Results 18,761-18,780 of 27,080 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is there a figure for social housing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Annual Growth Survey 2015, Alert Mechanism Report 2015 and An Investment Plan for Europe: Discussion (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am not asking a philosophical question. Is it not a self-evident statement of fact that if the private sector is to be lured in, it must get a profit. If we do the investment, we do not have to give someone a profit.

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Clearly there is some movement as a result of the crisis that arose last week but there are, as stated by the Minister, 357 people still on trolleys today. As I mentioned, yesterday there were 431 people on trolleys, some of them in wards, resulting in there being more people in wards than there should be. I note from the RTE headlines this morning reference to the fact that 4,000 nurses...

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was reading from the RTE headlines. The phrase "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" comes to mind.

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Yes. According to RTE, the figures it obtained from the HSE indicate that almost 11,000 nurses left the profession between 2010 and 2013 and 1,000 more are scheduled to retire this summer. Is the chaos in our health service the result of people being forced to work harder under the Haddington Road agreement, resulting in the huge culling of nurses from our hospitals, particularly our...

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am just quoting the statistics that are being bandied about. Is the Minister disagreeing with them?

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 8. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to deal with the growing crisis in hospital accident and emergency departments across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2382/15]

Other Questions: Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In recent weeks we have witnessed an unprecedented crisis in accident and emergency departments. At its height, 600 patients were on trolleys in hospitals. When the Minister was questioned about this issue last week, he boasted that the position had improved and that the numbers on trolleys had dropped again since that horrendous peak figure had been reached. I note that, according to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Accident and Emergency Departments (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 20. To ask the Minister for Health if he accepts the views expressed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and other health professionals that the deepening crisis in accident and emergency departments and unacceptably long waiting lists may only be addressed by a significant increase in funding to the health service and the re-opening of thousands of closed hospital beds; and if he...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (21 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason special needs assistants have not received their increments; the reason it has taken six weeks to rectify the matter; and if she will confirm the problem will be rectified by the next pay cycle and increments will be backdated and not subject to taxation. [2977/15]

Northern Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement: Statements (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Irrespective of how this agreement is dressed up, it is an austerity programme similar to our own austerity programme and it will be inflicted on the working people and vulnerable people of the North. It is the equivalent of our memorandum of understanding with the troika and, despite the decoration and spin that surrounds it, the intent is absolutely clear. It will smash the public sector,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 9. To ask the Taoiseach the processes and protocols in his Department for appointments to State boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47831/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It is rich to hear Fianna Fáil raising issues about the stacking of State boards.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: If memory serves me correctly - perhaps the Taoiseach can help my recollection - just before the last general election Fianna Fáil made 110 appointments to State boards in its last act.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It was an extraordinary two fingers to the country as it left office. It will take a while before I can be convinced that the leopard has changed its spots in that regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We are in favour of elections to State boards.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Appointments to State Boards (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The only way to have real transparency and accountability in these matters is by having elections to State boards. The McNulty affair indicates that political appointments continue to be made. While that power rests with Ministers or senior civil servants, there is an irresistible temptation for any party or Government to pack boards with people with whom they have a connection. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In all of these matters we have to be led by the people who went through the experience. The voices of the victims and those campaigning on their behalf have to be respected. As I understand it, the Westbank Orphanage and other Protestant institutions have not been included. They need to be included. Similarly, I support the calls regarding the Magdalen laundries. The Taoiseach should...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Poverty (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 119. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his Department's plans for measures to tackle child poverty here in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2180/15]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: JobsPlus Scheme (20 Jan 2015)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 218. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseekers that have been employed under the JobsPlus scheme since it was commenced; if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers in the 12 months to two years unemployed category and the two years or more unemployed category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2782/15]