Results 5,081-5,100 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Housing is an essential element of any civilised society. The notion that the Taoiseach would be so complacent to think it is all right and it is all working is amazing. I thought we had all agreed that not enough homes were being built for affordable sale or rent in the State. People at whom the new council loan scheme is aimed will have to find somewhere between €15,000 and...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: I too recognise and welcome our distinguished visitors to the House. The Government yesterday repackaged and rebranded three announcements on housing. Rents are now at an all-time high in Dublin, 14% above the previous 2007 peak. The pilot affordable rental scheme will be of little benefit to those facing record rents and new leases. The Government plans to reduce costs, build smaller...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (23 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: 150. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action he and his Department have taken in the case of a person (details supplied) who has been sentenced to death due to his Baha'i faith in Yemen; if this matter has been raised with the European Union external action service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2906/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Private Partnerships (23 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the implications for the public private partnership contract in place for school bundle five with the liquidation of a company (details supplied); the number of outstanding payments to be made; the amount paid to date; the progress and status of each individual project in the bundle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2879/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: 201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the proposed school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2950/18]

Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: It is reported that the Government is considering an alternative to the repeal simpliciter recommendation of the all-party committee on the eighth amendment. This was reported to be on foot of legal advice advanced by the Attorney General. The committee considered this matter very carefully, as it did the separation of powers, in making a determination on this matter. Does the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (18 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: 88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for school transport on medical grounds in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2408/18]

Report of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution: Statements (17 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: I, too, am pleased to make a contribution to this important and perhaps historic debate. I do so as leader of the Labour Party and the first speaker in this debate who was a Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas in 1983. At that time, I was a newly appointed Member of the other House and I was present in the Seanad on Wednesday, 4 May 1983 when the then Senator Mary Robinson moved an...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Right now, there are construction workers outside protesting over zero-hour contracts and calling for an end to them, warning that they have an extraordinary effect on family life, health and people's ability to plan their lives or get mortgages. Following the work substantially progressed by the then Minister, Senator Ged Nash, the Government published the Employment (Miscellaneous...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Great.

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Fáilte romhat ar ais.

European Council: Statements (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: It is nearly a month since the December European Council meeting. Significant progress was made on Brexit and on the leaders' agenda, discussed prior to Christmas. It is unfortunate that debate on many of the changes under way in Europe has been limited and more often lost in the understandable focus on Brexit. Europe is changing, however. The rush to advance the defence agenda just prior...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Among the reform measures the Taoiseach has mentioned the most urgent goes back to the Toland report, the fundamental restructuring of the Department of Justice and Equality. It is important that the Taoiseach leads on this. What is his view because the Government's stated view is to have a division of functions within the existing Department, each reporting to a separate Secretary General...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: NAMA is already building social housing now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: 7. To ask the Taoiseach when Cabinet Committee G, justice and equality, last met; and when it will next meet. [1839/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Dialogue (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Working in a collegiate manner is both an important aspect of government and a constitutional requirement. However, we have not seen this approach taken on every issue, including in respect of the constitutional amendment. I will return to what all speakers have agreed is the most important social issue facing the country, namely, the housing crisis. I had the privilege of serving in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: The Government could recognise child-rearing and things of that sort.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Non-contributory pensions do not have to be paid at all.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Brendan Howlin: Of course not.