Results 1,941-1,960 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: In the English language we use figures of speech for impact and effect, and to drive home a point. My colleague, Deputy Ruth Coppinger, did not refer to men and women who are members of the gardaí as "dogs", as is being alleged.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: She has clarified that she was using a figure of speech. "The dogs of war" is a very well-known figure of speech. Read your Shakespeare, Tánaiste, and there you will find it.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: It is shameless.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Is it not enough for Labour Members to be traitors to the working class? Do not try to interrupt the speaker.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: You show some respect. You should-----

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Does Deputy Spring know anything about the English language or figures of speech? Is it not enough for Labour to be betraying the working class?

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: What language?

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Shame.

Leaders' Questions (12 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: It is unprecedented.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: The council of the Economic and Social Research Institute contains big business figures and senior Government figures. Is it an establishment body and does that influence the kind of trend of opinion that emerges?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: In Professor FitzGerald's mind, when he is publishing these various reports, he says he is not influenced by, say, pressure from various sources, such as the Department of Finance or whatever. Has he felt a pressure to play down bad forecasts because of the nature of the system, the volatility of the capitalist marketplace or, for example, a fear that a bad forecast might frighten the horses...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: The introduction to the 2008 medium-term review, referring back to the same review of December 2005, stated, "While in that review we did not want to overdo the sense of foreboding, mindful of the fate of Cassandra, [we] still wanted to alert readers to our concerns", and it helpfully footnoted that Cassandra was a figure in Greek mythology. She displeased the Gods. Did the ESRI in any way...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: The professor said he does not like to campaign and was not comfortable moving from research. In the same introduction of 2008, he said:However, our essential message in this review is upbeat, recognising that there is a danger that Irish society could be transfixed by the current very real difficulties, missing the opportunity to plan and prepare for a better future in the next decade. ...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Is it possible that during the pre-crisis period that the professor and the ESRI reports were fixated on workers' wages and wage restraint? In the 2005 medium-term review wages were mentioned 86 times, mostly demanding wage restraint. At the same time, was he silent on the massive increase in profiteering within the housing industry and the huge burden that was placed on the same workers to...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: There was speculation in building lands and developers and bankers made huge profits on the backs of young working people trying to buy a home. Did the professor ever come at the issue from that angle?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: The professor referenced that the international crisis was a huge factor in the crisis that happened here and its extent. At the same time, he referenced Professor Morgan Kelly of UCD and articles he wrote in December 2006 and then in 2007. The articles he wrote predicted that a huge crisis would be due to what was going on in Ireland without the international crisis. I ask Professor...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Professor FitzGerald said he advocated taxation on the interest that people who bought their homes would pay. That would increase an already heavy burden of repayments on ordinary working people who are buying homes, leaving aside the speculators, the portfolio assemblers, etc. Did you consider that perhaps those who were making massive profits on the other side of the...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (11 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Judge Kenny said, 40 years ago, that building land in urban areas should be subject to strict price control and so on.

Order of Business (10 Feb 2015)

Joe Higgins: Could the Taoiseach tell us precisely when the proposed water services Bill, which the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has promised, will be brought here? Could he tell us the purpose of that Bill, since that has not been made clear, and the timescale? Could the Taoiseach tell us whether the Minister for Justice and Equality was aware that a small battalion of...