Results 5,741-5,760 of 26,842 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We certainly need radical reform of further and higher education. Therefore, insofar as the Bill states as its objective a desire to improve the quality of further and higher education, one could not quibble much with its aspirations. It aims to do the following: promote the interests of students; advance equality, diversity and inclusion; achieve excellence in teaching, learning, etc.; and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Government has consistently defended the role of big property investment funds by saying that they could contribute to addressing the housing crisis and delivering the famous supply. Last week, a crowd called Occu, acting on behalf of a group called Haliday, advertised build-to-rent apartments. These are two blocks, Cualanor, in Dún Laoghaire. One young woman I know, who is facing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Who is the Minister kidding? NATO is not some sort of protective entity. Its rationale, if it ever had any, disappeared at the end of the Cold War. At that time, people like James Baker, Secretary of State of the US, said that there would not be an eastward expansion. I reiterate that I believe Mr. Putin is thug. He is dangerous. He has done horrendous things in Chechnya and Kazakhstan....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if there are plans to increase European Union military spending following the recent discussions at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3929/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 35. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if proposals from NATO for increased European Union military spending was discussed at a recent meeting of European Union foreign ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3928/22]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister is apparently very concerned about the Chief of Staff meeting with the Russian ambassador. I wonder would he be as concerned if he met with the US ambassador or the head of NATO. I say that because I am concerned that the Minister attended a conference - maybe he will confirm this - in Brest, France, this month with EU foreign ministers, where he discussed the further project...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This country is supposed to be neutral. That is, frankly, laughable, when you consider we have allowed Shannon Airport to be used again and again by the US military to prosecute brutal, murderous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I want to know what neutrality means when the Minister goes to a conference in Brest where we discuss the French project, which is a major European powers project to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a very strange definition of neutral. Yesterday, the Minister expressed concern because the Chief of Staff met the Russian ambassador. To me, neutral would mean that he would express similar concern if the Chief of Staff met the US ambassador or the head of NATO or at the fact that leading powers inside the European Union are looking for and, indeed, have achieved closer integration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 29. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the ongoing war in Yemen and the humanitarian crisis with his counterparts across Europe; if consideration has been given to the imposing sanctions on Saudi Arabia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3926/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 41. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3930/22]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 71. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has discussed the recent uprising in Kazakhstan with his counterparts in Europe; if he will report on his discussions in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3927/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (27 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consult with the National Transport Authority and a company (details supplied) to review the bus timetables of the services 59 and 111 serving Dalkey, Loughlinstown, Killiney and Dún Laoghaire to include a service that caters for school children attending schools, in view of the fact that there is currently no...

Youth Mental Health: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The scandal that has been revealed in Kerry, involving overmedication, losing files and children and young people with mental health issues not being looked after properly, is not at all unique to Kerry. In 2018, psychiatrists in Wexford, including the consultant in CAMHS, resigned, saying the service was totally unsafe. Dr. Sharma said he was sidelined because he expressed concerns about...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have two questions. I have charged that the Government is betraying our tradition of neutrality. It did that with regard to Shannon and regarding numerous US military adventures. It is doing it again. It rightly criticises Russia for what it is doing off our coast with military exercises that are unwanted and should stop - Russia should be told we do not want them - and for Russia's...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In Ukraine it is highly divisive, and the Minister of State knows it.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: If I may finish, to put to bed-----

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I did not interrupt the Minister of State or the Taoiseach. I wish to put to bed the nonsense that Government Deputies come out with. I cannot put it more baldly. They would not put it as baldly as that.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We were out criticising what the Russians were doing in Kazakhstan last week, and there is not much action from the Government on that. I stood at many a protest over what the Russians did in Chechnya and the carnage they inflicted there and I did not see Members opposite there, so they should not try to confuse the issue. While I object absolutely to the Russians' massing troops on the...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We are supposed to be a neutral country but the way in which the Government is articulating its position on the dangerous brinkmanship and escalation by two major military political blocs - NATO and Russia - suggests that, for the Government at least, there is no question of being neutral or objective but that the Irish Government is taking sides.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Ironically, the Government suggests - obviously, the Taoiseach does not understand the position of socialists on this - that we are reluctant to criticise Russia.