Results 19,741-19,760 of 26,953 for speaker:Richard Boyd Barrett

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I believe income is one good criterion, but there should be a few criteria. We should have a textured position on it. Deputy Ellis makes a good point about relatives and family who might be willing to assist. If that can help people, it should be taken into account. The other matter that was taken into account in the past was how long one had been in the house. People will regularly say,...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Perhaps the Minister will explain why the Residential Tenancies Act should not apply to housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies. The section refers to the restriction on the application of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I can come back to the issue on Report Stage now that I have flagged it. Is that correct?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I have this point underlined. The Minister of State is planning to remove section 25(2)(f). Is that correct?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The Minister of State is removing the line "the purchaser shall not, without the prior consent of the housing authority, make material improvements to the house". Is that the case?

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Do local authorities need the approval of the Minister or the Minister of State in order to build council houses? From what I can see, local authorities have no freedom to make decisions about providing housing or taking money from elsewhere in the capital budget, allocating it to housing and deciding to build houses. Should we not give as much freedom and flexibility as possible to local...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: With the approval of the Department.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Section 22(3) states: (3) The purchase of a house under this Part does not apply to—(a) a separate and self-contained dwelling in a building that—(i) is divided into a dwelling and one or more dwellings or other properties or both, andThis refers to flats or maisonettes. I think it is unfair on the people in flats and maisonettes. Notwithstanding my agreement with Deputy...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Maybe I am reading the Bill wrong, but it seems clear. It is pretty clear and it seems it applies to any apartment complex or maisonette. This is specifically excluding apartments and flats from the provisions of the tenant purchase scheme. Does Minister of State think that is fair and reasonable? I do not think it is, and it should be removed.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I must examine that section of the other Bill. Does this provision override the existing provision? Why is this particular tenant purchase scheme different?

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 68. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the provisions of the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation will no longer apply; his plans for restoring pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23816/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if Crohn's disease, colitis and ulcerative colitis will be on the vulnerable customers list for water charges in view of the fact that these medical conditions require high water usage. [23908/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 147. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review the application fee for naturalisation and the subsequent fee for the issue of the certificate of naturalisation, which can add up to a cost of more than €1,000 per person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23724/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Availability (4 Jun 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: 213. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address the concerns of stoma pouch users who are worried about continued access to a full range of high quality stoma pouches and stoma management products in view of the fact that the Health Service Executive is proposing a price decrease and companies may be forced to halt services the HSE does not offer, such as community nurses who provide...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: To what committee will the Bill be referred?

Health (General Practitioner Service) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I will take up where Deputy Murphy left off. I am in favour of universal access to health care. The repeated emphasis in the Minister of State's introductory speech and the Government's setting out of its vision to develop the health service is on the need for universality in access to health care. The removal of user fees from any group is to be welcomed. I believe that user fees for...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: We could simply stop paying €9 billion in interest.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: Excuse me.

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: The response to a parliamentary question in regard to how much it costs to construct a council house is that it would cost approximately €100,000 to do so. That is what I am basing my calculations on. I would appreciate it if Deputy Lawlor ceased interrupting me. This means that over ten years the scheme would pay for itself. Following that, there would be a revenue stream back to...

National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 May 2014)

Richard Boyd Barrett: I am saying that the State should be investing in it. Through protesting and campaigning, we stopped the Government giving away Coillte's harvesting rights, yet all the emphasis is on handing over theassets to the private sector rather than on recognising where there could be strategic investment with significant potential to generate revenue and deal precisely with issues such as the...