State and an...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Health Service Reform: Hospital Groups (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: My questions also dealt with trusts.

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Health Service Reform: Hospital Groups (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: Say there is a target to reach, and Mr. Carter had indicated he feels the stretched targets are unrealistic. It has already been teased out at the committee somewhat that topping up can be achieved by setting targets for getting private income through medical work. Are there other ways of sourcing private income? For example, I raised the question of debt. Deputy Kelly told me that at the...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Health Service Reform: Hospital Groups (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: I thank each of the delegates for his or her submission. I have three questions, the first of which relates to the issue of centralisation of emergency department trauma services. I direct the question specifically to Mr. O'Callaghan who made reference to it. I think he expressed a degree of confidence that CUH would be chosen to have one of the two key trauma centres in the State. I...

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare: Health Service Reform: Hospital Groups (16 Nov 2016)

Mick Barry: Would the witnesses be prepared to comment in broad brushstrokes about the extra resources that would be needed to ensure the situation gets better rather than worse as a result of the centralisation of trauma services at Cork University Hospital? I put it to them that in the absence of massive extra resources being put into Cork University Hospital, such a move would almost certainly result...