Results 8,321-8,340 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A number of meetings have been held between my officials and members of the residents association of the estate concerned. It was agreed that a play area could be provided for the children of the estate. In order to facilitate the provision of this area the residents association were requested to provide insurance to indemnify the State in respect of any claims that may arise from its use....

Written Answers — Service for People with Disabilities: Service for People with Disabilities (16 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The proportion of taxis accessible by persons with disabilities is a matter for the Taxi Regulator. One of the taxi companies which serves the requirements of my Department is recommended on the website of the National Disability Authority. If a taxi is required by a person with a disability from my Department, this would be stated at the time that the booking is made. The amounts expended by...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Section 7 of the Curragh Bye-Laws, 1964 (S.I. NO. 7 of 1964) states that "a person shall not (unless authorised by the Minister to do so) bring or drive a vehicle over the Curragh other than on a public road or a road open to the public." The issue of providing parking bays has been raised at a meeting between my officials and the Military Authorities and a submission is awaited from the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to share time with the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dick Roche, and, possibly, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Dara Calleary.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yesterday, the leader of Fine Gael told us tabling a motion of no confidence is not something one does every day. In that he is right, but it is the only right thing he said. It is, of course, the right of the Opposition to table a motion of no confidence when it believes it is truly warranted in the national interest, but it is not something to be done for mere narrow political advantage....

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The constant background noise from the Opposition and elements of the media has been one of doom and gloom, and even where there are hints of positive or constructive news, the Opposition rushes to assure people that there is a tunnel at the end of that particular light. It spent the past four weeks, it has to be admitted, very effectively drowning out the Government's message. However, the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Every one of us who serves in Government and on these benches hears what the people are saying. The people need reassurance that we are on the right path. We are. They want to know that the pain we are enduring will herald better times. It will. They want to know that the Government is sure and confident of the decisions it is taking and that it is taking them in the best interests of...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Labour Party opposed the bank guarantee, bank recapitalisation and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, while Fine Gael supports the guarantee and rejects the Labour Party's call for nationalisation. The pivotal moment was reached at the end of April when Fine Gael put forward a policy document on the floor of this House, Rebuilding Ireland, which encapsulates its fundamental...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The ever-widening gaps between the parties are not confined to economic issues.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As Minister for Defence, I was interested to read what Fine Gael's Deputy Timmins had to say in his Ard-Fheis speech last April when he recommitted Fine Gael to abandoning our military neutrality and described the policies pursued by this and previous Governments as "a twilight zone". That is yet another vitally important area of policy where Fine Gael and the Labour parties are in polar...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: -----and the firm resolve to get the economy moving again.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will achieve this with or without hindrance from the Opposition.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will not get out of our current difficulties with Deputy Kenny's rehearsed outrage, any more than we will get out of them with Deputy Gilmore's soft options.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Telling the public that Fine Gael will cut spending-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: -----without telling them the areas in which it will make those cuts or telling them that it will spend more without identifying from where the money will come is dishonest politics.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In return, the public has used Fine Gael, Labour and the Independents as a stick with which to beat the Government-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: -----but that is a very different proposition from electing the stick to govern the country.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As we are debating this motion, there are people-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Shatter should have some interest in this matter; people were systematically abused in institutions over many years and some of them are now broken adults. They are marching today in silent protest.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: They were led to believe, and they are entitled to expect, that the debate on the Ryan report would coincide with that march.