Results 15,941-15,960 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 674: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for a new school building; if it has been accepted; and if so, when work will commence. [47217/08]

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 675: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for essential works; if it has been accepted; and if so, when work will commence. [47218/08]

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 676: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Dublin for essential works; if it has been accepted; and if so, when work will commence. [47219/08]

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to put two straightforward questions to the Minister. The Taoiseach indicated that a number of member states were opposed to the retention of a Commissioner by each member state but stated that they ultimately accepted that this change is required. Will the Minister indicate the states that were strongly opposed and outline the specific arguments they put forward in this regard?...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: We understand that.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: That is not the question I asked the Minister.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister is slating——

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: ——once again, which is typical of his arrogant approach. The Minister will not answer the questions I have asked.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister should, at the very least, answer my questions.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The Minister should answer my question given we have only limited time.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I asked the Minister to outline the member states involved and their arguments.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: What were their arguments?

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is a hell of a lot better than the Government was prepared to accept, but we are not there yet.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Why does the Government not, in the first instance, include them in the Irish Constitution? Doing so would provide it with an opportunity to demonstrate its good faith on this issue. Then we might believe the Government is sincere. The Government continually refuses——-

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is interesting to note how difficult some colleagues find it to accept that everyone will not always agree with them. Throughout the Lisbon referendum campaign Sinn Féin argued that a better deal was possible. We argued that the Irish people's concerns on workers' rights, public services, neutrality, democracy, tax sovereignty and international trade were valid and had to be addressed....

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The problem is that the Government has agreed to hold a second referendum without putting the detail into the public domain, but why? The answer is that the Government does not have it, and it is telling us that it will not have it until later in 2009. How therefore does the Government know it will in any way resolve the substantive concerns that led people to vote "No" in June?...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The same is true with regard to "the responsibility of member states for the delivery of education and health services". The conclusions also refer to: . . . the essential role and wide discretion of national, regional and local governments in providing, commissioning and organising non-economic services of general interest, which is not affected by any provision of the Treaty of Lisbon,...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: All in all, the Council conclusions appear to be an exercise in smoke and mirrors. They do not provide credible guarantees where they are needed. They divert attention away from many of the real reasons for the "No" vote. They fail to deliver positive reasons for voting in favour of the Lisbon treaty. They attempt to confuse a number of issues in order to give full reign to fear and...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It has been in evidence over the past six months.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: When one interrupts and heckles, one has already lost.