Results 2,421-2,440 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: ——but never did. I take issue with a great deal of what the Taoiseach has said. I wish to focus on an issue which the Taoiseach is getting away with in his remarks. Listening to public commentary on it, on radio and elsewhere, the Government has also got away with it — that is, conveying the impression that this is now a historical issue, that it is over and has been dealt with. Nothing...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: There are others that are not included and entirely new ones have been opened. These include, for example, the new provision for private mental hospitals. The McCreevy one for the constituent in Naas is now being extended to allow money to go into building private mental hospitals. That seems absolutely remarkable to me. I know of no report or cost-benefit analysis on this. I have strong...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Unfortunate first-time buyers paying 9% stamp duty cannot be compared to high rollers who got tens of millions from such schemes.

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What does that mean?

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I am not contesting that it is a detailed review and neither am I contesting that some of the schemes for some of the time made an important contribution that otherwise might not have happened. There is an impression being sold about the tax system under which we live, the sort of Vincent Browne-like, naive, 1960s analysis, that because we do not pay a 75% rate of personal tax, this is a very...

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It emerged last week the Government does not know whether it is coming or going on the M50. I would like to hear the Taoiseach's views on legislation promised by the Secretary General of the Department at the Committee of Public Accounts. When will this legislation be before the House? Will it come before the House before the reshuffle of Ministers of State? The legislation would be concerned...

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no point in the Taoiseach asking me. I do not know. The Taoiseach did not seem to know last week and the Minister for Transport now says it is not what he said on television at 9 o'clock. I do not know. There is no point asking me.

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What is the Government view of this? The unfortunate, hard-pressed motorist on the M50 certainly does not know and I have said that if the Minister raises four gantries, he will be strung up on one of them.

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I will allow for a briefing as it is clear the Minister for Transport and the Taoiseach do not speak frequently.

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: If they want a consultation on it, that is all right by me.

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: With respect, this is not a response worthy of the Taoiseach. I asked a simple question, which the Ceann Comhairle accepts is admissible. When will the legislation be before the House? While I am on my feet and the Taoiseach is receiving a more precise answer, what is the impediment to creating some new vacancies among these underworked Ministers of State and promoting some eager backbenchers?

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Is there any help the Opposition can give as the vacuum created is becoming embarrassing?

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: We will be waiting a long time.

Written Answers — Pyramid Selling: Pyramid Selling (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 172: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he intends to provide the public with additional protection against so called pyramid schemes; if, in particular, he will amend the legislation to cover so-called gifting schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4056/06]

Written Answers — Consumer Rights: Consumer Rights (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 161: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress made to date in 2006 with regard to implementation of the report of the consumer strategy group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4055/06]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (7 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 263: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the development of Cherry Orchard Hospital as a community and lifestyle hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4453/06]

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: What is the Government's attitude to the proposed sale of the Great Southern Hotels? What is Government policy on the matter? The Taoiseach is very familiar with the contribution made down the years by the Great Southern Hotels and is aware of the very high quality service provided there. He appreciates that they have been a key piece of the tourism infrastructure of the country for very many...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: He now seems to be saying the hotels are loss makers and, therefore, it is a decision for the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen.

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: We know what will happen there. We will be very lucky if he does not erect tolls at the entrances to all the Great Southern Hotels. I will take up the two points advanced for this decision. One relates to — shock, horror — approximately €6 million in accumulated losses. In yesterday's debate I pointed out to the Taoiseach that the previous day's report stated that €125 million was...

Leaders' Questions. (8 Feb 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The accumulated losses in this case are €6 million. Let it be remembered that, contrary to the impression being put about, these hotels never got State subvention except at one stage in the 1980s when the State debt needed to be cleared, largely taxes due to the State at the time. That is the full extent —€6 million in accumulated losses compared to our willingness to give €125...