Results 2,141-2,160 of 7,777 for speaker:Joe Costello

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2007)

Joe Costello: Question 509: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will make provision for compensating registered charitable organisations for VAT payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43765/06]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (31 Jan 2007)

Joe Costello: Question 1420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who has special needs is not receiving appropriate education; if she will provide one to one tuition for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43764/06]

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of Irish soldiers who are stationed in the Lebanon on peacekeeping duties under the UN mandate; the type of work that is being carried out by Irish soldiers there; the quality of rations being provided; his plans to visit the soldiers in Lebanon; the present political and military climate in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister for his detailed response. If I understood the Minister correctly, the total number of Defence Forces personnel comes to 162. This appears to be somewhat lower than the number projected originally, which was approximately 200. Can the Minister explain why the maximum number of troops that was available was not sent? Can the Minister clarify the nature of the tasks in...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: It was a round figure of approximately 200 troops.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: The Irish must have frightened them.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: It was a couple of months later.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Some of them had been in situ since October.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: It is not as volatile as Limerick.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Ceann Comhairle, I would like to ask the Minister——

Defence Forces Property. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Does the Minister agree that the sale of Clancy Barracks was a disastrous deal for his Department? Dublin City Council made a bid, but it was quoted an asking price of £40 million, which was more than it could afford. In 2004, the land was sold for €25 million to Florence Properties Limited, a private developer, but it has not been developed. Some 13.65 acres beside Heuston Station is...

Defence Forces Property. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: The Department of Defence would not make it available for less than £40 million to the local authority, which wanted to build social and affordable housing, but it sold it for almost half the price to a private developer.

Defence Forces Property. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: I would not attempt to blame the Minister, but would he agree that a deal of that nature is a disaster?

Defence Forces Property. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Yes. The Minister can take it that all 52 members of Dublin City Council agreed that Clancy Barracks should be bought for the benefit of the citizens of Dublin so that social and affordable housing could be constructed. The Defence Forces and the Department of Defence put a price of £40 million on it, exorbitant at the time, but it was sold for €25 million shortly afterwards to a private...

Defence Forces Reserve. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Question 258: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will make provisions for retiring members of the Reserve Defence Forces to receive an honorarium in recognition of their years of voluntary service to their country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3316/07]

Defence Forces Reserve. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister for his reply. Members of the reserve are appreciative of the seven year bar and second bar medals, but I put it to the Minister that he is referring to a voluntary service provided for a long period. People who go about their ordinary business in their communities volunteer a great deal of their time and are not in receipt of remuneration for the time spent in...

Defence Forces Reserve. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: That is out of their holiday period.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister for that reply. In his last appearance in the Dáil, he mentioned that he intended to find a suitable event to honour both men and I welcome the decision to mark the occasion at an overseas function at the end of April at Cathal Brugha Barracks. Could the Minister expand on that? Would the Minister reconsider awarding the medal to the two survivors? As the Minister...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: I thank the Minister for his reply and I will make the necessary arrangements. The reason I asked the Minister to review the awarding of a medal is the men have suffered for almost 47 years and they have had a cloud over their good names and that of their families. These are exceptional circumstances, which fall way beyond the call of duty. The Niemba ambush was the most catastrophic...

Departmental Bodies. (1 Feb 2007)

Joe Costello: Deputy Timmins has raised an important question because we have an extraordinarily rich military history. A full archive with the necessary personnel and resources should be available. I have tabled a question on whether the Government will mark the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. Could the Military Archives put on an exhibition to mark such an event, which changed the course...