Results 9,661-9,680 of 15,491 for speaker:Eamon Gilmore

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The jobs issue was part of the agreement reached last Monday at the European meeting of Heads of State and Government. There was a specific agreement that the economic situation in Europe cannot be resolved alone by budgetary and fiscal measures but that there needs to be a jobs and growth strategy. The Government was keen to have this on the agenda and for it to continue to be so. In...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Deputy Ó Cuív initially asked me three specific questions in respect of the measures being taken by the Government to deal with the jobs crisis. I am delighted that he was so satisfied with the specific answers I provided that he has entirely changed the topic of his supplementary question. I have read the report on what happened to Galway Airport, which is a privately-owned airport and...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: By way of general practice, the Government has set down specific targets for the banks' lending to small and medium enterprises. We have spoken directly to the banks about how they are meeting those targets and we intend to do so again in the near future. In respect of difficulties that arise with the operation of that initiative in practice, Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware that the Credit...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make single payments to help meet once off and exceptional essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to cover out of his or her weekly income. The Department spent approximately €63 million on these payments last year and made payments to 226,000 individual claimants....

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I again repeat for Deputy McDonald what the Government has done for people on low incomes. In this year's budget there was no cut in the basic rates of social welfare for the first time in a number of years. Some 330,000 people on the lowest incomes were taken out of the universal social charge-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I ask the Deputy to listen.

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I listened attentively to the Deputy's question and all I ask is that she listens to the reply.

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: Some 330,000 people on the lowest incomes were taken out of the universal social charge net. The cut to the national minimum wage that was made by the previous Government was reversed by this Government, something Deputy McDonald said we would not do. We are dealing with special needs payments, which are once-off payments made by community welfare officers. The guidelines given to the...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Deputy should not constantly be saying "cutbacks". This is about using the scarce public resources to the best effect to ensure the money we spend on people who are in need goes to those with the greatest need for it. From time to time it is necessary to change the way in which those moneys are spent to ensure they go to those in the greatest need. Nobody can argue that rules that are...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: As the Deputy is aware this House unanimously passed a motion on the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The terms of that motion were conveyed to the British Parliament and British Government. I have met representatives of Justice for the Forgotten. On several occasions we have raised with the British Government the motion that was passed unanimously, one of the terms of which was a call for...

Leaders' Questions (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: This is the first time the Deputy has raised the issue of the shortage of funding of €17,000 with me. Without briefing myself on the entire issue and the financial situation I cannot give Deputy McGrath a commitment across the floor of the House on it other than to say that I will look at it. As Deputy McGrath is aware my Department provides funding for reconciliation purposes and provides...

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: It is proposed to take No. 13, Legal Services Regulation Bill 2011 - Second Stage (resumed) and No. 15, statements on the Health Service Plan 2012 (resumed), which will be taken at noon. It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that in respect of the Family Home Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011, the Second Stage of which shall be considered tomorrow, the...

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: A nice try.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: In the order in which the questions were asked, a Cheann Comhairle, the children's Bill will be dealt with this session.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The closure of the resident Irish Embassy at the Vatican has absolutely nothing to do with the finance Bill. It is a matter-----

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have line responsibly for that issue.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I have already answered questions about it and at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The answers that I gave in both cases stand.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: The Government approved the preparation of the heads of the children first Bill in July. The Minister intends to bring a position paper on the children first policy to Government shortly, following which the heads are expected to go to the committee in the next Dáil term. The Bill is due to be published this session and work is continuing on the preparation of the Bill.

Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Eamon Gilmore: I am concerned and I realise there is some concern about this issue. I have come here today. On previous occasions I have been prepared and briefed to provide an answer to this question if it was raised by Opposition leaders during Leaders' Questions. If I am asked a question during Leaders' Questions I am happy to answer it.