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<title>Charles Flanagan - Recent appearances (From KildareStreet.com)</title>
<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/mp/?pid=118</link>
<description></description>
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<dc:date>2009-04-15T16:11:18+00:00</dc:date>

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<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g312.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g312.0</link>
	<description>All the Government&acirc;€™s Easter eggs are duck eggs.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="312.1">All the Governmentâ€™s Easter eggs are duck eggs.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g296.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g296.0</link>
	<description>They wear gardening gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="296.1">They wear gardening gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g248.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g248.0</link>
	<description>None of the Ministers is working. </description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="248.1">None of the Ministers is working. </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g239.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g239.0</link>
	<description>Why is nothing happening? </description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="239.1">Why is nothing happening? </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g237.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-09.30.0&amp;m=303#g237.0</link>
	<description>While the Minister and the officials in the Department of Finance will be busy over Easter drafting legislation that will force the taxpayer to buy tracts of desert in Dubai, pubs in Britain and...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="237.1">While the Minister and the officials in the Department of Finance will be busy over Easter drafting legislation that will force the taxpayer to buy tracts of desert in Dubai, pubs in Britain and vacant building sites in Chicago, will the TĂˇnaiste explain how the paralysis in the drafting of legislation has permeated all aspects of Government policy recently?  I refer in particular to the legislative programme published on 26 January that lists six Bills to be published by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in this session.  Will the TĂˇnaiste confirm when during this session the following Bills were published: No. 9 the Civil Partnership Bill; No. 10 the Covert Surveillance Bill; No. 11 the Criminal Justice (Forensic Sampling and Evidence) Bill; No. 12 the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill; No. 13 the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering) Bill, to transpose the third money laundering directive into national law - this is the last country in the EU to effect this transposition; No. 14 the Criminal Procedure Bill and No. 15 the Property Services (Regulatory) Bill?  Will the TĂˇnaiste confirm on this, the last day of yet another session, that the Government is paralysed not only in respect of the economy and financial matters but in the justice area where nothing is happening? </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-09T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=303#g540.0">
	<title>Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=303#g540.0</link>
	<description>I am pleased to speak on this motion.  I compliment my constituency colleague, Deputy Enright, on bringing it before the House.  It is really about the dire straits in which people find...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="540.1">I am pleased to speak on this motion.  I compliment my constituency colleague, Deputy Enright, on bringing it before the House.  It is really about the dire straits in which people find themselves.  This is brought home to public representatives on a daily basis at our clinics.  People come to us at their wits end.  They have lost their jobs and are unable to make their mortgage repayments.  The threat of eviction hangs over them like the sword of Damocles.  These people are frantic with worry.  Many have children and families to support.  It is a heartbreaking situation.</p><p pid="540.2">To a large extent, these people were duped into the situation in which they now find themselves.  Banks and building societies handed out mortgages to anybody who asked.  They promised people they could have it all, even a 100% mortgage and â‚¬25,000 for a wedding, if they wished.  They masqueraded as organisations which cared for their customers.  There is not much evidence of the caring side of banks or building societies now.  While top officers in the banks continue to receive large bonuses, the sheriffâ€™s office is being sent to peopleâ€™s houses.  The spectre of eviction looms as it has not done in this country since the penal times.  Our folk history and folk memory have given the Irish nation a horror of eviction.  Historically, the courts have been loath to evict people since the foundation of the State.  However, the aggressive practices of foreign sub-prime lenders in particular have resulted in Irish families being made homeless yet again.  In my constituency, Laois County Council has ordered a number of evictions for 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.</p><p pid="540.3">Some clinic cases refer to the sinister and dangerous new element which has emerged in the debt collection sector with the entry of former gangland figures like Martin â€śThe Viperâ€ť Foley and assorted eastern European Mafiosi with links to Russian Mafia.  People and families have been threatened with serious personal violence and even death by these criminals who take a hefty chunk of commission when a debt is paid due to their efforts.  Property has been vandalised and people are terrified to report the matter to the Garda such is the sinister reputation of these thugs.</p><p pid="540.4">Recently, I tabled a series of parliamentary questions to no less than four Departments seeking clarification as to whether the Government plans to take action on this growing problem.  