Results 6,141-6,160 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: In any decent Government, Deputy Cullen would no longer be a Minister.

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Let us follow this. The Minister wasted-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister made that decision. I was there.

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I was at----

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister spent-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Minister wasted €60 million of taxpayer's money buying electronic voting machines, which have never been used, which cannot be used and which are now in storage. I recall the day well. He did that by taking a decisive ministerial decision. It is amazing how this incompetent, wasteful Government can take decisive decisions doing daft things but the Government parties can take no...

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: They have spent 12 years in Government wasting money like the Minister, Deputy Cullen, wasted it. That is the reason the country is in the mess it is in. They are incompetent and they are not capable of getting us out of it.

Leaders' Questions (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach appears to have become an expert on the size of hangars overnight. This is not about hangars 1, 2, 6 or whatever because his responsibility in this is the strategic importance of this particular business. Last year when SRT decided it was transferring its operations to Switzerland, the Taoiseach needed to say to himself - which he did not do - as we said to him at the time...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach when the cross-departmental team on housing, infrastructure and public private partnership last met; when the next meeting is due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3178/10]

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I wish to refer to the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin's questions on housing and in particular the Taoiseach's response on the long-term leasing arrangement that has been announced by the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. Does the Taoiseach consider that is the best use of public money? As I understand it, the long-term leasing arrangement is one whereby the State will provide...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I know I am but I am responding to the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Ó Caoláin and I am pursuing the value for money aspect of this arrangement. It does not seem sensible to rent long term. I do not know of anybody other than the State that would enter into long-term leases at present in circumstances where the housing market is such that it makes more sense to buy. Why are the authorities...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I appreciate that and I look forward to receiving the Minister's response. The Taoiseach could be soon using a taxi again but, of course, he will get to keep the car.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The man seated next to the Taoiseach could be travelling in a taxi very soon.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach is correct in that there is a greater variety of formulae for providing housing, which is to be welcomed and which is supported by the Labour Party. The problem is that the Government, at present, is involved in a process of reduction. I am told that the local authorities' construction programme has been effectively wound down, with little or no local authority construction...

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I am specifically asking about long-term leasing arrangement, the logic of which I do not understand. This process does not give good value for money. Anybody looking at the housing market currently knows there are many vacant dwellings and unfinished apartments and housing estates, which could be used for housing people on the housing list.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: I do not understand the logic. The Taoiseach did not answer the specific question on the logic of long-term leasing when we could be buying the properties. Why would a local authority - or any of us - enter into a 20-year lease for a dwelling that we could buy for the same money? This does not make sense, unless it is a great favour for the people from whom the properties are being leased.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: That is right. It makes more sense.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: No, it is the same.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: It is.

Departmental Bodies. (17 Feb 2010)

Eamon Gilmore: The properties would be owned. After 20 years nothing would be owned in this respect.