Results 7,401-7,420 of 21,514 for speaker:Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his participation in the European Council meeting of 10 and 11 December 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46883/09]

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The European Council meeting of 10 and 11 December formally welcomed the coming into force of the Lisbon treaty on 1 December. As the Taoiseach will recall, one of the key slogans of the Lisbon treaty campaign was "Vote Yes for Irish Jobs". This was an absolute and common position for the various forces that pressed for a "Yes" position. Since then, unemployment has soared and emigration...

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I beg the Ceann Comhairle's pardon, but wait a minute. The Ceann Comhairle has presided over an abuse by other speakers-----

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----of their time opportunities but chooses me to be the only one he will interrupt.

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I wish to make clear I will not accept that from the Ceann Comhairle. I have been sitting patiently here-----

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----awaiting my opportunity to participate. I am asking questions that are specific to the questions tabled and my patience is not endless either.

European Council Meetings. (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I want to make that clear. Specifically in respect of the Council declarations on Iran, was there discussion regarding a declaration on Israel? Did the Taoiseach raise with his counterparts at the Council meeting the recent refusal of the Israeli Government to allow the Minister for Foreign Affairs to visit Gaza? Was the matter raised wherein the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It is not agreed.

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This proposition on two hours' additional time sitting this evening is to accommodate the Second Stage debate of the so-called Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Bill 2009. The Government wants to rush through this legislation, with a guillotine on all Stages tomorrow. That is the situation we face. The purpose of the Bill is to implement the budget cuts in pay to...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Those are the facts of the matter. It is not just about time; it is what the time is for. It is to accommodate the passage of this legislation, and we oppose it.

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: The proposal is that the House should accept these reports without debate, including that of the Minister for Defence regarding the involvement of the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2007 and 2008. We do not agree to the taking of this proposition without debate in the Chamber. The reason is very simple. At the most recent meeting of the European Council the Taoiseach appended...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: If the Ceann Comhairle would ask the hecklers in the Front Benches of the Government parties to desist I will be able to explain why I believe these reports should not be taken without debate. The fact is this is only a figleaf for what quite clearly is now a NATO-led operation with the United States and Britain in Afghanistan. We need a full debate on these reports on the floor of the...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: It does not matter to me whether it involves seven members of our Defence Forces or 700, it is fundamentally wrong. In a reply I received only last week-----

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----to a parliamentary question-----

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Allow me to finish the point, Ceann Comhairle.

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: I established through a response to a parliamentary question last week that 243,000 US forces passed through Shannon Airport this year alone. That is a disgraceful situation-----

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----and is a matter that needs to be properly debated on the floor of this House.

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: Last week's budget imposed prescription charges for medical cardholders, which will work out at up to €10 per month being imposed on people who already are at the very bottom of the income ladder. Will this measure require legislation and if this is to be legislated for, when does the Taoiseach expect that such legislation will be presented? I understand from the Minister's comments that...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: This pertains to promised legislation. Against the background of the significant cuts in public service workers and emergency service pay, the Government also announced in last week's budget a 10% cut in local authority funding for fire and emergency services. How can this be justified against a backdrop of what people already have experienced in the latter part of this year and with no...

Order of Business (15 Dec 2009)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin: -----a 10% cut in the allocation for fire and emergency services? Will this also require legislation or will the Government consider withdrawing this outrageous proposition that could have serious untold consequences for entire communities throughout the length and breadth of this island?