Results 5,881-5,900 of 13,375 for speaker:Pat Rabbitte

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (24 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 266: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the relevant sections of the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 permitting test purchasing by young people aged 15 to 18 will be commenced; the reason this provision has been delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7106/09]

Written Answers — Liquor Licensing Laws: Liquor Licensing Laws (24 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 267: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the Sale of Alcohol Bill will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7107/09]

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 279: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if recent vacancies arising from resignations from the board of the Equality Authority have been filled; if so, when the new directors were appointed and who they are; if they will be in receipt of remuneration for serving as members of the board; when the practice of remunerating members of the board commenced; the...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: If the Minister were to agree to a sunset clause, he would go a long way in assuaging the feeling that currently exists among public servants that they have been unfairly singled out by a punitive measure. A sunset clause would at least allow people to understand that normality will return after this period of financial crisis. The Government probably underestimates the damage that has been...

Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2009: Committee Stage (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Given that so many of the amendments, which are designed to make this measure fairer, have been ruled out of order, I ask that the Minister rethink his position on this one. I cannot anticipate an argument for saying this is a permanent measure unless the Government has rethought the merits of the approach of the former Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, when he designed a benchmarking process,...

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 39: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the quantity and value of seizures of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs here during 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the proportion of the overall flow of drugs into Ireland which is believed to be represented by these seizures; the new initiatives he is planning to control the flow of illegal drugs into Ireland;...

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle can assure me the Minister will not walk out today. I refer to this measure of success or failure. Surely, the only measure of success or failure is the extent to which communities throughout the country are polluted by illicit drugs. Surely, the only measure of success or failure is the extent of criminality, killings and petty vandalism that is...

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Praise for the Garda Síochána and the other agencies to which the Minister refers ought not be restricted to his side of the House. We on this side commend their work too. Is it not a fact that, according to Garda figures, only 10% of the drugs that come through or into this jurisdiction are seized? One cannot point to the figures as manifest evidence of progress. They are as likely to...

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: That is the Garda figure.

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: It is in the answers to several parliamentary questions tabled before the Minister took office. Those were the answers we received. The word processor indicated a figure of 10% before the Minister came along.

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: I was not sniggering.

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: I was laughing at the Minister's audacity in accusing this side of House of engaging in partisan politics.

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: We want the Irish figures.

Drug Seizures. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Those are the figures given by the Minister's predecessors in the past 15 years.

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Question 41: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the future of the Equality Authority, having regard to the resignation of the chief executive and six members of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7755/09]

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: How can the Minister reconcile what he has just said with his decision to drive out the chief executive and six directors of the Equality Authority who believe the authority has been neutered and undermined? It has been killed off, in effect, in terms of its traditional role. Will the Minister answer the question he evaded the last time we discussed this matter? If his purpose was to save...

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: How can it be said that there are 12 people?

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: I am not sure I understand how there are still 12 people on the board, working as hard as the Minister says they are. He said there were four vacancies. Is it not the case that the Government cleaned out the original board before it drove out the chief executive? It added four directors, thereby increasing the size of the board to 12. Those who supervised the authority's previous body of...

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: Six former members of the board have the same opinion.

Departmental Agencies. (25 Feb 2009)

Pat Rabbitte: It was constructive dismissal.