Results 19,561-19,580 of 26,924 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Misconduct Allegations (24 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 96. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider the request of a person (details supplied) and their legal representative to have their case included in any statutory commission of investigation that the Government establishes into Garda mishandling and malpractice arising out of the recent inquiries in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26749/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Residency Permits (24 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 122. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason wives and families of Saudi students on English language programmes and third level course are allowed to accompany their husbands or fathers while they study here, but wives and families of Libyan students are allowed to accompany their husband or father only if one parent is studying for a PhD., and not for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (24 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 447. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason wives and families of Saudi students on English language programmes and third level courses are allowed to accompany their husbands or fathers while they study here, but wives and families of Libyan students are allowed to accompany their husband or father only if one parent is studying for a PhD, and not for undergraduate or...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (24 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 464. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason wives and families of Saudi students on English language programmes and third level courses are allowed to accompany their husbands or father while they study here, but wives and families of Libyan students are allowed to accompany their husband or father only if one parent is studying for a PhD, and not for undergraduate or English...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes (24 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 561. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the Health Service Executive's involvement in investigating cases of elder abuse in private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26789/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I wish to make several points. My first point relates to an issue raised by Deputy Spring and leads towards a suggestion on something the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council could examine, but I do not know whether it will take me up on it. We spoke about Keynes earlier, and a name rarely mentioned but which should be mentioned more in my opinion is Marx. Marx made the point that along with the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I take Professor McHale's point that certain aspects of the book are not the business of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, but if it is a factor in producing instability in the economy, is this not something about which the council has to worry? This is something towards which he is pointing, and I agree that rapidly growing levels of inequality are a factor of instability in an economy.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Would Professor McHale encourage preventive action at this stage?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am not asking for a comment on the 12.5% rate, rather I am asking about the weighting of foreign direct investment from the multinational sector in the economy. It accounts for a high proportion of our economic activity and we have a unique gap between GNP and GDP in European terms because of our heavy reliance on the sector. The visitors from the Bundestag finance committee advised us to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I was referring to a recent example, not necessarily the general case.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It sounds like a "lose-lose" scenario. Professor McHale's essential argument is that if we ease up on the austerity, the markets panic and increase the cost of lending to us so we cannot possibly do that. We must keep them happy so that we keep the cost of borrowing low. However, if we do that, we effectively strangle any hopes for growth. Professor McHale pointed out that one can have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The council has a very nice tone.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: In terms of the medium-term objectives that the Government has set itself.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Is that a bit of an anomaly? On the one hand, the council is the bad cop when it comes to the forthcoming budget, saying that we must stick to the €2 billion while the Government is saying, possibly for political reasons, that it should be less. However, Mr. Barnes seems to be saying that over the long term, the Government is arguing for a more aggressive consolidation whereas the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I accept that. There are some areas where I think we could change the goalposts and move the parameters of this discussion, which is not the council's job because they must work within existing parameters. I think we should tell Europe to take a hike for €8 billion in interest but the council cannot say that and cannot step outside those parameters.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: It can say we will give Europe €5 billion this year, not €8 billion, and that it recommends that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I think that is more a political battle we have with the Government. I also think that the question of whether one makes this adjustment through taxing the financial services sector, the FTT, wealth tax or taxes on higher earners as against cuts in public expenditure is a political battle we must fight. It is the council's job to flag the dangers and down sides if they are coming up. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I thank the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, for attending the committee. Its reports are helpful and packed full of information. The requirements to get to a 0.5% structural deficit rate and reduce our debt by half over 20 years under the fiscal treaty are terrifying challenges for the economy. The council members are very pleasant in the way they put across information.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Fiscal Assessment Report 2014: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (19 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: When I listen to what they are actually saying, however, I find it quite scary. They reiterate constantly that the risks are on the downside and the forecasts are very uncertain. I agree with that because, particularly, the growth forecasts vary quite widely. The Government depends on the more optimistic growth scenario to materialise which makes me worry even more. Even after the...