Results 5,981-6,000 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: This Bill enshrines the final steps towards full liberalisation of the postal services in Ireland. In doing that it represents the implementation of the baleful policy of the European Union which for decades now has been pushing the privatisation of all public services and enterprises within the European Union and for the handover, essentially, to European big business of key public services...

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Judging by the tenor of the friendly, loving conversation between the Taoiseach and Deputy Martin about appointments to the State boards, in which both of their parties have indulged, I do not believe they understand the huge cynicism among ordinary people about this blatant jobbery.

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: The replacement to the European Parliament-----

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: -----is provided for according to law. The Minister knows that well.

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: His party used the legal procedure, where five Deputies are announced before the election and their names published in Iris Oifigiúil and in polling stations.

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: The law which the Government made was adhered to in this respect to the letter.

Appointments to State Boards (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: That is the democratic process, limited and all as has been provided for by the Government. We are talking about disgraceful jobbery where 110 people were stuffed by Fianna Fáil on to State boards, just as Fine Gael did previously, and their only qualification, for the most part, is that they were hacks of the political parties concerned. When will we have an end to this kind of cynicism?

Order of Business (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: This morning the insurance companies are threatening major increases on unfortunate, hard-pressed householders who are already getting hammered with EU-IMF austerity and the policies of this Government. Can the Taoiseach point to legislation where he might require them to delve into the substantial profits they made in previous years rather than hitting people who cannot afford it?

Croke Park Agreement (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Does the Taoiseach agree that public sector reform and the Croke Park agreement are really a crude cover for cutting thousands of jobs in the public sector? Does he agree that this will have severely damaging effects? The OECD stated just a few years ago that we had a small public sector compared with many other EU countries. How does he feel about this disgraceful blackmailing by Labour...

Departmental Correspondence (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Can the Taoiseach elaborate on how many people work in the communications unit? Could he say exactly what they do in terms of keeping the Government informed as regards what is going on in the media? Is it the case that every Minister gets a file of coverage from the main newspapers every day in regard to his or her activities and that of the Government, and what exactly do they do? With...

Government Economic Management Council (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: I noticed Deputy Martin was very complimentary to Sir Humphrey this morning. I suppose that is because-----

Government Economic Management Council (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Sir Humphrey had 14 years of good practice under Deputy Martin's party.

Government Economic Management Council (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Did I understand the Taoiseach correctly to say that he would not give us the names of the members of the Economic Management Council, apart from those who are members of the Cabinet?

Government Economic Management Council (13 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: That is absurd. How are Irish citizens to know the quality of the membership and of the advice and decisions made by such a council if they do not know their identities? It is not as if this is a matter of significant national security. However, economic management is a massive issue for our people who are suffering the consequences of the current crisis of neoliberal capitalism. I put it...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: Only one week ago, it was announced in regard to the legislative programme that tackling the jobs crisis is the Government's top priority and that it will shortly publish finance legislation to stimulate job creation. If we are to reflect the Ireland of 2011, as the Taoiseach stated, why are we not having an emergency debate on today's shocking announcement that 2,000 workers are to be made...

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: How does the Taoiseach respond to that?

Order of Business (12 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: It is hardly a good start to put 2,000 workers on the dole.

Easter Rising Centenary (12 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach should tell the IMF and the EU about our economic independence.

Order of Business (7 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: I have studied the Government's new legislative programme and I find some 40-odd pieces of legislation none of which is new, all borrowed from Fianna Fáil. What we have up to the moment is a kind of Johnny Forty Coats Government which, without any coat-----

Order of Business (7 Apr 2011)

Joe Higgins: -----borrowed from the crowd that preceded it. Does the Tánaiste think the people went out to vote to give the guys in front of me a bit of a break rather than voting for serious change?