Results 6,581-6,600 of 6,651 for speaker:Ruth Coppinger

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I move amendment No. 8:In page 27, line 32, after “for” to insert “public”.The proposal in these amendments from the Socialist Party concerns the inclusion of the building of social and affordable housing in the strategic projects which will be paid for from taxpayers' funds in the pensions reserve fund being established by the Minister. It is amazing that we...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report Stage (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Licensing and Harvesting of Seaweed in Ireland: Discussion (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I seek clarity. I do not come from a coastal or a Gaeltacht area, nor am I familiar with such areas. However, I am alarmed by what I have read in the submissions and what I have heard today. I know there are other groups from which we are waiting to hear. However, the answers to the key questions lie with Údarás na Gaeltachta as to the reason for what seems to be its strange...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Contracts (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the investigations that have taken place into employment practices on construction sites of educational facilities, such as St Patrick's College, Drumcondra and others, where trade unions have alleged they are prevented from going on site and black economy practices are taking place. [29392/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the proposed politics and society subject for the senior curriculum may be hampered by the change in status of civics, social and political education in the junior curriculum; if he will report on the introduction of the politics and society subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29302/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be officially approved for its new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29701/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Expenditure (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 375. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been given rent supplement in excess of the maximum amount by her Department after making contact with the Threshold phoneline. [29146/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 626. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time broken down by years that current asylum seekers have been living in direct provision accommodation. [29145/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dental Services Provision (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 690. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the waiting times in the Dublin Dental Hospital; his views on the provision of the acute dental services in the State; and his views on whether they are adequate for the present and future needs of the population [29142/14]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Education Welfare Service Staff (8 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 856. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps has he taken to provide an educational welfare officer for the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29303/14]

Public Health (Standard Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: It is incredible that the House is debating the issue of deglamorising of one of the most deadly products on the planet. Tobacco smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable illness and premature death in Ireland and the percentage of smokers in the population remains high, at 22%. After many decades of lying and deceit by the tobacco companies, we know their product leads to a...

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: It is perfectly true.

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: The estimated potential of our oil and gas reserves should be outlined and examined further. It is estimated that €420 billion of reserves have been discovered recently under the Irish Sea but there has been a lack of exploration of late. In his speech the Minister mentioned that of the 158 exploration areas and wells drilled offshore, two thirds were done in the 1970s and 1980s, so...

Oil and Gas Fiscal System Review: Statements (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: The Minister was not even here when I spoke before so he should allow me to finish. There is a neoliberal mantra which the Minister seems to have adopted which dismisses out of hand any State interest in such endeavours. The report mentions Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as other areas where this has been done. The State could develop expertise in this area if it put the work in,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: 4. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the Bank of Ireland selling part of its mortgage loan book to Dilosk Limited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28626/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: What are the Minister's views on the Bank of Ireland selling off its mortgage loan book to Dilosk Limited, an unregulated company, and does he intend to stand idly by and allow this to happen given the huge subsidy put into the banks by the taxpayers of Ireland, or will he take action to prevent this happening?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Why is the bank selling loans that are performing perfectly well? It is alarming that this is happening and that no action is being taken to prevent it. On its website, Dilosk says that it has a focus on residential investment property, that is buy to let. Therefore, it is not the case that it is focusing on ordinary residential lending; it is investment lending. The bank's shareholdlers...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Banking Sector (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: People took out those mortgages with ICS Building Society. Building societies were regarded by people at that time as safe and secure places. Now they will be with a company about which we know little or nothing. The Minister appears hell-bent on increasing competition in this sector. Sub-prime lenders who are operating in this sector were brought in for the same reason, to increase...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: Competitiveness is the argument that is often used, but pay levels in Ireland are still far below the EU average. The Minister is underestimating how much they have fallen since the crash. They have increased by 12% for managers and professionals, but there has been a decrease of 5% for lower paid production, transport, craft and other manual workers. Wage increases are superior to tax...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Tax Yield (3 Jul 2014)

Ruth Coppinger: I do not agree with the Minister about public sector workers. The economy would benefit considerably from the increase in consumer spending that would follow increases in public sector pay. Wealthy people who receive tax cuts tend not to spend in the economy to the same extent. Dr. Micheál Collins of NERI has estimated that an hourly increase of €1 for a low-income worker is...