Results 10,981-11,000 of 29,533 for speaker:Brendan Howlin
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: It may have escaped the Deputy - perhaps his salary and other supports are too healthy - that we have just gone through the worst economic crisis in the history of the State. The Government has managed to pick up the broken pieces of a shattered economy and returned it to growth. The critical criteria people will consider are fundamental issues such as employment. How many people have...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The unemployment rate is now falling. It is still too high, at 290,000, but we expect it to fall below 11% this year. Nobody would have believed this a few years ago. We have stabilised our budgets and torn up the prom note, that despicable arrangement made by the previous Administration. We have brought confidence back to the economy. That is the judgment people will make. The Deputy...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: That is a lie.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: What does that mean?
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is probably aware that we have one of the most progressive income tax regimes in the world. Aside from only one country in the OECD, our progressive tax rate is the best.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: Deputy Seamus Healy does not want to hear the reply.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: He had his say, but I am afraid that he just reads his script and is not interested in the reply. We have the second most progressive income tax regime, with a high marginal rate of tax, that we have defended because the crisis in the country requires everyone to make an appropriate contribution.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: When we introduce asset taxes, for example, a local property tax which is regarded as the norm among social democratic parties, the Deputy opposite opposes them. He is only in favour of fantasy taxes on fantasy people.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: If we were to impose a tax on those earning in excess of €590,000, as the Deputy suggests, how many people would it cover and how much would accrue to the State?
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: Deputy Seamus Healy is not interested in the answer. He is only interested in making a stump speech. His greatest regret is that the Government's economic policies are driving recovery and job creation and bringing investment into the State.
- Order of Business (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: It is proposed to take No. 4a, Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed). Tomorrow's fortnightly Friday business shall be No. 46, Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2014 - Second Stage; and No. 47, Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2013 - Second Stage.
- Order of Business (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: I am informed by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, that the Bill will be published in the next couple of weeks and debated in the House before the summer recess.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: One of the big issues we need to deal with as a people is to create proper infrastructure. Nothing is more important for our people's health and well-being, and for those who might invest in our State, than to have a decent water system. I do not for a second believe the Opposition Members believe the current system provided by 34 local authorities, in which one third of the wastewater...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: This Government is determined to ensure people get medical treatment as swiftly, effectively and efficiently as possible. Since 2011 a major programme of change has been under way to reconfigure totally the way pre-hospital emergency care services are managed and delivered. In my three years as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the absolute resistance of the Deputies opposite to...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: In respect of outcomes, we need to have a system where we measure the quality of service to the citizen. At present if an ambulance responds to a life-threatening incident in under 19 minutes but the patient passes away, that is regarded as the ambulance meeting its targets. If the ambulance arrives one minute later and saves the life of that person and the person makes a full recovery that...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: -----of our health service on citizens. That is what the HIQA process that has commenced will do, measuring not only the time it takes to arrive but also the outcome, and what happens in the interim where ongoing advice is given to the caller so that the treatment can commence as soon as the call is made. The Department of Health is reviewing the matter the Deputy raises about officers....
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: I do not accept the Deputy's contention that the biggest new public utility company in a generation, Irish Water, is a white elephant. The status quois the difficulty rather than what will happen in future. The status quois a fragmented, under-invested delivery system for the most important of public resources to people, which is water. There are 34 local authorities using €1.2...
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The Deputy is creating a conspiracy-----
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: I do not know what the other Deputy is mumbling about.
- Leaders' Questions (10 Apr 2014)
Brendan Howlin: The Deputy referred to conspiracy and problems but in truth we must deal with enough real problems without having imaginary problems. There are real issues to be dealt with in the country. God knows the legacy of the Deputy's party's term in Government.