Results 13,681-13,700 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: We have done that in contrast to other countries which have experienced banking crises and collapses. We have done that as a society. As the country recovers, I hope to see the dividend from progress spreading out in particular to people on middle and low incomes and to retired people and pensioners.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I made that very clear in terms of my objective. In terms of the banking crisis which drove the country to such a state, preceded by a crazy bubble which never made sense, which the Deputies opposite know all about, we have achieved a reduction of €10 billion in the costs of the banking debt and an overall reduction of €40 billion in relation to the debt and contingent...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The country has progressed very significantly in terms of its total exposure to banking debt from the situation we inherited.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: We now have so many people going back to work.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: It is proposed to take No. 30a, statements on the Sixth Report of the Constitutional Convention on Blasphemy; and No. 30, Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 Seanad - Second Stage (resumed). Tomorrow's fortnightly Friday business shall be No. 53, Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014; and No. 21, report on the review of commonage lands and framework...

Order of Business (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Very strong progress is being made in relation to the establishment of the commission of investigation on the mother and baby homes and the development of its terms of reference, which are complex and lengthy. The Attorney General advises that the commission's terms of reference will be a critical factor in determining its ambit, length, complexity, cost and, ultimately, success. I am happy...

Order of Business (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I did not say the drug trade was not a problem at all. What I said was that there were very significant Garda resources-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: -----of all of the different appointments Sinn Féin has made, presumably because it believed its party people were the appropriate ones for particular boards.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Sinn Féin is not unknowing in regard to board appointments in its own party. As the leader of the Labour Party, I have set out to have a clear system. At the end of the day, Ministers will still make a selection, and it is important that they do so because tens of thousands of jobs depend on the proper functioning of State and public boards to give service to citizens and ensure proper...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy stated that there had been some recovery but it had not been felt by everybody. Yesterday we had the best figures for the live register and people returning to work for more than five and a half years. We still have a long way to go, but unemployment has fallen to its lowest level in five and a half years and now stands at 11.1%. I spoke to people yesterday from the Construction...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I am really glad that a little progress is being made here by Fianna Fáil, notwithstanding the fact that it appointed 182 people to various boards in a rush between January and March 2011. I wonder why? I do not think Deputy Troy was a Member of that Dáil, so I welcome the fact that, as a fresh face in Fianna Fáil, he has now obviously agreed to an appointments system. In...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: I have explained this previously. My objective in respect of this issue is to ensure that a long-standing Labour Party policy on an application process relating to State boards is adopted. My discussions with the Taoiseach were very much concerned with that. On Friday evening, the Taoiseach made some comments of apology and explanation which, at that time, I welcomed warmly. Equally, I...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Taoiseach has now explained on a number of occasions the circumstances relating to this course of events. He has done so at various media opportunities and on several occasions in the Dáil. I have not heard anything beyond what I have heard or read in the media or the Dáil.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy should allow me to answer. She is speaking about silence, evasion and refusal to answer questions. I have a list of ten members of Sinn Féin who have been appointed to various boards recently. I will repeat it slowly so the Deputy can understand it. A very serious reform process is to be undertaken in respect of appointments to State boards.

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: Deputy Tóibín can disagree with my approach, but what is important is to bring about an appointment process to State boards that actually sets out the skill sets required, because these are very important public investments on which a considerable amount of taxpayers' money is spent and in which many people work. We are not talking about trivial point scoring. We are talking about...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The Deputy asked whether I had met the Taoiseach. I met the Taoiseach, along with the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputies Noonan and Howlin, briefly on Monday following a Cabinet sub-committee meeting. As the Deputy probably knows, there are a lot of Cabinet sub-committee meetings on a Monday. What I was focused on and remain focused on in regard to this...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: -----which are of international importance and which attract a huge number of visitors to Kilmainham on a weekly and a yearly basis, remaining very much part of Ireland's cultural offering. A range of people need to be members of the IMMA board, including, obviously, people with experience and a background in the arts, but also people with business experience. More than that, I have never...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: That is wrong.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The dental benefit scheme continues to provide for free annual examinations to qualifying customers who fulfil the PRSI eligibility criteria. The free dental examination has been retained in order to encourage people to continue to attend for check-ups and to ensure that good oral health is maintained. Any changes to the dental or other treatment benefit schemes would have to be considered...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Applications (2 Oct 2014)

Joan Burton: The client's Rent Supplement claim is awarded and all payments are up to date.