I asked each Department to clarify its responsibilities in this regard.  The Departments of the Taoiseach, Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Justice, Equality and Law Reform and Finance all declined to accept responsibility in this area.  This scandalous abdication of responsibility characterises the Governmentâ€™s rabbit in the headlights attitude to every problem which arises.</p><p pid="540.5">We need a system that involves the vetting of those who collect money to protect those under pressure who are unable to meet their debts at this time due to extraordinary economic circumstances.  Ireland is almost unique in the western world in having no system of regulation for debt collection.  We have lessons to learn from our neighbours to the east and to the west in this regard.</p><p pid="540.6">I do not wish to detract from the importance of personal responsibility with regard to the repayment of moneys borrowed.  We must all do our best to honour our debts and be responsible about taking on debt and responsibilities.  Reckless lending has brought us untold economic difficulties.  The spectre of large scale evictions can only exacerbate matters.  Fine Gael and Deputy Enright in particular have suggested a number of practical steps in this regard.  I hope the Government is listening with an open mind because this matter needs to be addressed as one of urgency and importance.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=303#g538.0">
	<title>Social Welfare: Motion (Resumed) | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-04-01.487.0&amp;m=303#g538.0</link>
	<description>I wish to share my time with Deputies O&acirc;€™Mahony, McHugh, Terence Flanagan, Neville, Crawford and Burke.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="538.1">I wish to share my time with Deputies Oâ€™Mahony, McHugh, Terence Flanagan, Neville, Crawford and Burke.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-04-01T19:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.126.0&amp;m=303#g169.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.126.0&amp;m=303#g169.0</link>
	<description>It is the same answer.  The Minister for Finance did not reply to Deputy Kenny.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="169.1">It is the same answer.  The Minister for Finance did not reply to Deputy Kenny.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.126.0&amp;m=303#g147.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.126.0&amp;m=303#g147.0</link>
	<description>Ten months ago, in May 2008, the D&Atilde;&iexcl;il completed its deliberations on Second Stage of the Defamation Bill 2006, at which point a resolution was made that it be sent to committee.  The Bill has...</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="147.1">Ten months ago, in May 2008, the DĂˇil completed its deliberations on Second Stage of the Defamation Bill 2006, at which point a resolution was made that it be sent to committee.  The Bill has not been seen since and seems to be in some type of limbo.  If the Minister cannot inform me today of the intention of the Government in respect of this Bill, will he let me know as soon as possible when it is intended to progress it?</p><p pid="147.2">Allied to this legislation was the Privacy Bill 2006 which fell on the dissolution of the last Government and was subsequently re-enacted but has not since progressed.  I understand it may be in the Seanad but this is not clear.  Is it the intention of the Government to introduce a privacy Bill as promised in the programme for Government?  It was certainly the intention of previous Ministers for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that such legislation should be enacted, but nobody has commented on it in recent times.  Will the Taoiseach inform the House whether it is Government policy to proceed with it and, if so, when?</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.2.0&amp;m=303#g73.0">
	<title>Leaders&acirc;€™ Questions | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.2.0&amp;m=303#g73.0</link>
	<description>Some of those behind the Taoiseach want a unity Government.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="73.1">Some of those behind the Taoiseach want a unity Government.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.2.0&amp;m=303#g42.0">
	<title>Leaders&acirc;€™ Questions | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-25.2.0&amp;m=303#g42.0</link>
	<description>Mind the gap. </description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="42.1">Mind the gap. </p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-25T10:30:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g456.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g456.2</link>
	<description>More shanty.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="456.2">More shanty.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g454.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g454.2</link>
	<description>That is a complete red herring.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="454.2">That is a complete red herring.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g452.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g452.2</link>
	<description>More shanty.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="452.2">More shanty.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g450.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g450.2</link>
	<description>That is a complete cop out.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="450.2">That is a complete cop out.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g448.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g448.2</link>
	<description>I asked the Minister to come down and he did not.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="448.2">I asked the Minister to come down and he did not.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g446.2">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g446.2</link>
	<description>Of course.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="446.2">Of course.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g444.9">
