Results 17,661-17,680 of 26,924 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is a totally different Bill.

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Instruction to Committee (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: There is a lot of detail there.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Coillte Teoranta Reports (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 25. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the most recent Forest Service reports into Coillte's corporate governance, carried out on an annual basis as part of the Forest Service's regulatory remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26101/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 41. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current amount of tree-cover in view of the recent removal and regenderation of scrub and natural woodland linked to the single farm payment criteria and the pressure on woodlands caused by Food Harvest 2020's focus on targets to increase production by 50%, on the basis of assumptions relating to digital mapping systems and the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff Recruitment (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 184. To ask the Minister for Health if chronic obstructive pulmonary disease support will be made available in Tralee in County Kerry, in Tullamore in County Offaly and in County Wexford, through the appointment of respiratory physicians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26453/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 185. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to target early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is the fourth leading cause of death; the specific investment to tackle the scale of the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26454/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disease Management (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 186. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a commitment to roll out the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease outreach programme, to manage patients at home, and reduce hospitalisation, from the current 12 acute hospitals to all the acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26455/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 187. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting times, and to ensure every respiratory unit operates an ongoing pulmonary rehabilitation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26456/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage (1 Jul 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 188. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Long Term Illness Scheme, in order that patients with this disease may avail of medical treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26457/15]

White Paper on Defence: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister for Defence began his opening contribution by expressing one sentiment with which I agree and another with which I thoroughly disagree. I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister that "[m]embers of the Defence Forces are called upon to undertake difficult missions and we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the State, including on overseas peace...

White Paper on Defence: Statements (Resumed) (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It was through force but it was in opposition to empires and war mongers, including the biggest war mongers of all who started the First World War. This is why we have credibility. The Minister also stated: Security is the bedrock on which a society's cultural, social and economic achievements are built. In a modern state defence is conceived as the ultimate guarantor of freedom.That...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: My point follows on from Deputy Naughten's point. This amendment might make sense if the Government gave us a commitment and a cast-iron guarantee that the capital will be provided by the Government when the local authorities come up with plans to develop sites that are suitable for social housing where there is a social housing need. This pertains to something that I am very uncertain about...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In the absence of such a provision, this is a mechanism to force the privatisation of local authority land. The only way the local authority will be able to come up with plans that it can finance, if the Government does not guarantee the local authority the money, is by handing the land over to private developers, who will take it and lease it back to the council at a further cost to the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have not tabled an amendment to the section, but I suggest the following for consideration given the possibility that I might put something in on Report Stage. I refer to section 5(2). When we are talking about the definitions of "site" and "home" on page 7, we are excluding what are described as "homes". Obviously, there is a very good reason to do that in most cases. One does not want...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Arguably, if there was a constitutional impediment, that could equally apply to the levy. If the levy can apply to land, I do not see why it cannot apply to vacant properties. It may be something we need to look at. I have not thought it out fully or put down an amendment, but it is something we should look at and consider. I am certainly going to do so. If there is any way to have a...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: This relates to the Government's plan to reduce the obligation on the developer from 20% of any development to 10%, which is a central aspect of the legislation. Undoubtedly, the Government will claim that a level of 20% is an inhibitor and discourages developers from developing and that reducing it to 10% could incentivise builders to start developments. It probably captures the...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: No, but I understand the Government's-----

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I do not. There is a link between this amendment and some of the others that I have tabled. My problem with it is that there is too much reliance on the private sector generally in the Government's approach to dealing with the housing crisis. This Bill is the working out of that logic, in that it asserts that the only way we will get the social and affordable housing that we need is by...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am genuinely tempted by the idea that 10% of something is better than 20% of nothing, given the dire situation we are in. I put this amendment forward out of genuine concern and desire to have a serious debate on the issue. I remain open to hearing the arguments but I wanted to put it down because this is a central component of the Bill and I will consider it as we go along. Essentially,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am open to the argument but I am worried because once things head back in that direction, we may not be getting what we should be getting. We are also sacrificing the sort of balance, in terms of social mix, we should get. I want to signal a point that we will come to later. A very substantial get out clause is the lease back alternative. Deputy Wallace mentioned the cost of the land...