Results 4,881-4,900 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: I asked the Tánaiste about shadow lobbying in Ireland. In order to seek tax advantages in this jurisdiction, very clever people are engaging in shadow lobbying. It makes our tax system more unequal than it needs to be. The reason I raised the SILC statistics is that they show clearly how much further we have advanced by comparison with Northern Ireland, for instance, in making a more...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: The publication yesterday by the Central Statistics Office of the survey on income and living conditions in Ireland for 2014 and 2015 shows some progress has been made in the fight against poverty and a welcome reduction in economic equality. Much remains to be done, however, and tax justice is clearly the means by which we will advance this agenda. This week, we learned that the National...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Jury Service (2 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: 57. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a gender balance on juries; the steps she will take to ensure same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5089/17]

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: Absolutely.

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: I propose that the State should move to acquire the famous Luggala estate to ensure that the public can continue to enjoy its beauty and that it can also attract tourists to the Roundwood area of County Wicklow. This is one of the Guinness family's ancestral homes in Ireland and it has been put on the market with a suggested value of up to €28 million. The Luggala estate comprising...

Topical Issue Debate: Architectural Heritage (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: I thank the Minister of State for a very positive initial response. He is clearly aware of the significance of this estate to people in Ireland. It also ties in with one of the Government's key issues, which is the development and protection of rural areas. There could be no more remote and rural area than this wonderful and beautiful estate in the Wicklow Mountains. The Minister of...

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National Asset Management Agency: Statements (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: From everything that has been said by all the speakers to date, I think this discussion is premature because, essentially, we have a serious conflict among the different parties who have spoken in respect of the matter. The country is coming down with commissions of investigations into so many issues that if I was to ask people to stand up here, name them all and state what they are supposed...

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National Asset Management Agency: Statements (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: The point is that the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, which been examining the issue over a lengthy period of time, has said that the committee's report will be available shortly.

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National Asset Management Agency: Statements (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: I strongly suggest that making a decision on the terms of reference before the information that has been referred to in the House is available does not best serve the public interest. We have seen other commissions of investigation, and I am sure other Members of the House can talk about them, whose terms of reference were so broad and sweeping with everything bar the kitchen sink thrown in...

Establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into the National Asset Management Agency: Statements (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: At the time, the Taoiseach said that a commission of investigation would be set up if required. This is meant to be a discussion about the terms of reference of the commission of investigation but the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts has said he is due to report in a while. I do not have a problem with it happening provided the terms are identified clearly and that it will not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: 174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that safety works at a school (details supplied) committed to by his Department under the 2015 summer works scheme have not been carried out; when are they scheduled to be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4705/17]

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (1 Feb 2017)

Joan Burton: 244. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a list of the 600 towns that are to receive investment and support under the action plan for rural development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4813/17]

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, is in a very important position to take a leadership role in terms of completing the talking and starting the action. We know the post offices are in difficulty, notwithstanding huge efforts which I made when Minister for Social Protection to ensure that they retained a large slice of business via the Department of Social Protection. We know that the...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: 55. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress of the investigation of the establishment of a public banking system here by her department; the likely timeframe of the investigation; the stakeholders involved; the way in which interested parties can make a submission to the investigation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4074/17]

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: Where are the proposals for a Sparkassen type banking system? When will a pilot of local banking for rural Ireland be introduced in counties Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois based on the German Sparkassen model? I am disappointed that almost no progress has been made on this project and that it was not specifically included in the rural action plan, apart from a nod towards examining...

Other Questions: Banking Sector (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: In earlier exchanges, we heard about the imbalance in development between the east coast and the broad Dublin region, which nowadays extends from Dundalk to Wexford and as far west as south County Kildare. Since the Second World War, a model of local banking used in rural areas and small towns in Germany has provided small and medium enterprises with basic access to capital. Sparkassen has...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister set out in some detail what the proposals are?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: 46. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of grants and supports her Department proposes for the restoration of properties in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4314/17]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister give us details of the scheme of grants and payments in respect of doing up properties in rural towns and villages? When does she propose to launch the scheme and what is the amount of money allocated to it in the current year's budget?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Joan Burton: Can the Minister tell us the date of the launch of the scheme and where the proposed pilot will be? What is the likely number of towns, villages and parishes in which it will be located? It is very difficult for people to plan if they get a lot of soft publicity in newspapers and media about such a scheme being launched but then find they get absolutely no information at all about it. The...