Results 3,601-3,620 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Yes. Do we need legislation to get someone else to adjudicate on whether a gift should be accepted? It is a face-saver and a fig leaf for the Tánaiste, although I do not want to confuse the different parts of his anatomy.

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It is nonsense. If we are to make an amendment to get past what was referred to as last week's little turbulence, will the Government include the commission's request to be allowed to investigate matters where a complaint is not formally laid?

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: There is no doubt that the Taoiseach is good; that is a plausible line. Let us put it on the record.

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I do. It is difficult to see the loophole, but I do not want to argue with the Taoiseach. If he is intent on this and the Tánaiste is happy, I too am happy and the Labour Party will support the legislation.

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: We are introducing amending legislation of little importance. If we are refurbishing the legislation, why will the Government not take on board the explicit recommendation of the commission to the effect that it needs the power to initiate investigations if it is to do its job? Is it being suggested that the eminent members of the commission would embark on a mischievous inquiry for the...

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: He claimed that I rang his wife and complained about the letter, but I never made any——

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Tánaiste. I never made any such telephone call, but my name was used by the person who did. I know that such behaviour can occur. If this legislation is to be introduced and the commission, which comprises eminent and true citizens, has made the recommendation to the Government that it needs a power that will make all of our lives easier, why will the Government not tell the...

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: The Government has entrusted the commission with onerous responsibilities under existing legislation——

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: ——which it believes it cannot vindicate without listening to extremists.

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It did, but he turned it down.

Standards in Public Office. (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Does the Taoiseach not have confidence in the commission? It is not composed of the type of people who would make a mischievous or frivolous investigation.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Will the Taoiseach allow time to debate the situation at Aer Lingus?

Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I acknowledge the work and effort of the two Governments, especially that of the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, who have invested a great deal of time in the peace process over the past decade. There have been so many false dawns in recent years that it was very welcome to see the St. Andrews talks conclude on a positive note last week. We all want to see the process...

Northern Ireland Issues: Statements (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: It is disappointing that the Good Friday Agreement has not led to the strengthening of the political centre in Northern Ireland as many people had hoped, and that the principal political beneficiaries appear to have been the parties of the extreme. We owe a great debt of gratitude to parties like the SDLP and the Ulster Unionist Party, which kept the process alive through the many dark days...

Written Answers — Customer Services: Customer Services (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent NESF calls for the Government to regularly monitor and report on the standard of public services and to make these reports available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33096/06]

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (18 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 180: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent report by the decentralisation implementation group and the announcement that 2,000 civil servants will be moved to 29 new locations by the end of 2007; his views on whether the original target of decentralising 10,300 public and civil servants to 53 different locations has been put aside; his further views on meeting 20%...

Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I also want to ask about the single electricity market Bill as I understand it is a major factor in the large-scale loss of jobs in Cadbury's. Will the Minister reconsider the artificial model of competition we are creating when the electricity market——

Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: As I explained yesterday, prices are being allowed to go through the roof in order to enhance profits to attract new entrants into the market so that there will be competition and prices can be reduced——

Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: Will the Minister look at the situation in the context of what has happened at Cadbury's? Also, the House has collapsed three times already this session so why is there no serious legislation on the schedule for next week? Why does the legislative channel appear to be drying up generally? For example, the ombudsman Bill was promised for late 2003, but is not due now until early 2007. The...

Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Pat Rabbitte: I am happy to permit discussion on this because we need answers. We do not have any serious legislation coming forward. The amendment to the ethics legislation is something close to the Tánaiste's heart. When is the amendment likely to be published? I think he was in the House yesterday when the Taoiseach betrayed complete bewilderment with regard to the commission's proposition...