Results 4,361-4,380 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: There is nothing omnibus about this question, which is very pointed and particular.

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Does the Minister agree with me that it is no longer an offence to solicit or importune a minor for sexual purposes and can he tell me whether any legislation is contemplated to shut off the loopholes left as a result of last summer's rushed legislation?

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Whatever offences arise in connection with the Internet, I have double-checked that it is the case there is no offence under our criminal law at the moment for soliciting or importuning a minor for sexual purposes. What the Tánaiste has referred to is the draft scheme of a Bill. No Bill has yet been published. Given that there is no protection under criminal law for what is normally known...

Order of Business (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Kilkenny is still intact.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Fraud: Social Welfare Fraud (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress of Operation Gull aimed at curbing cross-border social welfare fraud; and if the operation has been concluded, or if it is ongoing. [7916/07]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Payments: Social Welfare Payments (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the estimated increase in the cost of welfare claims in 2008 arising from the entitlement of EU migrant workers to the new child care supplement and child benefit; the level of increase in applications for such benefits that has been evident since the beginning of 2007; his views on these increases; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (1 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 112: To ask the Minister for Finance the proportion of PAYE taxpayers and taxpayers other than PAYE taxpayers who are earning amounts (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8123/07]

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: From those answers, it is apparent the Taoiseach and his Ministers are absolute saints——

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: ——including when it comes to the environment. Is it the case, as is reported, that the jet takes off from Baldonnel and lands again at Dublin Airport to collect the Taoiseach because that is more convenient? Has the Taoiseach concerns about his carbon footprint? I noticed he was in Galway recently to talk about climate change. Is it the most efficient use of Government transport that,...

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: The Taoiseach is always welcome to my constituency.

Ministerial Air Transport Service. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: What was the cost of the ministerial air transport service for 2006?

Northern Ireland Issues. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the report of the statement by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on her investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a person (details supplied) and related matters, published on 22 January 2007; the action he will take arising from the findings of the ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on...

Northern Ireland Issues. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach the position in regard to the work of the MacEntee commission; when he expects to receive the final report from Mr. MacEntee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3861/07]

Northern Ireland Issues. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the news that the MacEntee investigation has been completed. I presume the Taoiseach would acknowledge that the more quickly the report is published, the better. It was this period that led to the recent controversy on the Dean Lyons report, while it was presumably circulating among people who featured in it or on whom it reflected adversely. Does the Taoiseach have a modus...

Northern Ireland Issues. (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: The Taoiseach might agree that it would be appropriate for the House to pay tribute to the quality of work done by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland who has demonstrated remarkable integrity, tenacity and assiduousness in pursuing difficult and complex matters. We ought to acknowledge this and express the hope that when our own version, the Ombudsman Commission, is eventually up and...

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: I welcome the emergency Bill, which is designed, as the Taoiseach stated, to deal with the loophole identified last week. With regard to the reference to "minor", there were 55 prosecutions and 34 convictions under that section in 2000. I am not sure why there have only been a couple each year since then but that was the situation until 2000. I have a question for the Taoiseach, which it...

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I should also have acknowledged his gracious assistance last week.

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: I acknowledge that. Before we start the debate can the Taoiseach say whether he has received legal advice to confirm that the point I raise is addressed in the Bill as published?

Leaders' Questions (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: Can the Taoiseach say if the Attorney General will meet with the spokespersons in advance of the debate? The point I raise needs to be clarified before we start. If a person is charged with soliciting or importuning a child to engage in an act which would constitute an offence under last year's legislation he or she would not be guilty in the event of an honest mistake being made as to the...

Order of Business (6 Mar 2007)

Pat Rabbitte: It is true, and we appreciate, that more time was given for the Bill just mentioned. However, we did not request the time, to gazump private Members' business but so that there would be more time to debate the Bill. Sometimes the Taoiseach can be too smart.