Results 4,121-4,140 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to raise a related matter, namely, the Tánaiste's responsibility for putting through employment law. Incidentally, this is where Deputy Kelleher comes in as well. An horrific "Prime Time Investigates" programme was broadcast this week that outlined the degree of exploitation of workers. I was particularly concerned about the stories presented about people driving trucks for long...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: There are other similar items, namely, an employment agency regulation Bill and an industrial relations amendment Bill, neither of which have yet been published. The Tánaiste should indicate when this legislation will be brought before the House and when will it be published. If the Minister of State who has direct responsibility for these matters would like to assist the Tánaiste in her...

Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I watched the press conference just given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I was relieved to hear him state it will not be necessary to withdraw beef products based on the examination that been done of 11 of the herds that have been inspected. However, we still have a major problem with pork. I agree with the comments that have been made that the critical issue to all...

Leaders' Questions (9 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach says the owners of the Bunclody plant are being spoken to in an effort to get to the bottom of it. Has the Taoiseach got to the bottom of it? Does the Taoiseach or the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food know exactly what happened here? When can a statement be made setting out what caused the problem? With regard to the return of pork products to the market, I...

Order of Business (9 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I agree with Deputy Kenny. The Labour Party will not agree to the guillotining of the Bill, which is being introduced here to take the medical card from pensioners. I join Deputy Kenny and the Taoiseach in expressing sympathy to the family and friends of the victim of the awful shooting in East Wall, Mr. O'Kane. I appreciate that the Garda investigation is under way. No one here wishes to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (9 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 464: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the provisions being made to ensure that a unit in a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will open in September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45332/08]

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Last Monday, 37 cases were brought by banks and building societies for the repossession of homes. If there were 37 cases before the courts, it is fair to assume that several hundred homes have been repossessed without having to go to court. Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published a report yesterday showing that the number of people on council...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: With respect, the Taoiseach has given us a commentary on what is happening. The codes of practice to which the Taoiseach referred were drawn up during normal times. These are not normal times. Many people have lost their jobs over the last year. Many more people are facing the prospect of losing their jobs or their businesses. They are stuck with mortgages that, in many cases, they...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government has decided to emasculate the service.

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I am not asking the Taoiseach to ask the banks and building societies to change their codes of practice. On behalf of the Government, he should take action. A scheme to give families a guarantee that they will not lose their homes needs to be brought before the House by the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or...

Leaders' Questions (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Those are not changes. It is as you are.

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the discussions that have taken place with the social partners regarding the establishment of the North-South consultative forum, first proposed in the Belfast Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29620/08]

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I understand the North-South consultative forum was to be drawn from civic society and have social partners and so on involved in it. Will that ever happen? It is now ten years since the Good Friday Agreement and not very much seems to be happening to establish this body. I note that the last meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council was held in February and the next one is scheduled...

Northern Ireland Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Taoiseach for the response. If there is foot-dragging in getting the civic body established formally, is there any way to build upon the existing North-South contact, dialogue and arrangements across a range of areas of life on the island? For example some sporting bodies like the IRFU and GAA are all-island bodies anyway and the same is true of churches. There seems to be...

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if all of the recommendations made in the Sullivan report, following the A case have been implemented in the Office of the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29622/08]

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The House will recall that the Sullivan report arose from what was described as the A case in 1996, where the constitutionality of the Sexual Offences Act 1935 was challenged and a man was released from prison who had sexually offended a minor. There was great hue and cry about it at the time and eventually the Supreme Court overturned the High Court decision. The issue that arose and which...

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach in his first reply to me said that all of the recommendations of the Sullivan report had now been implemented, which I welcome. The purpose was to avoid a situation where the Government finds itself flat-footed by a decision of the High Court, that the Government is apprised of cases coming down the track in the courts that could have constitutional implications or implications...

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: I thank the Taoiseach for coming back to that issue. His answer demonstrates the procedures are working well but the Government is not working very well. If the Minister was told by the Attorney General on 14 October that the case in the High Court required amending legislation, the Minister did not tell the House or the spokespersons until the day before the legislation had to be brought...

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: It is a fact.

Constitutional Issues. (10 Dec 2008)

Eamon Gilmore: She came in here in a panic and the House had to sit on a Friday to pass the Bill.