	<title>School Accommodation. | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.443.0&amp;m=303#g444.9</link>
	<description>A Cheann Comhairle, I am pleased that you are presiding over this debate, because I may have to call on you for clarification before I am finished.  I have been raising this issue for many years....</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="444.2">A Cheann Comhairle, I am pleased that you are presiding over this debate, because I may have to call on you for clarification before I am finished.  I have been raising this issue for many years.  I came across a parliamentary question only this morning that I tabled on 21 February 2001, when the then Minister for Education and Science stated that it was his intention to make a decision on how to address the future primary and post-primary requirements at Portlaoise â€śas early as possibleâ€ť.  There has been much water under many bridges since then.</p><p pid="444.3">In June 2008, I secured a special Adjournment debate on the matter.  I informed the Minister that the school accommodation issue in Portlaoise had become a fiasco.  I told him that Scoil BhrĂ­d in Knockmay was beginning to resemble a prefab shanty town.  The parents of almost 100 children had informed me that they had no school place for their children the following September.  I asked the Minister to visit Portlaoise with his officials and see the crisis for themselves.  That did not happen.  The Minister stated that approval in principle had been given for three large-scale primary building projects in Portlaoise, which will improve conditions for the schools concerned and provide much needed extra school places.</p><p pid="444.4">I am not sure if the Minister of State was watching â€śPrime Timeâ€ť earlier this week.  If he was, he would have been embarrassed to see himself parroting the exact same statement that his senior Minister had given me some months prior to that.  I am tired of this set piece, word-processed answer from officials, who hand them on to Ministers who then come in here to parrot out the same drivel about Portlaoise.  It does not address the problem and it does not realise the extent of the difficulties.</p><p pid="444.5">There are three school projects to be undertaken as a matter of urgency.  The Minister told me that progress on these proposed works is being considered on an ongoing basis.  A parliamentary question in my name on 4 March 2009 revealed that the Minister has no idea how many prefabs are on site in Laois schools.  In fact, he misled the House.  Rath national school is listed as having one prefab, but it has three.  The Heath national school is listed as having three prefabs, but it has five.  Scoil BhrĂ­d in Knockmay, Portlaoise was listed as having seven prefabs, but it has 24, nine of which are rented.  If parliamentary questions are going to be treated in such a cavalier manner by the Department of Education and Science, then this House is in need of reform.  Ministers can come in here and not give a damn about the nature of their replies to lawfully elected Deputies.</p><p pid="444.6">The reply last week stated that the average cost of renting the 58 prefabs in Laois of which the Department is aware works out at â‚¬13,835 per prefab per year, which totals â‚¬802,000.  However, this is wrong because the cost of renting prefabs in Rath national school is â‚¬15,600 per prefab per year.  I got a response from the Minister stating â€śnow that the accommodation requirements of the town at post-primary level are well on their way to being addressed, it is proposed to deal with the primary school requirementsâ€ť.  I have no doubt I will get the same line tonight.  This line was contained in official replies on 12 February and 4 June 2008.</p><p pid="444.7">In the school at Knockmay, 75% of the 600 pupils are in prefabs.  The nine rented prefabs are costing â‚¬125,000 per annum, or â‚¬10,000 per month.  Rath national school has doubled in size since 2000, and one child in three is being taught in a prefab.  In order to address the issue, the parish priest of Portlaoise put forward an imaginative and innovative proposal that was shot down by the Department.  The parish agreed to take out a bank loan to finance the new schools and allow the Government repay the loan over a period of 15 years, but that was turned down by the Department.</p><p pid="444.8">Deputies in this House cannot even get accurate replies from the Minister for Education and Science on the numbers and cost of prefabs and the number of children being taught in prefabs.  This is a town that has experienced rapid growth in the years of the Celtic tiger, yet no school provision has been made for these children.  It was a fiasco a year ago, but it is now a very grave problem.  I hope that the Minister of State will address this issue and not give me the same response that he and his predecessors have been giving me in this House since February 2001.  Nobody in the Department is in control.</p><p pid="444.9">I wish to discuss with the Ceann Comhairle how the record is to be set straight and how the Minister, Deputy Batt Oâ€™Keeffe, can give information to the House which is highly inaccurate, wholly unsatisfactory and at variance with the facts.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T17:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.2.0&amp;m=303#g85.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.2.0&amp;m=303#g85.0</link>
	<description>This is March.  The Bill could be passed in a matter of weeks.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="85.1">This is March.  The Bill could be passed in a matter of weeks.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>
<item rdf:about="http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.2.0&amp;m=303#g83.0">
	<title>Order of Business | D&amp;aacute;il debates</title>
	<link>http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2009-03-12.2.0&amp;m=303#g83.0</link>
	<description>It should not take another year.</description>
	<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p pid="83.1">It should not take another year.</p>]]></content:encoded>
	<dc:date>2009-03-12T11:00:00+00:00</dc:date>
</item>


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