Results 861-880 of 9,160 for speaker:Thomas Pringle

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Youth Services Provision (9 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 460. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will commit to securing the necessary funding to ensure that the Big Brother Big Sister Programme will continue to provide a vital service to the 3,200 young persons who benefit from the programme each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32872/13]

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I will contribute briefly to the discussion on the amendments relating to the so-called suicide clauses, or section 9 of the Bill. After the contributions of the Ministers of State, Deputies White and Kathleen Lynch, there is little that I need to say. Anybody listening to either of those contributions should be in favour of maintaining section 9 as proposed in the Bill. It is not often in...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: People have told me that 95% of abortions in England take place on the basis of suicide, which is clearly wrong. The legislation in England refers to a risk to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman, and there is no mention of suicide. Irish people are being told such things by the pro-life side every day of the week, which is an example of emotional framing in this argument. We...

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I refer to the amendments on fatal foetal abnormalities. In the past year or so I have heard the testimony of women who have travelled to Liverpool to have terminations because they had a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. It was very difficult to listen to that testimony and, for me, very difficult to accept that in 2013 Irish society would force women to make those journeys with a baby...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Job Creation Issues (10 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 56. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made in developing the two Big Data pilot projects within the public service; if the first formal meeting of the joint Industry/Government task force has taken place; any decisions that were made; and his views on the way he sees this industry creating jobs. [33518/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbour Fees (10 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 218. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had any contact with cruise ship operators in relation to the cost of visiting Killybegs Fishery Harbour, County Donegal; if any concerns have been expressed to him that the cost could be a factor in whether they continue to use the harbour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33639/13]

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: May I share time with Deputy Wallace, with five minutes each?

Report on Promoting a Sustainable Future for the Post Office Network: Statements (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I welcome this important debate on the committee's report. It is timely, given the recent announcement that An Post is the preferred bidder to continue the Department of Social Protection's contract. This is important for the future of the An Post service as well as for all citizens. The importance of the post office network to rural Ireland has been well rehearsed in the House. Donegal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Charges Collection (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 740. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if, in the interests of the economic difficulties that small businesses across the country are experiencing, he will consider bringing forward legislation that would allow for local authorities to implement a differential rates system that would see businesses being billed according to their turnover and their ability to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Proposed Legislation (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 1037. To ask the Minister for Health the action he plans to take to prohibit the trafficking of human organs from non-consenting persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35379/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 1112. To ask the Minister for Health the progress that has been made towards free general practitioner care for all; the reason for delays; and the way he plans to proceed with the efficient running of primary care teams without the support of general practitioners [35123/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I thank the witnesses for their presentations today. In her submission, Ms Goggins stated that there were two elements of the 2006 Act that deal with the retail sector. She stated that it only applied if there was an anti-competitive object as part of those. My view is that it would be quite limited in terms of the questions being asked of the retail multiples by committee members over the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: Ms Goggin referred to the limitations of the 2006 Act. Does she agree that it would be misleading for a large multiple to state that everything is fine in terms of its compliance as a result of the fact that it has not been prosecuted under that Act?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: The limitations of the 2006 Act meant that these practices can only be considered in the context of their constituting an anti-competitive process.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Groceries Sector: Discussion with the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency (16 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: During this discussion there has been talk of the 2009 review on the retail grocery sector. That was in the context of price differentials with the North. I note Ms Goggin said the retailers have stated that everything in the garden is rosy. She pointed out that there were problems nonetheless. Does the Competition Authority monitor the retail sector on an ongoing basis, looking at...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: 3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to tackle the issue of peat fired power stations in the context of the sectoral emissions reduction plan required of his Department; if it is his intention to refocus the industry toward renewables in a specific timeframe as part of the plans; his further plans to review the public service obligation levy in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: The provisions in the REFIT 3 tariff to which the Minister referred are welcome. Could the PSO relating to the peat-fired stations be used to enable them to be converted to burn biomass materials? While this is a small element of the overall electricity generation system, the peat-fired process gives rise to high carbon emissions. Such emissions could be significantly reduced by means of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Electricity Generation (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I am not seeking to have an impact on the employment created by Bord na Móna. However, the staff involved could be utilised in the wood biomass sector and the level of employment could actually increase if Bord na Móna makes the move to which I refer. As Bord na Móna and Coillte come closer together, I hope the opportunities which will arise will be availed of and that the...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: I commend Deputy Wallace and his staff for their work in preparing the legislation we are debating tonight – The Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill. It is a worthwhile and timely legislation. I have been listening to the debate over the past two nights and it has been interesting how many Deputies have prefaced their remarks by stating how many good gardaí there are and...

Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Private Members]: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jul 2013)

Thomas Pringle: The legislation is about accountability and proving accountability. We have heard how the Garda Síochána Act came about as a result of the Morris tribunal and investigations that were carried out by Mr. Justice Morris in my county of Donegal. The interesting point about the tribunal is how the subsequent narrative confined the problem to Donegal. The view was that it was only in...