Results 3,041-3,060 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Law Society Gazette dealt with it recently and those of us on this side of the House are to believe that nobody in Government knew of this issue or anticipated the gravity of it. The Tánaiste presents it to us as if it were some kind of exculpatory assertion by her to say the Minister did not know. If the Minister did not know, he ought to have known. Charles Clarke did not know either...

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: ——want to know that a person in authority cannot coerce a young girl to have sex in the manner that has been described in this particular case. Parents want to know that a person in authority cannot coerce a young girl in those circumstances and that it is not illegal. That is the position and we need clarity on it.

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: That is not the point we are making. The Tánaiste is twisting it.

Leaders' Questions. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Was that not approved with Mr. McCreevy?

Lisbon Agenda. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress to date with regard to the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14872/06]

Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It is important that we have as much clarity on this issue as we can. As of now, all we know is that the Cabinet is divided on it. There is obviously a liberal view and the opposite view.

Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: We need to know that we are not getting a short Bill that, in typical McDowell fashion, will turn into an octopus as it develops. The urgency has been well enunciated this morning. I suggested to the Tánaiste, and the Labour Party Bill is available to her, that we would seek to legislate on an interim basis to shut off the loophole while the House and the country is having the necessary...

Order of Business. (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The question of young children being left vulnerable to sexual predators is not acceptable to the people and, therefore, we need an interim Bill to shut off the loophole. Will the Tánaiste clarify if that is what we will get?

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the most recent appointments made to the board of Bord na gCon; the length of time of these appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21027/06]

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (31 May 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his plans to hold a national day of commemoration of the Great Famine; if his attention has been drawn to the proposal to designate the last Sunday in May 2006 for a national commemoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17887/06]

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Tánaiste and Government Whip for agreeing to our proposal that the House sit next week. Apart from the crisis which besieges the Government, it is entirely appropriate that the House should sit in any event. I suggest it sits as normal on Tuesday afternoon.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Since last week the Labour Party has consistently argued for the closing off of this loophole. For that reason when the Government was persuaded to deal with it this week, last night we facilitated it being taken, which is the reason for us not voting against the Order of Business. However, we have not yet seen the Bill and there will be little time to look at the issue. I urge the Tánaiste...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Who put that suggestion to the Minister?

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: At last — 20 minutes late.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Between now and 2 p.m. We are only after getting them.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Minister should keep his head down.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I ask the permission of the House to share time with Deputy Howlin.

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I agree with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on one issue, namely, his view that the adversarial system in this Chamber is an important dimension of our democratic system, allowing Deputies to probe matters of public interest, scrutinise legislation and hold the Government to account. There are rare occasions when behind the robust adversarial exchanges there is a wish on...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The public wants to know if we can reassure it about the protection of their children from the vile degradations of sexual predators. That was the only issue. There is an important subsidiary issue, which is the position of victims. Victims and their families have received little attention in this debate. There have been vague promises of counselling but one hears mothers of such victims...

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (2 Jun 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: He brought in legislation that was made up on the hoof. As Deputy Kenny said, the section 5 anomaly was drafted on the back of a piece of paper in the Cabinet ante-room by Fianna Fáil. It was quite unbelievable to see——