Results 6,301-6,320 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Leaders' Questions (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: What has the Government concluded as regards the planning tribunal, for example, in terms of how long more it should run? Has this been discussed and has a decision been made by Government in this regard? How is it proposed to curb the legal costs? The Taoiseach has not given the House notice of any specific measure to place a limit on the legal costs which are bearing down on the...

Departmental Bodies. (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Do red lights start flashing in the Department when the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform goes out on the plinth? Is that true?

Departmental Bodies. (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Surely the Taoiseach opened a bar beside that office once.

Departmental Bodies. (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the communications unit in his Department. [1610/07]

Departmental Bodies. (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: No. He said the opposite.

Departmental Bodies. (20 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: The Taoiseach needs to clarify the real role of the communications unit. He is at pains to say that it is totally apolitical, having us believe that it could not distinguish, for example, last autumn between Percy French's Paddy Reilly from Ballyjamesduff and Paddy Reilly from Ballybough, his own Paddy the Plasterer. How realistic is that and how does he distinguish between a function...

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: I wish to contribute.

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: If the Ceann Comhairle could just allow me two sentences. After all, most people on the front benches are involved in the row today. What is good for the Government is good for the Opposition.

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: It is many years since it became clear that not just the Mahon tribunal but other tribunals were making far more new millionaires than there were old millionaires being investigated. What we had yesterday from the Tánaiste in particular and also from the Taoiseach is an exercise in the most monumental hypocrisy. We pointed out many years ago in the Dáil the incredible level of fees which...

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: That is a system they were silent about for decades and while ordinary working class people were pushed out and could not afford justice, the lawyers were rolling in it from those who could afford to pay them, such as the big corporations, etc. When they saw an opportunity where the taxpayer would foot the bill, it was nirvana. For years, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have refused to lift...

Order of Business (15 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: That is the solution, not opportunistic calls pretending to be the friend of the taxpayer. We should end an abuse that the Government has condoned for decades.

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: They have already imposed yellow pack contracts on new entrants, to be extended to all existing employees. Only last September, a letter to SIPTU signed by both the chairman and chief executive stated that following flotation, Aer Lingus will continue to adhere to all existing collective agreements and continue with existing consultative and negotiating arrangements in accordance with agreed...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: There has not been a word of objection from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance. The lambs on the Fianna Fáil back bench could not even manage a bleat of opposition. What is the view of the Government with regard to Aer Lingus tearing up these agreements and attacking its workers' rights and conditions in this way?

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: That is a disgraceful reply. The Taoiseach did nothing more than read what could be the Aer Lingus management's press statement. How can workers take anything seriously when they are supposed to begin from the point of view of accepting a complete tearing up of agreements and reassurances that were given by the very top management only a matter of months ago? The Taoiseach comes in here...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: If Ryanair will resort in the future to charging passengers a penny to go to the bathroom, which surely cannot be very far off, Aer Lingus management will want to go one better and perhaps charge them for the hand dryer as well. The Taoiseach stands by and unless he replies differently at his next opportunity, he is endorsing this attack on these workers' wages and conditions. How much...

Leaders' Questions (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: In conclusion, will the Taoiseach at the very least vindicate the workers' rights under existing agreements, which were reaffirmed only five months ago, or will he now betray those workers over and over again?

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet sub-committee on drugs and social inclusion last met. [42778/06]

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: Was the last meeting held in September or December?

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: It is interesting that nearly one half of the Taoiseach's short reply was devoted to an argument as to why he should not give any information in regard to his own policies and approach to the issue of drugs in this country.

Social Inclusion. (14 Feb 2007)

Joe Higgins: During the previous Dáil and the current Dáil, the Ceann Comhairle has allowed more flexibility with regard to teasing out the drugs issue during Taoiseach's questions.